PRESENTATION TO MR G. RICH.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 21 May 1914, Page 9

PRESENTATION TO MR G. RICH.

Local ewhnincrs assembled at the Masonic Hotel last night to bid fare well, to Mr Griff Rich, handicapper to the Canterbury Centre, \vho. ha* be«n tr«nafo:red to tho West Coast. Mr W. E. D. Bishop, president of..the,. Can* tcrbiiry Centre, was in tho chair. . Mr Bishop referred to Mr Rich's lon~ connexion with, the sport in Canterbury and thj exce'lent cervices he jondered α-e handicapper, an office which required considerable abil ty and experience to fill satisfactorily. On behalf'of Canterbury swimmers he presented Mr Rich with a eton watch. , Mr/"W. Johnson, a iormcr handicapper for tho .Centre, Mr Goo. Milne, tie 'first' handicapper to the Centre, and. others also expreesed their eontiments respecting Mr Rich vMr Rich, in reply, ua d that he hoi-ed while .on the Coast to do something for tho advancement of ewimaung there. He hoped especially to be able ts brin? a!ong wat-?r polo and to preducoa team which, wouldl oven.tually win the water polo championship, held for fievera4.yeaTspast by. Canterbury. In this .connexion be urged on the Canterbury Centro to do thoir utmost to encourage the younger swimmers to become proficient in water polo so that there would be a good selection of m«n to take the place of those who at present were upholding the Canterbury etandard so well, but who in the course of t:me would be retiring from , active competition? Last Thursday night the members of th» Opawa Club presented Mr Rich' with' a travelling rug. The presentation war, mad« by Mr P. Menziea .and Mr G. Gensmell and others spoke.