SEDDON SHIELD.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1923, Page 4

SEDDON SHIELD.

RECEI’TION TO WINNING TEAM. GREAT GATHERING AT TOWN" HALE.

The Town Hall, Hokitika was crowded to tho doors last evening at 8 o’clock when a public welcome was tendered to the members of the West Coast Rugby representative football teams (winners of the Seddon Shield) and the West Coast representatives of the Grey Boxing Association, who recently successfully competed at Ashburton. The Deputy Mayor (.Mr H. M. Coulkoii) presided in the absence of the Mayor owing to an attack ot influenza ami on the platform were the members of the two teams, Mr J. I'. 'Wilson (President of the West Coast Rugby I'nion, the Mayor ol' Grevmouth (Mr W. 11. I’arfitt), the County Chairman (Mr T. W. Duff) and others.

The Seddon Shield and other football trophies had a conspicuous position on the platform. The arrival of the team was the signal ot a very hearty reception, and throughout the speakers and team were accorded a very warm welcome and reception, the whole proceedings being of a very happy nature.

Mr Coulsoti m opening the speeches said they had gathered that evening to <lo honor to and extend a civic welcome t., the representatives of the West Coast Rugby Union, who had been successful in bringing the coveted Seddon shield to the West Coast. The occasion had a number of unique features. The Seddon Shield was inaugurated in 1997 for competition between the unions of West Coast. Haller. Nelson and Marlborough. About tin same time a commencement was made to drive the Otira Tunnel and now with the tunnel driven, and to Inopened this week, the Seddon Shield had been brought t»> the West Coast. The Coast team had nine dubs represented in it and tta* db-trict stretched

from liiaiigahmi .Dilution i■» Bruce Bov. Now they had won it they must do their utmost to retain ti..- Shield, lie congratulated (lie team tint! in(upturn. Mr Steel, the Ail Black, win i aine from Kumara. Mr Steel had a reputation that iinv footballer must laproud oi. They also had the represen-

tatives of the Boxing Association pre-si.-nt and to them a very cordial welwas also extended. He took the opportunity again of extending on liehalf of the people of Hokitika a very hearty welcome and congratulated them on their .splendid victory. lie also expressed the pleasure it gave thorn to have the Mayor of Grevmouth on the platform that evening. Mr T. W. Dull' (County Chairman) expressed tln* pleasure if gave him to join in the welcome. They were extremely proud of the men who had been able to bring hack the Seddon Shield, and on behalf of the people ol the County of Westland he extended his heartiest congratulations. Mr 11. I’arfitt (Mayor of Greymomh) said he first had to thank the Deputy Mayor for his welcome. It was his first appearance in Hokitika in his official capacity, but he hoped it would not he his last. He thanked these present for the hearty rei option given. The present oeeasimi made him proud to he a public limn, lie was in entire unison in joining in the well ome to the men. This was n week of historv. The Otira

Tunnel was to be opened, the Seddon Shield had been secured and that afternoon they had opened the .Memorial Hall at Kumara. the birth place of the captain of the Seddon Shield team. Mr Jack Steel. He congratulated the captain and other members of the team who had so worthily upheld the honor of the Coast. He had gone north with their public men in connection wiili the Exhibition. The district should stand shoulder to shoulder and he would do his utmost to bring about a union of the people as a whole that would novel I: * separated.

