WORDS OF FAKEWELL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2001, 7 March 1914, Page 8

WORDS OF FAKEWELL.

- TO MR, ErE FEiXOHO. TWO PRESENTATIONS MABE. At the Empire. Hotel. last, evening members of tliacmnicii of this Now Zealand Amateur .Athletic Association assembled to offer felicitations to. Mr. E. M. Poixotio, manager of tlio American team of athletes, cttthe 'sueeessfal'tour now closed, and to present hml with an emblem of esteem. The chair, was occupied bv Mr. A. Marryatt. Mr.. Marryatt, said that tfioy had .met to express tlieii- iipprsciatioJ! of th' maimer in which Jlr. Peisotto had managed the team, The six-.aker referred to tlio strenuous travelling which ■ the athletes had had to- nndortako.. and tlio adverse- weather which they had encountered— all without complaint;" Not only had Mr. Peixotto ra'attaged bis team well, but he had helped the council' to carry out a proj.crt' that- was even mora important than the actual presence of the men. Ho referred to the lectures which Mr. Peixotto had given. As the result of these leciure'V.Mr. _ Poisbfto had been able to/get tho eiti*-<?ns and the council' interested in ■ play&tottuds <and athletics for children. "This would mean great things for New Zealand. They were- all proud to hare mot Mr. Peixotto, and they hoped that he- would retain pleasmi recotfeeMohs of New Zealand.

The Prosentatioir. Mr. Marryatt then asked Mr. Pekptte to' accept a small tokeii of esteem,.which took the hovel form of m inscribe cd gold medal suspended between two upturned piece,.") ot 'taftgiwai" greenstone, shaped after themanner-of boar's tusks. Tho bntt-end of the "tusks" were'gold•mouaied,"-and fised to a geM device screwed into a flat piece -of. greenstone. ,Mr. Marry at'; said -.tHa*. tlio nniquo design had. beep furnished by .Mr. Crouch. Tin? greenstone' was emblematic of thoeoniitry, and the •goldused was New Zealand gofd. ' 'Mr. J.' ' H.' i*olioc.k also paid 4 tribute to Mi". Fekqtto's leotiires. The Hon. A. L. Herdman had been present at the sporfe that afternoon, and when he saw the attoiida.ne.o, tho. manner'in .which-the sports were eoiidnctcd. and tho way,in lV&ieh ho was fostering athletics, in the schools, he had asked •tho":speaker to-convey.to Mr. Petotto Ms (Mr." Herdman'*) appfeeiatjon for what he had dofte in New ZealaiM}. Mr. G. Sl'Hill.expressed appreciation for Mr. Peisotto's work ,on - behalf. of the Now Zealand Swimming As-spciatiQU.' , Mr, Pefxattrs Reply.

Mr. Peixotto, said,, in reply, that he thought, they wero -all greatly overestimating what-he had.done. If tho record of. the team''had ( l)eeii a' good one, it was entirely'dne to the men themselves. As regarffed liis . lectures, if. they had'given an?' inspifstkm,. ho was gratified, but.,he '*\*a.*ited to warn theni that, in such cases, it'was usuai to'get' excited for' a time,, and then die" enthusiasm died.out'* -juleiis -ihey stniek: whilo the• iron wag hot. .Ho ..hoped that'tlioy' would .ail werk to further tbeiiitorests of "school Mhleties, avid if it produced such 'results as. ho -jad ft*n that day, (at' - !tliie'- .Kark) he ..would bo gratified. VAs-fe-'-as ■th.oVt.rip-wiis.eua* cernod, the' pleasure, bad' been' ajl his. It liadjustbeeira-'vaea'tioh, ah.d talking a little by ..the -\vay ;had been a plea-: sure. He would he eswemely.glad to do anything for ' them in Atnßiiea. at any time, and hoped that-, some time. ho would have, tho'ptoa-stjro of shaking some.of them by the haftd- Op hm naiive heath. '. "' • "

Romembered.

•' Mr. Marryatt 'then handed .a similar token to that one presented to'.M*?. Peixotto to that- gotttfotnaii to band, to Mr. Unmack,;-whose -eifartC had •h'ado the tour, possible. In doing so,, Mr. Marryatt expressed : thg, hope that -some day soon Mr. Unmack Would visit New Zealand.

Mr. \Peixotto, in replying;, .mentioned that the fact that sjr, t/nmaek had not been able'to come to New Zealand had cost tho. latter, a great, deal of repej). As he -stood on iho clock wjien tho fetjm■left, tears- stood iri'-his of regret, that, ho was not- making .the trip. It would give him - (the spcakef) . the greatest pleasure the is-m----hleni .when they aKive'd. haCK in Sail Francisco.-. (Applause.) '■