A PLEASANT FUNCTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 28 July 1913, Page 5

A PLEASANT FUNCTION.

ME J. B. MOODIE FARE- 7 WELLED. The committee room of the Masterton Racing Club was on Saturday afternoon tihe scene of a pleasing function, when the/' stewards of ;she club assembled to bid farewell to one of their fellow*stewards--iMr J. B. Mo.>die, prior to his departure for Wellington. <Mr Jas. Macara, a Vice-President of the Club, who occupied the chair, in the unavoidable absence of the President (Mr O. F. Vallance), said that while"' they were all sorry to lose Mr Moodie, they would heartily con r gratulate lii-xi on his promotion to Wellington. Ever since Mr Moodie had joined the club he had been one of its most active members, and in matters of finance he had tendered, valuable assistance. There was no doubt tibat his efforts had contributed in a great measure towards the'* splendid advancement made by the dub in recent years. At the last meeting be had rendered yeomans service by the' skilful and diplomatic manner in which he. had canned out the duties of Totalisator Steward. — (Hear, hear.) His fellow-stOfwards "felt that they could not let hiin leave without snowing in some degree their appreciation of his many sterling qualities, and extending both to Mr 'and Mrs Moodie their best wishes for their.future success. Amidst applausesthe chairman then handed Mr 'Moodie a handsome pair of field glasses', bearing the following inscription: "Presented to J. .B. Moodie by the Stewards of the Masterton Racing Club, July 26th, 1913." Mr D. McLachlan, another Vice.President, said that as one of the oldest members, and also one of the oldest stewards of the chxb, -he would fike to say a fey words. Although their club was one of the oldest in the Wellington province,, it had a very up-hill Tfight. : :Maa|erton wag somewhat in the background in regard "to the sporVand he thought: that more support should be forthcoming from the old-estaMisned sek tiers. In the past, it had been left to a few of the old members to keep things together, but he was, pleased to note that the younger men were nowjooming forward with their support. At the present time tie club was on the up-grade, and he thought its success was assured. It was gentlemen of the calibre of Mr Mopdie whom the club could ill afford to lose. His place would to very hard to fill, as he had been an active member ofthe club since he first* joined. >He was* a true "sport," and if they only had a few more public-spjrited gentlemen like him, v sport generally would be the better. He wished Mr Moodie every future success. iMr J. lorns said that Mr Moodie ha 3 come in at a time when the club was in dificulties, and his sound advice had been of great assistance. As a. member of the Finance Committee, ihe was the right man in the right place, and as Totalisator Steward he had shown great, skill and tact.. : Mr 0. C. Cooper said that the presentation to Mi* Moodie from his fel-low-stewards wis a just appreciation of services to the club. The valuable assistance given by Mr Moodie on the Finance Committee would long 'be remembered. The club was losing an active and valuable member in Mr Moodie. In .conclusion, he wished him'every success in his new sphere. (Mr Moodie, in reply, said he" appreciated very highly the presentation he had received, and the kind remarks of those present. He would prize the gift more particularly as,it came from as fine a body of men as ! one could wish to meet. Ever since I he had been connected with the club, he lhad endeavoured to oarry out his duties'in a zealous ,and upright manner, and he could only say that his work had been a labour of love. The committee was one of the most pleasant he had ever worked with, and it was a pleasure to be associated witili them. In regard to the finance, he only took a small share of the credit, for with such men as Messrs [Viallance, Pilmer, Cooper and Macara, they could rest assured that the finances of the club would always be well looked after. He would also like to say that the club was most fortunate in their secretary (Mr A. HathaAvay), and they could never wish for a better man for the posiI tion. He was always courteous and obliging, and any information they required was at his finger tips. He wished the club ©very success, and said that he would always have the most pleasant recollections of his association with the Masterton Racing Club.—(Applause.) The following toasts were then honoured:—"The Chairman," "The Patron," "The President," "Mr F. jE. Dorset," "The Caretakers" (Mr and Mrs McOonkey), Mr R. Buick; "The Secretary,' and "The Press." The health of Mr and Mrs Moodie was cfrunk in bumpers, and'a happy gathering was concluded by the singing of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow."