Rugby Out East.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 24, 20 May 1914, Page 5

Rugby Out East.

have to look to the Taranaki Union for* help, but he believed they would have a successful year, and after that they would do all right. (Applause.) Mr Thurston also gave his support to the Sub-Union. The Chairman said Rugby football wag not dead by any means. All that it required was proper organisation—(hear, hear). “1 promise you this,” said the Chairman, ”1 am in hearty support with the formation of the Sub-Union, and so is every member of the Management Committee for the Taranaki Union. (Loud applause.) We will do everything to assist you in advice and in every other way”’ (Hear, hear). Air Masters referred to the excellent secretary of the 1 aranaki Union (Air Skoglund), who would give them every assistance possible. As to the game itself, as they all know, the Taranaki Union had an A and B team, and no doubt arrangements would be made for the B team to play the Eastern Districts. (Hear, hear,)' That would be something for their players to look forward to. In time they might be pitted against' the A team—(laughter)—but it would hardly be this year. In his opinion.’ it was something to play for, to represent the province. Players liom the Eastern District would be pickedfor the B team, , and who could say but that they would not unearth some Uiranaki rejis. Country teams ,-had supplied reps, before now. In conclusion, the Chairman# again assured die meeting of the'hearty support, of he Taranaki Union in the formation )f the SnbrUfii'Qu. Tr The motion was I then put to the ■ueeting and carried unanimously. In reply tp a question, the Chairman said the Sub-Union would. be iffiliatqd, at once to the New Zealand Union through the Taranaki Union. ’•LECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. Patron, Air J. B. Hine, AI.P. President, Mr Athol Meredith. Vice-Presidents (limited to five), Messrs A. A. Piper, James Rothery, ). McAloon, W. M. McCutchan, C. Bacon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr D. L. Hatton. ’■ ’ ■ :f - , , •. u ;, Atanagemfent Committee, the, 1 reident, Secretary ar d eight memhep— ( ifessrs Armstroi g.,,. and ~R ogei s ' Whapga), CiJlifh and; 6. Morrison. (Toko), TMHtdh sndj Ifolan ..(Stifltlisinore), Davis and NHspu (Kohm-atahi). Auditor, Mr R. J. Fawkner. HEADQUARTERS OF SUB-liWfdW h‘1 4 g9pS J ;4rof‘ discussion rosuftMd iver the j question of the headquart>rs, Stratford boijig first proposed",' but eypntiially ti rit jwas Whangamoinona should bo the hoadpuirters, as being the centre, ( of- ( an (ver-growihg football district.

FIXING THE BOUNDARIES. •. i The - 'Mowing;; (bqmVdaries were de>ided' uponp subjfest," of 'coursk 'ib ame being accoptied'Hy the ‘iVanaki *nto«w ■ or * ” " 11 /■' Toko: .Starting >n the west side," -Rlhdxifi tfrlilge, Patea river to"'t i he Mangaclm river, tjo Tntutawa town-' %Ti'ij> (along ‘track), “Manga-' ,tuk\j ;s JU)ad to Eaht R’oad;' teahu river, junction of Mahaku and Alauna Hiiiroa, the, Ma|airi road from Huiroa to Stanley Road, tcj Beaconsfield Road and to KakouiJ bridge. Te Wera: Mahaliu Road to Brewer Road, down to the junction on Mangahu Road, and north to include Strathmore Riding, Makahu Road to iMangatuku Road (Cowan track), continuation of East Road to Makuri Road, to Makahu and Akama junction, Hine and Jonas’ track to Waitara river, to Purangi bridge, ‘ and back along Junction Road to East Road, to Makahu Road. Whanga; From Makahu Road to Marco Road. Kohuratahi: From Marco Road to Tangarakau Gorge.

GENERAL. , The following ..sub-committee was appointed to draw up rules for the Sub-Union: —Messrs Hatton, Gillick, Thurston, and Armstrong, the rules to bo submitted to a subsequent meet, ing of the executive. The matter of insurance was left to the various clubs to arrange fpr.

