MANY HAPPY RETURNS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18791, 28 May 1923, Page 4

MANY HAPPY RETURNS

HR, E. A. CAMPBELL'S 80th BIRTHDAY. CONGRATULATIONS FROM HIS FRIENDB. Although three score years and ten are said to be the allotted span of lite, Mr Ewen A. Campbell had added half a score to that number, and his entry uno the tanks of the octogenarians on Saturday was marked by a demonstration of esteem on the part of a host or friends, ouo and ail joining in wishing him many happy returns ot the day. There was a large gathering at the racecourse on Saturday afternoon to congratulte the venera bio President of tiro Wauguaui Jockey Club. On arrival a. the main gate by motor-car Mr Campbell was showered with confetti and by a group of ladies, and then the Garrison Baud to tiie tune of "3 he Campbells are Coining” led the way to the stewards’ stand, where the gatheiiii,, gave lh.ee ii.-ging cheers. The Wanganui I-ipe Band also joined la the welcome, and played an appropriate air. The proceedings were marked by great enthusiasm. As senior steward present it fell to Mr .1. C. Paterson to speak reminiscently of th’ history ot the Jockey Club, and in his opening re: arks lie said that it was fitting that tile past stewards and pre., cut stewards of the Wanganui Jockey Club should gather tc congratulate their President on hit 80th birthday. Mr Campbell had been a most worthy President, ami it was with the greatest pleasure that they met to wish him many happy returns of the day. Mr Paterson went on to trace interesting history in Wanganui. Hi said that the first record showed that racing was held in ISIS, just 75 years ago. It was a long tinn to recall, but Mr Campbell was live years older than the event. Yet he was really the youngest man they knew. He led a busy, streuuom life attending meetings all over th. country, but in his spare moment' had time for a chat with his friends young and old. He was alway ready to listen, and give advice whi r wanted. They did not know hi.secret of perpetual youth, but some where they knew- that he must haw that, secret. Mr Paterson drew attention to th. | photographs on the walls of th, room. Some he knew personally and counted upou as great friends but there were also other photo

graphs that should be there. He Hoped that they would bo able to secure a photograph of the late Mr W. T. Owen to be placed amongst the other great sportsmen aud pioneers of racing.

Passing on Mr Paterson said that the years just before 1874 must have been lean ones in Wanganui for racing, as in 187 4 a meeting was called aud held al Atkinson’s Hotel io form a Wanganui Jockey Club. There were 22 present, and the club was formed with about 50 mem-

bers. To-day there were only lour alive, and. strange to say, two were brothers. Mr John P. Watt and Mr W. Watt. The others were Mr J. Chadwick, junr., and Mr Walter Churton. At the meeting Air John I’. Watt was voted to the chair. Mr Chadwick proposed and Air ?.. Higgle seconded that the club be formed, and the officials chosen were Mr H. S. Harrison, President; Air John Cameron, vice-president; Major Nixon, judge; Air F. R. Jackson, secretary and treasurer, while the stewards were Dr. Earle, Messrs li. N. Harrison, J. Shields, John P. Watt, A. Higgle, K. Mcßae and W. T. Owen. Ten years later Mr Harrison was still at the head, with Air J. Cameron vice-president. Air W. T. Owen was judge, and Dr. Earle, Messrs H. Harrison and J. P. Watt were still stewards. Mr A. Higgle was starter, Air J. Higgle was clerk of the course, and Mr J. Abbott was clerk ot the scales. In 1884 they had the first record of Mr E. A. Campbell, who was elected to the committee of the club. In 1885 Mr Campbell was appointed clerk of the scales, a position he held until 1905, when Air Speed succeeded him. Continuing Air Paterson passed on to IS9O, and said that the great event of the year was the presentation made to the late Dr. Earle by the club for continuous service of 21 years, as an honorary official. He carried on uutil 1907 as chairman, .and from then Mr Campbell had done : SO. I The speaker referred to Air F. R. Jackson's resignation, much to the regret of members, in 1899, after 25 years’ continuous service. He was a wonderful man, and had been responsible for turning the racecourse environs from a wilderness into a garden, and he devoted all his energy and spare moments in doing so. Two sentences of a letter that Air Jackson wrote to the committee were worthy to be quoted. The first was: "The thought came to me hotv

