HOCKEY VISITORS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 13

HOCKEY VISITORS

DINNER AND DANCE CORDIAL RELATIONS The Wairoa women’s and men’s teams were entertained at a dinner and dance in Le Grand Cafe on Saturday night, Mr. H. Le Bas presiding over a good attendance at the dinner. In welcoming the visitors and supporters, .the chairman said that the presence of a past chainman, Mr. B. Sim, was an indication that the older meh still held an interest in the game. He was pleased to renew the acquaintance of Mr. Mahunga Pere, the Wairoa manager, and referred to Mr. Pere’s association with schoolboy hockey in Gisborne.

Mr. Pere, in reply to the toast to the visitors, apologised for the absence of Mr. Riddiford, in whose stead Mr. Pere was acting. Recalling the boys’ games he helped to control in Gisborne, he said he noted that some of them were now playing against their fathers. In conclusion, he referred to the cordial spirit prevailing between the Poverty Bay Hockey Association and the Wairoa sub-asso-ciation, and trusted that 'it would always , exist. Mr. iM. Edwards, captain of the Wairoa team, proposed the toast to the umpires. Work of Umpires

Mr. R. J. .Surgenor, chairman of the Poverty Bay Hockey Umpires’ Association, in reply, said that the umpire put more time into the game than the players .did, by attending weekly meetings, studying the rules and sitting for examinations. Mr. Mclntosh, Wairoa, and Mr. McKenzie also responded, the latter paying a tribute to the great help Mr. Surgenor had given to the umpires. Mr. L. Cooper, vice-president of the association, proposing the toast to the Poverty Bay tournament team, expressed gratification at the efforts of the association in financing the four, and said that’if the team showed the same spirit of co-operation while.away as they had done at home they would be a credit to the district.

The chairman, speaking on behalf of Mr. H. K. Swan, manager of the tournament team, said that if Poverty Bay was not represented at outside tournaments Gisborne coulu not expect to have the championships so frequently in their centre. Mr. Sim complimented Mr. Pere on the attitude he had taken in the affairs of the sub-association, and said that while such men as Messrs. Pere and Le Bas were in co-operation in the affairs of the association and sub-asso-ciation the spirt of good fellowship would continue.

Mr. Pere proposed the toast to the Poverty Bay Hockey Association and to the press. In reply to the toast to the association, Mr. Le Bas spoke of the splendid co-operation by the clubs in raising finances for the tournament team’s expenses. In conclusion, he referred to the departure of the Gisborne High School team to the secondary schools’ tournament in Wanganui, and said that the ' association was so impressed with the school’s standard of play that it hoped to assist the boys in a return match against the Napier junior representatives.

Replying on .behalf of the High School team Mr. J. McKenzie said that the High School Old Boys’ team had been formed as an appreciation of what Mr. G. W. .Langhorne had done for the school team. At the close Mr. Pere thanked Mrs. R. Watts for the assistance she had given the Wairoa teams. He also extended a welcome to the Poverty Bay men’s team to visit Wairoa.