Gisborne Beflagged for Heeney’s Return

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 458, 13 September 1928, Page 1

Gisborne Beflagged for Heeney’s Return

BOXER’S HOME-COMING enthusiastic welcome Press Association GISBORNE, To-day. Gisborne was beflagged to-day for Tom Heeney’s home coming. A large crowd assembled to witness his arrival. When Heeney and his wife took up a position on their hotel balcony they were loudly cheered by the crowd. Addresses of welcome were delivered by the Mayor and other citizens. Tom Heeney is to be entertained at a banquet given by representatives of numerous' public bodies to-night and to-morrow he will attend a boxing contest where he will give a sparring exhibition with his brother Jack. On Saturday night he will be entertained by the Gisborne Savages and a visiting party from WellingYm. Tom Heeney, in reply to the addresses of welcome, praised American sportsmanship. He said he had gone there unknown and had been treated as though he were an American. The people of the United States were considered here and elsewhere to be poor sports. He announced that when he had finished his career he would come back to settle in Gisborne. Mrs. Heeney, in response to a call from the crowd, also spoke in reply. STORM OF CHEERING

‘‘You’ve grot me stuck up here to-day and I don’t know what to say,” remarked Tom Heeney as he stepped forward and weathered a storm of cheering:. “I can say that it gives me great delight to receive such a welcome from the town I was born in. *‘l know you don’t want to know much about fighting—l don’t know much myself,” continued Heeney. “I only thought I knew something about it, but then I met Tunney. I was after the championship and did not get it, but now Tunney has decided to marry and retire that gives me a chance. “I will return to the United States in December to fight in the elimination series of bouts, there being about four men with good chances of whom I am lucky enough to be one. When I get back there the memory of all the good things you have said about me will make me put a bit more snap into my work. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me.” OPOTIKI’S WELCOME FLOWERS FOR BOXER’S WIFE AND MOTHER “FUTURE WORLD CHAMPION” (From Our Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, To-day. Tom Heeney and his party were greeted with cheers on their arrival at Opotiki. After a short rest they attended a public welcome at the Alhambra Theatre, where Mrs. Heeney, senr., and Mrs. Tom Heeney were presented with bouquets by Miss Vera Carruther, on behalf of the Opotiki Boxing Association. The representatives of various sporting bodies were present. The DeputyMayor, Mr. W. Burrett, presented Tom Heeney and his wife to the assembly, which numbered several hundred. Mr. J. Shaw, president of the Opotiki Boxing Association, and Dr. H. M. Budd, president of the Opotiki Rugby Union, also' welcomed Tom Heeney. The speakers said that they hoped that before long Heeney would be the world’s heavy-weight boxing champion. Heeney, who briefly addressed the audience, received an enthusiastic reception. Later, the party was entertained at dinner at the Royal Hotel. Afterwards they left for Mutu, where they stayed the night. This morning they left Motuhora railhead by train, arriving at Gisborne before mid-day.