DINNER TO HELENSVILLE FOOTBALLERS.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 159, 19 August 1892, Page 2

DINNER TO HELENSVILLE FOOTBALLERS.

The Kopuru Football Club entertained their Helensville friends at dinner in Mr McCabe’s hoarding-house ou Saturday evening ; the band was accommodated in the smaller room while the footballers tilled the larger one. The dinner was an excellent oue, well carried out and well gone into. When all had satisfied themselves Mr C. Matthews, president of the Kopuru Club, called order and said he was pleased the Clubs had been able to meet a second time this season. The game had been a most enjoyable one and he was pleased that his Club had been able to register 1 Helensville ’on its banner. He hoped they would meet again in 1893 and again register that name. He then proposed tlie health of the visiting team. Mr Donovan thanked Kopuru for the way they had treated himself and team. He hoped the teams would meet again. That day's game had been a friendly- one, and Helensville could take a beating but they would not forget it. He intended to suggest next year that Helensville shoal,t join the Wairoa Rugby- Union, He proposed the health of the Kopuru team. Mr Metre seconded Mr Donovan’s remarks and said they all appreciated the efforts made for their comfort. He always enjoyed meeting the Kopuru or other Wairoa people for whether they lost or won good feeling always prevailed. Mr Joseph dioiloy was pleased, as Captain of the Kopuru Club, to respond to the good wishes expressed, Tie had played against Helensville several times, both in the Aratapu and Kopuru Clubs and they had always had happy times It had taken a good deal of trouble to keep the Kopuru team together and if they had been able to practise regularly their record would have been a better one. He proposed the toast of ‘ The old Rugby game of football.’ Mr T. Day proposed ‘ The Press ’ and said the district was well attended to in having two organs. The press assisted football very much by showing players their good and had. points and from week to week they were indebted to the Press for much cheap advertising. He coupled the names of Messrs Stallworthy and Dargaville with this toast. Mr F. J. Dargaville said that being senior member he felt it his duty- to reply first. It was the duty of the Press to show up bad play as well as good although it might not always meet with approval. Mr Stallworthy said he had always devoted considerable time and space to reporting the sports of young men as he liked to encourage them. He was glad to hear Mr Donovan suggest the inclusion of Helensville in the Wairoa Union for if that could be properly arranged and the teams got to work well together they would he able to attack Auckland from the North as successfully as Taranaki had done from the South. Mr Donoyan in proposing 1 The Referee ’ said that it was at their instigation Mr Butland was appointed and all his men were thoroughly satisfied with his decisions. Mr Molloy also expressed the satisfaction of his team. Mr T. Elliott proposed the health of the ‘ Sister Clubs ’ coupled with the name of Mr E. Bassett, the popular captain of the Aratapu Club. They had had many happy- games and if it he possible for Kopuru to pull off the trophies next year they will do it. Mr Bassett said the Aratapu-Kopuru games had been very hard ones as his personal appearance showed' Ho hoped that Aratapu and Helensville would meet again. Mr Poland proposed ‘ The Ladies ’ and Mr J. A. Rhodes responded. Mr Metge proposed ‘ The Hosts,’ Mr and Airs McCabe. An adjournment was then made ’to the Hall where dancing was carried on, the building being crowded. During the course of the evening Mr Matthews presented Mr T. Smith with a valuable gold medal won by' him in, the Club Quarter Mile at the opening; of the season. Mr Day also presented Mr A- Johnston with a handsome gold medal with silver centre as a trophy for his skill in potting goals, he having potted one m each oi the two matches he played. The Osprev with the visitors left Kopuru for Helensville early oa Saturday- morning.