can we advance the club, and I thought of a £lOOO Cup.” They all anew that that was carried out, and tu - £l9OO Cup was won by Betray, r ill 1884. The second Betttence wa “In wishing you all goodbye- keen tip the reputation of the Wanganui Jockey Club and never let it become second to any club.” I Proceeding Air Paterson dealt with the modern history of the club. Hu 'said'that Air Campbell became PreIsident in 1913, and had held the | office ever since. The war affected the club considerably, as they gave away all the money they had saved. I The slump had also hit them, but, I judging by the last meeting, they (now felt tl. t they were round the corner. The stewards had always [given Air Campbell loyal support ' and every effort had been made tc | maintain the high reputation that the club enjoyed with the GovernIntent, the racing conference, and all I true sportsmen. That the club did ! hold such a good reputation was I largely due to the integrity, ability, honesty of purpose, and high ideals lot Air Campbell. (Applause). The I photographs on the walls were ot j t he pioneers v. bo went through tho I struggles and hardships of the early j clays, but when the time came to place -Mr Campbell’s photograph amongst them—they hoped that it would bo a long time yet—they would all say: “Here is one who is greater than all of them.” Air J. Higgle said it was a great pleasure to be present. When one looked at the photographs on the walls it was to realise that anybody had a hard row to hoe, and a diffieult position to fill to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Earle and Mr Har- ' risen. Yet Mr Campbell had most I worthily filled the position, and he j could not receive a greater compliI meiit. than that. The speaker gave | interesting reminiscences of the early days, with the war, and racing as la. means of relaxation. Mr Camp-il-cll dawned on his horizon in 1 872, j when the speaker rode a horse I named Melrose against Mr CampIl.ell's horse Cossack. Mr Campbell Iliad always been held in the greatlost esteem, and they all hoped that he would be long spared to be wi»h them. Mr Gifford Marshall said that there were three classes of people interested in racing- the owners, those ■ fond of a .gamble, and the man who I did not gamble and was prepared |to devote his lime for the good ot I racing, and the love of a horse. IMr Campbell came in that category, 'lie had rendered the dab great ser- [ vice as President, ho had presided I with dignity, and had always used | his best endeavours to keep the sport | clean. They had very much to [ thank him for. Air 11. Speed added his tribute, and in wishing the veteran President many happy returns of the day, said that they had to thank him for his kindness to the members and tho high ideals ho had always aimed at. Mr J. P. Watt said that under Mr Campbell there had never been a word of discord in the administrai tion of the club's affairs. Tho I speaker recalled a bygone incident—I a clearing sale at Gordon Park when a wild beast broke away and threatened danger to tho people there, but Air Campbell knocked it down and held it. Air Campbell was eighty years of age, but he was not an old man to those who knew him. He hoped that they would be able to meet on still more occasions to celebrate his birthday. At this stage Mr Paterson presented to Mr Campbell a beautiful silver salver, engraved with the names of the present and past stewards. It was engraved “Presented to Ewan A Campbell. President of the Wanganui Jockey Club, by the past, and present stewards and officers on the occasion of his Buth birthday, May 27, 1923.” Air Campbell got a great reception on rising to reply, and when he com menced to speak it was evident that lie was much affected. He said that lie had tried to prepare a speech, but had to “chuck it up.” He had not Known before that, he was such a tin god; praise was foreign to is nature, and flattery was a thing that he never could stand. The way they had treated him had broken him up. He was present at the first race meeting in 1848, when he was five . years old. The youngsters of the time gathered on a sand hill where ' the goal was now situated. The . race course was surrounded by hig'i manuka, but there was a cleared ' space where the road now came round. Clothes at the time were scarce for the youngsters, but they enjoyed tho races thoroughly. He ' could recall the following meeting ‘ as if it were yesterday, as a nativ.s ’ who was riding a horse fell at the turn and was killed. There was a ' cleared space through the manuka _ where target practice was held, an 4 the championship belt of New Zealand was won by W. T. Owen. Rae- ' ing for a period became a blank until 1874. He had horses named ; Cossack and Shylock. After the war racing was resumed, and he had been connected for forty years with ' it. He had made up his mind not ■ o bet, and never did, as he wanted ' to keep clear of monetary interest: ' while acting in a judicial capacity l , He had to thank all the members ‘ An old man found that his own

friends dropped one by one at the wayside, and were it not. for the fact that he went on making friends h.« would bo left alone. He felt that he had kept young by association with young people. One of his old friends who had lately gone was Mr Harrison, who would have gloried in being wi.h the present gathering. When his time came his only regrets would be leaving behind the real friends that, he had. who had given him so much comfori in his old age. He thanked all the friends who had done so much to make the gathering a success. It was very difficult to return thanks, but he did appreciate what they had done to celebrate his 80th birthday. He had done his best for racing. He would serve the club as long as they thought, he was any use to them, but they would only have to hint nt any time, and he would willingly step out and let another man take his place. Air Campbell’s health was honoured with great enthusiasm, and the gathering sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” During the proceedings a number of congratulatory messages were read. At tho close a photograph was taken, with Air Campbell in the centre of the group.