General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 226, 24 September 1945, Page 4

General News

Rowing Season. It was agreed at a meeting of the Wanganui Rowing Association to open the 1945-1946 rowing season on Saturday, October 20. The opening ceremony will take place at the Union Boat. Club. The association has made application for the New Zealand Rowing Championship Regatta to be held in Wanganui on Saturday, February 23. The last time a New Zealand regatta was held in Wanganui was in 1938. Fine War Record.

It was mentioned by the president of the Wanganui Old Boys’ Football Club, Mr. R. G. Taiboys, at the annual dinner and presentation of trophies at the Metropolitan Hotel on Saturday night, that more than 50 members of the club had joined the Armed Forces during the war. Of that total eight had made the supreme sacrifice. They are: Messrs H. Robertshaw, R. Hunter, W. Carrell, E. Lloyd, G. Robinson, V. Smith. L. Hore, and W. Christian. As a mark of respect to their memory the gathering observed a brief silence. Technical Education Officers The following officers were elected at the conference in Wellington last week of the Technical Education Association:—President, Mr. Oram, M.P. (Palmerston North); vice-president, Mr. T. W. West (Christchurch); executive, Messrs J. McDonald (HuU Valley), J. C. Baft. (Wanganui) and Mr. W. Appleton (Wellington); secre-tary-treasurer, Mr H. M. Scott (Palmerston North). Delegates to present the conference’s recommendations to the Minister of Education, Messrs Oram, Scott, R. G. Ridling, G. G. Hancox and A. McFadyen.

Churches in Co-operation A wide variety of topics was covered in five questions submitted at a conference of delegates from the Council of Christian Congregations at Christchurch from August 2'B to September 4, the result of which will be reported on by the six Wanganui delegates at. a public meeting to-night. The conference was invited to give an expression of the minds of Christian people on the following topics of Dominion interest:—The Christian message in modern times; (2) the relation of Maori and pakeha; (2) education; (4) international relationships; (5) industry, commerce and the land. The report of the discussions is io be printed in pamphlet form. The Nursery of Rugby.

Reference to the enthusiasm shown in the primary schools for Rugby foot, ball ws made at the annual reunion of the Wanganui Referees’ Association by Mr. A. Barnes, of the Intermediate School, on Saturday night. A great deal of work was being done there for the game, which was hardly seen, he said. Boys were keen, and long before the season started wanted to know what the team was going to be. And it was interesting afterwards to watch those various boys going through the grades and emerging in the higher flights of play. Those who worked in the schools were helping the game to roll along as it was meant to roll.

Totalisator at Awapuni An indication that the Awapuni racecourse, Palmerston North, is more centrally situated for racegoers than is Wanganui was provided in the totalisator turnover on Saturday, when the Foxton Racing Club’s meeting was held there. The amount handled on the eight races was £58,615, compared with £56,046 for the second day of the Wanganui Jockey Club's meeting. The meeting at Awapuni attracted visitors from as far afield as Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington, and the car-parking areas were taxed to capacity, with the result that many motorists encountered considerable delay in getting away after the last. race.

Historic Cup. In presenting the Wakefield Challenge Cup to M. J. Hunter, for the best all-rouna player in the Wanganui Old Boys’ senior team, at the annual dinner on Saturday night, the president Mr. R. G. Taiboys, said the cup was an historic one and had been won by many notable players. Names on the trophy are: L. J. Southcombe, R. Campion (twice), J. T. Tilyard, K. Svenson (former All Black and North and South Island representative), C. Bacideley. H. D. Blyth (twice), W. H. Carlson (twice), G. H. Bullock-Doug-las (1932-34 All Black), F. Gibson, E. R. Steere (1928 All Black), D. B. Barton (twice), W. Moffett, and G. H. Hook. Mr. Taiboys said it was a pleasure to see the cup won by a son of Mr. J. Hunter, who, in his football days, was a notable All Black. Kaierau Club Stalwart In acknowledgment of Mr. H. Willis’s long association with the Kaierau Rugby Football Club, the club executive has placed an enlarged photograph of Mr. Willis in its club room. At a recent gathering of club supporters tribute was paid to Mr. Willis as a coach by Mr. J. Moye, chairman of the Management Committee of the Wanganui Rugby Union, and the club president. Mr. A. Lockett. Mr. Willis is a life member of the Kaierau club. Before coming to Wanganui he played Rugby in Dunedin. He has taken a great interest in the lower grades of the Kaierau Club, which makes a special feature of its management of the grades. Mr. Willis’s experience was a case in point. He started one learn away down the grades and watched it right through until it became the senior side of the club. That was an example in club administration to a good many clubs in New Zealand.