BARNEY KERAN.

NZ Truth, Issue 64, 8 September 1906, Page 3

BARNEY KERAN.

THE UST SCENE,

, To' the ordinary-individual- Barney Reran already only flits across the memory, and then only when a pre-sent-day swimmer trudges through the water at more than ordinary speed and puts ,, up' time which; by comparison, recalls the great doings of the late world's champion. The ■larger portion of the fund collected .for the purpose of perpetuating the memory of Keran has been set aside for the. purpose of providing an Australasian challenge shield and medals for I competition amongst the school boys; so, for many years, the name and fame of the ex-Sobraon boy will be ; kept • green. , But to all except those who were of his day, aM able to fully value his worth .by, personal acquaintance, Barney Keran will be looked upon as some hero of the past, and the school boys who race for ■possession of * one of thej^niedals will sstrtve to equal the, doings of the poor 4ad whose memory the baubles ■feebly \ attempt to honor. At the Gore Hill Cemetary on Sunday the last scene was en-acted, and the curtain was finally lowered, only to be slightly lifted when; the contests for the Australasian shield and school medals are held. The memorial stone erected over the grave was unveiled under very unfavorable circumstances, and it is rather & pity that the, controlling officials did not see their ,wayi to postpone the ceremony. The unfavorable state of the weather prevented hundreds 6f swimmers and friends of the deceased champion from being present, but had it been thought that, the ceremony was to take place, wet or fine, many who stayed away would have dared the elements. The monument, Which is m the form of a Celtic cross m marble, was unveiled by Sir Francis Suttor,,who delivered a touching address. Amongst the others who addressed the gathering were : Captain Mason, of the. N.S.S. Sobraon,- who was present accompanied by a large contingent of Sobraon boys and Mr J..W. Turner, formerly [of the Fort-street school, and now of !the Education Department. ! The monument bears the following, inscription :— ' - In loving; memory oj .^ (BERNARD B, RERAN,Died December 22. 1905, aged 1$ years. R.I.P. . Erected by the nublic -as a tribute to the late champion swimmer of the world. He won his laurels by courage, self-denial and patient effort. His. achievements and nianly, qualities will long be remembered;

m this and other countries m

which his victories were gained. i

The subscriptions totalled '£306, which is to he expended as follows: Funeral expenses an A medical attendance, £90 : two shields, one for competition at the Australasian swimroinp; meeting and the other to he placed on hoard the Sohraon : and the balance of the fund is to provide medals for school competition for the "ext ten years, and also to keen the last, resting 1 place of thp chamwion m good order .—Sydney "Sportsman."