SPORTSMEN FOREGATHER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 77, 1 June 1945, Page 5

SPORTSMEN FOREGATHER

FIRST SMOKE CONCERT HELD ROD AND GUN CLUB FUNCTION KINDRED CLUBS REPRESENTED With appropriate trophies adorning the walls and tables groaning beneath the weight of refreshments and appetisers of all types, the supper room of the Winter Show Buildings gave forth a festive and jolly atmosphere on Tuesday night. The occasion was the first smoke conlcert to be held by the new Whakatane Rod and Gun Club. Although there was a sharp nip in the air ? the eighty odd members and guests present kept it well at bay by following the simple maxim that real warmth comes from the inside and not from the outside. They accord- ; ! ing!ly saw to it that the fires inside did not lack fuel.

Mr J. D. Rivett ? President of the Club who was the first, speaker, ' i said that it was his pleasant duty to welcome Mr W. Sullivan M.P^ His Worship the Mayor Mr B. S. Barry and all fellow sportsmen to the gathering. It was his wish that the club shiuld give to them that night, an idea of what it had been formed for and an idea of the sueJ cess it had had in field and stream. There were he said many avenues > -» of work open to the club such as the restocking of streams and he hoped members would fully appreciate their responsibilities in this direction. Concluding he expressed his desire to co-operate with the members of the old club tj and trusted everyone present would enjoy themselves to the utmost, thus making the occasion a success. Apologies were received from the presidents of the Opotiki and Te Teko Clubs for their unavoidable absence. Proposing the toast to "Kindred Clubs " Mr Frank Cameron, Secretary of the Whakatane Rod and Gun Club said that now they had an J assurance not a but an assurance from the Minister of Internal Affairs that Rod and Gun Clubs would receive the same consideration that they had before the he felt the club could look forward to some excellent shoots in the future. Mr W. Stevenson sen./ Mr J. Ormond, President of the Rotorua Rod and. Gun Club, and Dr. Campbell of Hawcra replied congratulating the Whakatane Club on its size ? and the enthusiasm of its members.

Proceedings continued with a spot (of community singing) led, by Mr Taffy Atkinson which served to loosen up the vocal chords of those gathered round the I'eKtive board. Congratulating the club on the membership it had obtained, Mr W. Sullivan, M.P. said, that it was gratifying to see such an interest, in sport in! the district. He went on to recount several anecdotes concerning 'the game' t as he put it and concluded by saying that with regard to the Grand Liars Contest which was to be held he could merely say that he had never told one. (Loud laughter and applause). Endorsing the congratulations of previous speakers His Worship the Mayor Mr IS. S. lSarry t said that it was encouraging to see the way in which members were entering into the work of making the club a success. A body such as the one- gather-

Ed there that nighty was an* asset to a town like "VVhakatane, and he trusted it would be Tostered to the utmost during the years to come. A number of enjoyable items were presented throughout the among the most popular ol' these being two songs by Air W. a violin solo by Mr .A. Clark ? vocal and mouthorgan solos by Air C. Kerr and a vocal item by Mr Ted who also acted a pianist for all other items and community singing. The Liars Contest which was •J something in the way of a" novelty (although apparently not to the fishermen present) was highly entertaining. It is always an inspiration to be present- when the masters of any sport, trade or entertainment foregather, and Tuesday was no exception. Wopper followed wopper_ till in the end Air Barrv who filled 9 " *

the j)osition of temporary probationary acting unpaid judge of all wop-: pers put was tilled with the conviction that the spirit of Ananias himself must have been putting the words into the mouths of the speakers. The winner, Mr F. Mayo, whose story, with all'the usual trappings and asides concerned the manner in which lie managed to lasso a lish } was formerly adjudged the winner. During the evening ) a choice dinI nor which included everything liom smoked trout ? roast wild duck s roast pheasant wild pork and venison, to roast swan (the. freshness of which was vouched for-in print on the souvenir menu by none other than the secretary himself). The game was served with all the usual and congratulations go to Mrs Rivett Mrs T. Hansen and Mrs F. Cameron besides a committee ol other ladies and the wives of the

various sportsmen who were responsible for the excellent cooking. The toast, list was as under: —- "The Loyal Air J. D. Rivett; '"Kindred Clubs;' Air F. Cameron and Alessr.s R. Stevenson (Huntly) J. Ormond (Rotorua) and Dr. Campbell (Hawera); "All sportsmen who supplied game for the Smoko," Air J. D. Rivett; ''The Acclimatisation Society " Air Bell and Air Francis; "Kindred Sports !r Air Lodge and Air Peterson; "'The Press " Air F. J Air Peterson; '"The Press." Air Frank i Cameron and Graham 'West.