COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL.

Western Star, 14 September 1920, Page 3

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL.

A complimentary social was tendered the Otautaii Football Cluh by the citiens of Otautau on Thursday evening, Air E. Matheson presiding. In opening the evening the Chairman explained the object of the social, and', hoped that everyone would enjoy themselves. He then proposed the toast, “The King,” which was drunk with musical honours.

In. the absence of Mr F. 0. Mills, President of the Western District Sub-union, the Chairman called upon Mr M. O’Brien to present the banner and cup. Mr O’Brien, in proposing the toast of the “Otautau First Fifteen,” said that in the competition this season this team bad played 8 matches, all of which they had won. They had scored 135 points, and had only 19. points scored against them. There were only two occasions on which all the players had not been on the field when the whistle blew to continence. They had played sportstnen in a sportsmanlike manner, and had always returned full of praise for the hospitality of the other teams. They had found a New Zealand representative player, and had seven representatives in the Western District team.. Should they experience, another year as they had been going the All Blacks would have'to take a back seat —(Laughter). In the present Southland team the full back also came from Otautau. He tendered bis heartiest congratulations to 1 the- team on their excellent performances. It was some years since the Otautau team won the banner. • During the war thei’e wasvery little done as regards football, and the boys did not get back to harness* till this season, and had done well. He had pleasure in asking the captain of the- team, to come forward and receive the banner and cup. - (Applause). Orepuki had won the banner in 1905, 190 G, 1907, 1908, and 1909. Otautau won it in 1910, so they had a long way to go to beat the previous record. Taringatura bad won it in 1911, Waiau Rovers in 1912, and Riverton in 1914, 1918 and 1919. This was the second season on which Otautau had won it, but, from what he had been told by the captain and others, in future they intended! to make it an annual affair. —(Laughter.) The cup had been won outright by the Orepuki team, who had made a reputation to he proud of in sportsmanship in handing it back. This spoke volumes for the generosity of the Orepuki team.—(Applause.) Mr Ward also offered the congratulations of the Riverton Club, and said the Otautau team had played! the. game and stuck together throughout the season.

.Mr L. J. Brown,-.Manager of the team,| wished to thiuik.. the public of Otautan and district'for their support, which had enabled the team to carry on. Ho congratulated the team’, and also the teams who had played against them, and who had taken their losses in a sportsmanlike spirit. It was ai pleasure to work-with the team. The following were the remaining toasts on the list;—Western District Sub-Union, proposed by Mr A. A. Liddell and replied to by. Mr A. 15. Ward and Mr J. T. Brooker. Southland Rugby Union, proposed by Mr A. 0. Mills; there was no represcnta-

tive present to reply. Western District Reps., proposed by Mr A. E.d Ward, and replied to by Messrs L. Foster, Weir, Grieve, A. Brown, Baird, Bell and Forde. Tbe All Black and the Southland Rep., proposed by Mr H. T. Thompson, and replied 1 j by Messrs Baird and Brown. Kindlre i Clubs, proposed by Mr G. Sinclair, and replied to by Mr L. Foster. Referees’ Association, proposed by Mr Jos. Millar and replied to by Messrs A. C. Mills and A. Riddell. Rady Supporters, proposed by Mr A. Fisher# and replied to by Mr G. Grieve. The Veterans, proposed by Mr L. J. Brown and replied to by Messrs S. Hirst and G. Hiuchcliffe. Kindred! Sports, proposed by Mr D. Grieve, and replied to I by Messrs M. O’Brien (Otautau Rac-j ing Club), A. Riddell (Birchwood Hunt | Club), J. T. Brooker (Bowling; Club), R. Lumsden (Hockey Club), and A. Fisher (Tennis Club). The Man agor, proposed by .the Ohadrman, and replied to by Mr L. J. Brown. The Press, proposed by Mr J. T. Brooker, and replied to by Messrs T. A. Mooney and Jno. Kirk. The Chairman, proposed by Mr Riddell, and replied to by Chairman. New Zealand Rep., proposed by Mr .A. Liddell, and replied to by Mr D. Brick

Musical items were rendered by the following:—'Messrs D. Grieve, G. Grieve, J. D. Kilgour; H. Hogg, H. Tresseder, H. Smyth, J. T. Brooker and D. Brick,

A medal, presented by .Mr M. Gonley for the best back was won by Mr lan Brown, and one for the best forward, presented by Mr Jos. Miller, was won by, Mr Baird.

The singing of Auld Lang Syne brought a pleasant evening to a close.