ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 316, 13 August 1896, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

After sixteen year’s service in the ■ National Bank—the great mining bank — Mr J. C. Webster, son of Mr Jno. Webster, “ king” of Hokianga, has resigned from that institution. Mr Webster was educated at the Auckland College and Grammar School, and while there developed a great partiality for athletics, i e is perhaps one of the best all-round athletes Auckland has yet produced, and what is more to his credit, he has taken an active and intelligent pare in the administration of a number of out-door sports in Auckland. He has quite a record in this respect. He is the oldest member of the Auckland Cricket Club, with good averages as batsman and bowler. He has played in many representative football matches, notably with the first rep. team sent on the southern tour. He was also selected for our first Maoriland team for New South Wales, and was secretary of the Auckladd Rugby Union for two years. He has also won races for his rowing club —the North Shore —and was owner of the yacht Wanderer, and vice-commodore- of. the Auckland Yacht Club, and is now a member of the committee. He was a delegate on the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. He also gave gymnastics a start in Tauranga, where he started a gymnasium, and acted as hon. instructor. He has also touched the “ millingtary,” and was first Corporal, and then Lieutenant, of the “O” Battery, for which he also officiated as hon. treasurer. This record is quite unique, and displays Mr Webster’s great capacity for work, and he certainly has reason to be proud of the position he has occupied in the athletic world. If further testimony were required of Mr' Webster’s popularity, it was manifested on his retirement from the . National Bank, when he was presented with a silver tea-tray and office-desk by his fellow officers. This popularity should now be of some value to him, as Mr Webster has now started in the sharebroking business, and his banking knowledge should be a special service to him, and when a man has been so prominently before the public for so many years, it is sufficient guarantee that his character has stood the test of public opinion, and a good character is an essential item in sharebroking. A grand athletic tournament is advertised to commence at the Agricultural Hall on Monday, August 17th, when competitions in all-round athletics will be held for gold and silver medals. With such well-known athletes as Donald Dinnie and J. Sutherland figuring on the programme, lovers of sport should roll up in strong force. The prices of admission are 2s, Is, 6d. Wrestling will be taught during the day at moderate charges. Gaudaur has accepted the date named by Stanbury (September 6th) to row the sculling match for the Championship of the World, and he has sailed from Canada for England.