WELCOME TO MR. L. B. WEBSTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 64, 16 March 1903, Page 2

WELCOME TO MR. L. B. WEBSTER.

At the Criterion Hotel on Saturday | evening were gathered a number of! friends and admirers of Mr. Leslie! Webster, to welcome him hcmo after his recent achievements at the Championship Maeting at Dunedin. Mr. i Frank Thompson presided over the gathering, which took the shape of a I social evening. ; I After honouring the toast of the. I King, the Chairman proposed " The \ guest of the evening." He said they; had met together to welcome Mr. Leslie Webster on his successful return as an amateur athlete, and to show their appreciation of his splendid performances which stamped him asfbsing in the front rank, and gave him every reason to be proud of the position to which he had attained. Ia the 440 yards race at Dunedin, his friends thought that hud he reserved himself for that event there was do dnubt he would hive eclipsed the present staedard by two seconds. Referring to the welcome that evening, the Chairman expressed a regret that owing to want of space the number present had to be curtailed, and many who had expressed a wish to be present had to be denied that privilege. The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm and accorded musical honours.

Mr. Leslie Webstei, in reply, said he greatly appreciated the compliment paid him by his friends that evening. He was quite satisfied with his trip, having scored six wins from an equal number of starts'. He-was sirry no one had run him for the last half of the 440 yds, as he felt sure he could have equalled if not eclipsed tin Australian record, and as it was a championship meeting the record would hive been accepted. He warmly praised the hospitality and kindly treatment received from tha O ago Qeutre, and hoped this would be reciprocated when membars from that centre met at Wellington. He also cordially thanked Mr Wilson for his kind assistance during training. In conclusion he expressed his thanks to tfaose present, and especially to Mr D. O'Brien, tbe proprietor of tha hotel, for his liberality with regard to the arrangements for that meeting. Mr W. D. Webster, on behalf of himself, Mrs Webster, and family, also thanked those present for their kindness and good feeling toward* his son.] He detailed some. and interesting episodes of sport in the early days of New Plymouth. A number of other toasts were given and responded to, most of them in a vein of exceptional humour. During the evening, which was one of the most pleasant nature throughout, flume excellent songs were given by Messrs O.terson, - McAca, Warren, Byan, W. D. Webster, Weir, and Nelssn. Mr Warren also gave a very fine Irish recitatiou (Kitty OTccle) and Mr Tregellis read some lines he had composed relative to the occasion. All the gue'its were greatly pleased with the liberal arrangements made by Mr D. O'Brien for their enjoyment, and a special vote cf thanks was passed to him for encouraging, like a true "sport," the desire to do honour to one to whom honour is due.