The Banquet.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 52, 31 May 1884, Page 7

The Banquet.

The Aroha Football Team was entertained at a dinner in the Governor Bowen Hotel in the evening, when about 50 footballers and visitors attended. Mr L. Ehrenfried, president of the Thames Club, occupied the chair, and Mr Hickey the vice-chair. On a stand in front oF the Chairman was the cup to be contested for by the two teams. After the company had done full justice to the repast provided by Host Kicbar Is, the Ctiairraan opened the proceedings by proposing ''The Queen," vvhicii was drunk with enthusiasm by all present. Mr Tregonning, captain of the local team, propose'. 1 ■* The Visiting loaii.'' Commenting on the day's game he said the utmost harmony had prevailed. T.»e visitors ha.l the advantage <f woigut on their side and in his opinion they actod in a generous manner towards the loci' men, wnile the latter had made up fieir minds to die hard. Tne toast was responded to amidst cheers. Mr Verity, capt.ii i of the Te Aroba team, returned tuauks for the i-omp'i-xnent paid his men. r JLVy had come with the resolve of taking aw.iy f Jh.' cup an ! he w is sorry to say they were disappointed this time. Many people hid a great preju lice against foot!"\ll, Imt ho thought if tne game was played in a proper manner, it w.ts a healthy an 1 manly sport. Every father s.'ionld cultivate a taste for mmly sports in - j is !>oys. Many of <-u/ .-nidieia now suffering hardships in E^pjt owed the endurance of their constitutions to football. He proposed the uea.th of the * l Thames Football Team, 1 ' to nhicu Mr Tiegonuing briefly re-ponded. Mr Hickey, the Vice-Chairman, toasted "Tmc Local Liolie-,*' and inferred to the want of a recreation in tne town. It was veiy inconvenient to go to Parawai and if t^o Waio-Knrakn flat wih converted into a goo i ground by the local bodies it wouul be a gie.it boon to athletic ciu us ami the }>u'. lie at lari^c. lie proposed th: 1 Uic«( bodies, couyled with t: o name of tlie (Jhairmau. Tne (Jiiairman in re^jionding promised to lurtlier the interest of clubs uboutthe recreation ground as lar as lay in his power. Aii Styak proposed " Commercial Interests" to which tiie Chairman replied. " Ihe Pii-aident*' was toasted by Mr Hickey, who spoke of Mr Kiirenfrit <l*s kindnets in giving a cup for coMipetnion by tut? two clubs. In pi* sen ting this cup lie w«ts sell iiitfJinexm.. pit* to ot.,er puuiiimen oi' ' lie 'x'l>:iines>, tiius sliovving 1 nis illhTVal IV IV .!l,V -pol'l*,. . i II- <OliKt WRS warmly re^po,,dou to i»y the company.

The Giiiurman in replying s ski h«i was proud of his position as President of the Thames Football Club. His object in presenting the cup For competition was to encourage football and other sports. He was gratified to see, in the muscular young men before him, the effect such games had on the body. The remaining toasts on the li-twpre, »c Thp Aboriginal M^nhprs of the <J!ub," " The Umpires and ttofeiee," u Tress," " Ladies," and u Host and II utess," and a pleasant evening was brou lit to a Close wif i the National Anth.» n.