The Deans’ Cup, which was. presented some years hack by Mrs Deans, of Whangamomona, for competition among the Whanga, Kohuratahi and Tc Wera clubs, was the, subject, of g good deal of discussion, and it was resolved that the conditions attaching to it be left as in the past, Mr Masters offering a shield to the Eastern Districts for yearly competition. “By Cosh! That’s'fine*!” was the expression of one delegate, and which best expresses the enthusiasm of the meeting as a whole. i , , THE FIXTURES. On the motion of Messrs Gil lick and Armstrong, it was resolved that two rounds be played this season. It was decided to start the fixtures on May 30, and these were arranged as follows for the first round: — May 30.—Kohuratahi v. Whanga,, at Kohuratahi; Toko v. Strathmore, at Toko. June 6.—Kohuratahi v. Strathmore, at Strathmore; Toko v. Whanga, at Whanga. June 13.—Kohuratahi v. Toko, at Kohuratahi; Whanga v. Strathmore, at Strathmore. As it is almost impossible for the Toko players to journey to Whanga and Kohuratahi, an oiler was made; on behalf of Toko, to pay the expenses of the others in visiting Toko, instead

of keeping to the locale of th© fixtures. .'This is a matter purely of arrangement between the clubs interested, but it shows the enthusiasm of the Toko players. It should bo mentioned that in visiting AYhanga three days would bo taken up in keeping faith with tho fixtures, hence the offer. THE COLORS OF THE CLUBS. I j There was some feeling between |the Toko and AYhanga clubs as to the colors, and it was stated that the I]jitter had “jumped” the other’s claim, viz., black. AATianga’s explanation was that the Toko Club had been practically Wtinct as far as outside football was concerned for the past year or two, and as AVhanga had been playing all along, the decision over a year ago to play “black” should not,,.be taken exception to. A conciliatory course was taken by the Chairman in dealing with the matter, apd eventually an amicable arrangement .was com© to, the Toko delegates, in spite of their instructions to the contrary, giving way. The colors now will be:—Toko, amber and black; Strathmore, red and black i.stripes•; AVhanga, black; Kohuratahi, blue and white hoops. J *•.£ 'Hi I APPOINTMENT OF REFEREES. The following were agreed upon;— AUssrs Armstrong (AYhanga), R. D. Alilne (Toko), A. Stewart (Kiore), AV. Good (Ngatimaru), the secretary to arrange for the appointments for the fixtures. IN CONCLUSION. The Chairman expressed his great pleasure at presiding, and hoped the meeting would result in some good to football in. the Eastern Districts. Air Gillick proposed , a hearty vote of thanks to Air Alasfers for coming to the meeting and presiding on an occasion so important in the history of football in the district. It was an epoch-making event in the Eastern Districts, and in the Province. Air Alasfers had given his valuable services towards what should be classified as a progressive movement. Toko was heartily delighted with its own importance in this matter of Rugby football, and they most heartily thanked ,t|io delegates for' their ?cifsacrillccp in attending thej meeting, on so bleak a (day, s^pAj r Sng-|lu|l everyone, 'had interests'lof Eitglyv U, heart.,,., The game was' beingf ji|ut info tl\©j position he desired sjee, ami with the Sub-Union .was assured. ers was'dosetyihg 9f, t a,,l\Qg|'ty Vote of thanks for his able advice and good guidance. There Wffk’U feeling of . ITs him for presenting ftfro.i Shialil I.for yearly, competition, j j '(Applause). - It. was pleasing to know that the nanie of AvVilkl be associated ' with the history of football in tlie district, ail'd* *th rough all tlio,ages there would bo deep gratitude to him-as the donor of the first trophy for competition in the district. (Loud applause.) Ho moved - a hearty vote of thanks to Air Masters. 1 ’ ;| Mr ‘Hatton seconded the motioriV which whit Carried by! ffcoHMOflonf and ‘tftfe meeting ended.U i .{UiiU' I" *-.{ H I i /

1 'COM PLIM ENTA RY.PINN EB. [-id 1 ,w.i; '■'!.■ jT? s,v,„ ..w itwro. - -* ■ '.After the meeting jthe visiting delegates* were entertjilod by numib&fs of the Toko Club atlthe Toko Hotel. Mr A! "A.' Piper presided,; land the proceedings were mo|U enthusiastic. After .full justice! had been done to the spread provided by Host Hintz, a short toast list was honored. After the loyal Toast of “The King,” which was proposed by the Chairman, Mr G. Morrison proposed “The Xew Zealand Rugby Union.” He outlined the advantages to clubs in being affiliated to some governing body who could guide and protect them.—Mr Armstrong suitably responded. “The Taranaki Rugby Union” was proposed by the Chairman, and responded to by Mr R. 1). Milne (secretary of the Toko Football Club). Mr Gillick proposed “The Eastern Districts,” and in the course of his remarks detailed the business done at the. conference. In wishing the Sub-Union every success ho referred to the great consideration shown to the delegates by file representative of the Taranaki Union, Mr R, Masters, ..The mere mention of the presentation of a shield by Mr Masters raised a storm of applause, and the singing of “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” followed.—Mr Hatton responded to the toast. * Other toasts were: “The Press,” proposed by Mr G. Morrison, and “The Ladies,7 proposed by Mr Cliff Mather ami responded to by Mr George Cleary. : A large gathering assembled on the station on the departure of the visitors, who were given a cheery farewell.

