COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9638, 2 November 1909, Page 6

COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON.

TO MP- W. E. BIDWILL

I At thp 'ast monthly meeting of ! Stewards of the Wairarapa Racing | Club it was decided that a comoli mentary luncheon be tendered to tor W. E. Bidwill, a Vice-Presi lent, ..■!" the Club, on his return fr*n » wj.t to Australia. ThL-? vviu a*v- > g««i td> beheld yesterJu., i*»o at *■>•;;: tba | Stewards &« vin tow «i">nv&M at "ftn ii!i , t , (ii'n.a* W t!»e purpose of be j jft.4 »T«.»r tiie new buildings, and i» ■•' i.»swty laid out racecourse. The l«tker is now one of the best in the Dominion. It is a chain wide, the top and bottom of the splendid straight have been nicely graded, and the track is fenced with concrete posts and heart of totara rails. The grass on the course is coming on nicely, and on New Year's Day the public should be treated to some fine racing, and very fast times may be recorded. Before leaving for Featherston, where the luncheon ceremony was to take place, Mr J. S. Cundy called upon Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.P., to propose the toast of the new course. In doin? so, Mr Buchanan referred to 4 Mr Bidwill's visit to Australia, which had not been so successful as they had all wished. He was pleased to find the Wairarapa Racing Club keeping well to the front in the matter of improvements, and he felt sure that for years to come good racing would be witnessed at Tauherenikau. Great credit was due to the Stewards for working in the direction of the Club's steady progress. It was to be re. gretted that legislation had permitted bookmakers to take up their positions on the courses, and it was to be hoped that an amendment would be made in this respect. The speaker referred to the fact of certain sections of the people objecting to racing, but he thought that while it was conducted on proper lines, there was no reason why legitimate sport should be objected to. He wished success to the Wairarapa Racing Club, and the favourite Tauherenikau course. Mr J, S. Cundy, said the Stewards of the Club had ever worked in the direction of progress, and in the matter of certain improvements had given bigger clubs a lead. The racing track would be one of the heat in the Southern Hemisphere, while the new cluak room was not equalled in New Zealand. Mr Quentin Donald said the next work to be proceeded with was the shifting of the Stewards' stand. Their aim also would be to give greater 'take money, which would result in better horses competing and larger attendances of the public.

The luncheon at Host i'ully's Empire Hotel, Featherston. was largely attended, and the President, Mr H. S. War-dell, occupied the chair. The following toasts were honoured:—"The King"; "Our GuestMr W. C. Bidwill," proposed by the Chairman, whose remarks were supplemented by Mr J. L. Uundy. Both speakers referred in eulogistic terms to the excellent work Mr Bidwill had done as a Steward, and stated that the Club's present high position among the leading racing institutions of the Dominion was in a large measure due to Mr Bidwill. Mr Bidwill, in rising to reply, received an Ovation, beinc cheered to the echo. He thanked the various speakers for their kindly remarks, and gave an interesting account of racing in Australia during his recent visit there. "The Press," proposed by Mr A. J. Toogood; "The Turf," proposed by Mr J. W. Curd, responded to by Mr H. Morison; "The Wairarapa Racing Club and its Chairman," proposed by Mr W. C. Buchanan, responded by by Mr W. E. Bidwill. "Our President." "Parliament," and "The Racecourse Trustees," were also honoured.