Social to Mr Dignan.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XIII, Issue 2384, 26 June 1895, Page 2

Social to Mr Dignan.

The most pleasant little party ever given in Woodville was that given in honor of Mr Diguan (who has been promoted to the Bank at Hamilton) at the Club Hotel on Monday evening. And it was a merry party, too. Mr Ruddick bore the whole expense, and when we say that that gentleman superintended the affair, those who are acquainted with Mr Ruddick will know that there was an abundance of the good things of this life. About 80 gentlemen were present, and Mr C. Smith occupied the chair, the guest of the evening sitting on his right, and Mr H. Monteith filled the vice-chair. After full justice had been done to the appetising supper, the Chairman proposed the toasts of " The Queen," "The Governor," " The Parliament of New Zealand," and " The Woodville Borough Council." After these had been duly honored, the Chairman then proposed the toast of the evening, " The health of Mr Dignan." He sa ; d that Mr Dignan had been a number of yea's amongst them, and had always taken a very prominent part in both, cricket and football, and he felt sure that both those clubs would feel his loss very acutely. He had a very pleasing duty to perform, and that to present Mr Dignan with a trophy which he had won for having the highest batting average in the cricket club during the season just ended. He wished Mr Dignan long life and happiness. The toast was drunk with musical honors. Mr Dignan sincerely thanked the Chairman for the kind way in which he had spoken about him, and also thanked the company for the hearty way. in which they had drunk his health. He felt sorry at leaving so many companions whose friendship he valued very much. They would have to excuse him if he could not find words to express what he felt, but before he sat down he had much pleasure in introducing his successor, Mr Cato, to them. The trophy consisted of a handsome gold albert with greenstone pendant. Mr Jardine proposed the next toast, which was " The noble game of cricket." He was afraid that the Woodville Club had not a very creditable past, but he had great hopes for the Club in the future, as he was certain that when they had their new ground to play on their players would greatly improve. He coupled the toast with the name of Mr H. Monteith, whom he described as the father of the game in Woodville. Mr Monteith replied in a characteristic and happy speech. The Chairman then proposod Mr Ruddick's health. He said that Mr Ruddick, with a few others in the town, were the mainstay of both cricket and football by their monetary assistance. He knew for a fact that Mr Ruddick's purse was always open to them, and he would instance tho case of the new cricket ground they were at present preparing. Had it not been for the assistance given by Mr Ruddick, and given, too, without soliatation, the improvement of the ground would not have been started yet. As it was, their ground would be fit to play on by next season. He had therefore great pleasure in proposing Mr Ruddick's health. Mr Ruddick asked that Mr Jardine might be allowed to return thanks for him, but he started to speak for himself, and continued, and an excellent speech he made too. He thanked them for the way in which they drank his health, and said that it afforded him a deal of pleasure to be able to support such a noble game as cricket, and he thought the Club should be supported by every citizen in the town. He did not play himself, but he looked forward with pleasure to the time wljcn his three boys would be able to handle the bat and ball with the best of them, He also hoped his boys would play football, the Association game, not the other, as he considered it the more scientific of the two. He again thanked them for drinking his health. The health of another great supporter of sport, Mr Sandel, was drunk in bumpers, and that gentleman responded in a very happy speech. There were a lot of musical people present, consequently the evening passed pleasantly. Fully thirty songs were sung, and many of them excellently, and it was early in the morning before the party broke up.