FORMATION OF SUB-UNIGN ENTHUSIASTIC DELEGATES. With the growth of Taranaki’s hinterland, Taranaki's premier sport— Rugby—grows apace. Despite bud roads, despite inconvenience in the present railway service where the ironhorse runs through, despite distance —which in this case seems truly to lend enchantment to the view—despite all disabilities, the old game of Rugby, through a meeting held yesterday in Toko, embraced an organised tract of country miles and miles in circumference, and extending, as the crow hies, over forty miles from th* main line of railway. Hugbyites in general will be pleased to hear of the strides made in the game, but none could be more enthusiastic over th® birth of the Sub-Union than were th© delegates representing the four clubs now nestling comfortably under the wing of the parent body, the Taranaki Rugby Union.

THE LEADING STEPS. It will be interesting to learn a few facts concerning the history of the movement, and what can be better than quoting from the speech of Mr D. L. Hatton, secretary of the Whanga. Club, who is recognised as the man primarily responsible for the immediate formation of the SubUnion. As one delegate said at the meeting yesterday: “Mr Hatton has done in a year what we have failed to do in years.” But to proceed; Mr Hatton had been associated with the South Otago Sub-Union, and knew how to go about the business. Last year he set his idea in motion, but at that time the Te Wcra (now Strathmore) Club was not inclined to support the proposal, and a damper was thrown upon it. This year, howeret the four clubs (Toko, Strathmore, Whanga, and Kohuratahi) were unanimously in favor of an attempt be ing made to form a Sub-Union, and from the encouragement Mr Hatton received to his Jott,er s on the subject, be called the delegates together at Toko yesterday. GETTING TO BUSINESS. The representative of the Taranaki Union was the treasurer, Mr H. Masters, who presided, and the following delegates were’in attendance: —Messrs 1). L. Hatton and D. Davis (Kohuratahi), A. A. Piper and Jos. Gillick (Toko), W. G. Thurston and V. H. Xolan (Strathmore), K. g. Armstrong and J. • Rogers (Whang*). Apologies were tendered for'the absence of Mr J. McLeod (chairman of the management committee of th» Taranaki Union), and Mr J. B. Hin«, M.P. for Stratford.

Mr Piper, on behalf of the Toko Club, welcomed the delegates in a few well-chosen remarks, expressing; the opinion that a Sub-Union would be one of the finest things ever done for Idle advancement of Rugby in the district.

Mr Masters, after referring to the object of the meeting, called on Mr Hatton, as convenor of the meeting, and on the conclusion of the latter’s remarks as referred to above, Mr Hatton moved that a Sub-Union under the jurisdiction of the Taranaki Union be formed, to be called the Eastern Districts Sub-Union, and embracing the area of country east of Stratford to the Tangarakau Gorge. The motion was seconded by Mr Davis.

Speaking to the motion, Mr Gillick said it gave him much pleasure t-o be associated with the gathering, both as an old-time supporter of Rugby, having been secretary of the Alhambra Club in Dunedin, and also later in the Wairarapa, having been associated with Eketahuna and the Bush Union. Ho felt that something should be done to put Rugbyon a solid and proper basis in this district. It seemed a sham© in a district like theirs, which was being opened up and with increasing railway facilities, that Rugby should be allowed to die out. * ther game* were creeping into prominence, and unless Taranaki and New Zealand Unions responded by inducements and encouragement to the count -y districts in the shape of forming subunions to carry out the good old game, it must in a slvvt t ; m© die out altogether Somvtnicg was needed to rekindle the fires of enthusi.'sin. Even >n Toko there was plenty of good materul that only required bringing out r.n i encourage g and developing. ITe lad i o oeulit thao with the formaUon cf tlm SubUnior. the success of Rugby football was assured. Already, they had two or three strong teams, and in a few years the Eastern District would be one of the strongest districts. With training, good coaching, and every encouragement from the authorities—and Toko would do their share—they would attain to a high standard of play. Mr GilUik appealed to the wisdom of the members of the Taranaki Union to support and encourage them in their infancy. The movement had his hearty support, and he would do all he could t* stimulate the good old game. (Applause.) Dir Armstrong said he was pleased |to see the movement start off so well, I and it would have his best support. For three years he had been trying •,to get a Sub-Union going, but no one i would take an interest in it. New it | was going ahead, and there was every : promise that it would he successful in the future. Of course they would