Mr F. McGregor (President of AYeslIsiid Sub-1 r nionI congratulated the team on their success. He was glad to know tlittl the men from this district had taken part in the team. They were only a small sub-union, but if the north had drawn on lln-iri helore. they may have got. Ihe shield here f.-eioro. lb* vougra Iu la ted Die train on then jilav ami the boxing representatives on their suer:-;-s in the South Island championships. Mr D. .!. Evans d'*sired 1 i s.-s-n-iate with the Deputy Mayor in extending a civic -.veh-ame and !" congratulate ihe footballers mi their victory. Thcv had many good men in the football field before, but there had been notliinp; (hat. th *v laid done greater than the d.-eis-ivi win of Sal onlay last. He paid n t-ril;-ute to the sportsmanship of (lie Nelson people, who had acknowledged I hat tile heller team won. The event would give a great spurt In lonlball oil the Coast, and would tend to make a marked improvement on the standard of play. The captain. Mr Steel, had been rj member of I In* .Ml Blacks, hut they had also sent K.X. All Blacks from this district ho hire. This season has shown a marked improvement in nur football. lie joined in the wish that the shield would long remain with us and congratulated tho manager of the team (Mr <l. F. AYilson) on the sutcess of the recenl trip. Tho conduct of the team had been excellent. They were the representatives of tho community. ami had worthily uphold the honor of the district. The Chairman boro read apologies for absence from lion H. Michel, Mr If. Tl. Barretl (Cohden), and Mr T E. V. Seddon (Greyrnoiith). A Maori baka by Messrs Davis, Bannister. Rainier and Steel fairly brought flown the house and had to he repealed. Ml- .T. F. 'Wilson (J’rosidonl of the ■ AY‘-st ('east Rngljy Union, and nian-n-ji-r of the team) said the play at A'elI sou was the best game the (oast had I put nr, since they had beaten laranaki. | Nelson had played a great, game and ! were dangerous to the last- minute of j tin* game. Mr 'Wilson referred to a j number of incidents of the tour, and I suited that now they had the Shield i they should do their utmost to retain ; ft. Reference was made to a tiiun- ' her of players, hut all had excelled, and I (!-, served their host thanks. He urged , the district, to do as till* team had ' done, all to stick together and then thcv would come to no harm. He also | referred io the success of the boxing rej prosenialives. I Mr T. Irving ([mingnfiua) joined in i the good wishes staling tit Nelson the combination of the Coast- team was reI mnrkahly astonishing, showing (hat football on the Coast was on a high i grade. They must find methods tor ' keeping the’Shield here, and to do so j the public men must dip intn_ their ■' pockets and assist, so as to give t he ; men an opportunity to have some trt n, j ing. | Mr Bennett ('President of tho A*so- , edition Football. Grey) joined in oh- ! gratulations to tile team and also to j the boxing hoys. Their success wo il l ] go a long wav in retaining the ref'itnj tion of the Coast. Mr Jneic Steel (captain) had a most 1 heartv reception. He thanked them all for their hearty reception. It bad been ; a great pleasure to be captain of such ! a fine lot. ft had been a great pleasure to eiime down. The team was a good one and if they stuck togeili >r they could retain the shield. lie thanked them all for their kind reception. Mr Kim Williams (manager r' tl* j Boxing team) said his team had won I two firsts and two seconds, and tiny i would ably uphold the honor of the ; Const at the coming New Zealand championships. j Mr Coulson said it was gratifying to j find stub a representative gath-nng 1 present to recognise the fine work of , the te;\m. j Mr Parlitt moved a vote ol thanks I to the Chairman for presiding. By special request tho team gave a ‘verse “On the Ball" followed by a parody on the Seddon Shield. ! A til'd I.ang Syne and the National ; Anthem then concluded a very suoi (essful gat holing.

A SOCIAL llol'll

A {tor the public welcome an adjournment tvas made to Mclntosh's Club rooms where the Westland f.iub-1 mou entertained the two teams aniljisitiim notables. Air F. .M<-Gre<o'.r (Chairman of the Sub-t'nion) presided and the club-rooms held an orarflotvinj: attendnue/i a ran: r'-ftif ttTft h<V

ing spent in toast and song. During the evening songs were rendered by Messrs Bannister, Bennett, and Reynolds. the latter also presiding at the piano. The proceedings proved very enjoyable, the various speakers receiving flattering hearings. The toast list comprised The King, the Rep. teams, the Visitors, the Referees’ Association. the West Const Rugby Union, the Press, tho Manager of the Team, tho Father of the Capt. of the Team, and the Chairman. The speakers included Messrs F .McGregor, J. F. Wilson, 1). .1. Evans. H. M. Coulson. C. J. Sellers, ] J. Steel. T. Trving. E. W. Heenan. I). Dowell. T. Mclntosh, Capt. Cox. Nelson. L. Palmer. A. Benjamin. W. ll.< Parlitt, K .Williams, A. Grogan, and .J. Steel seiir. (father of the All Black) who received a specially hearty reception from the gathering. The proceedings concluded shortly after 11 o'clock with the singing of Aiiid I.ang Syne and the National Anthem. Tho visitors attended the Ladies’ Hockey Club dance, and left for Greyrnoiith hv motor cars about midnight.