SIXTY YEARS ON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1939, Page 6

SIXTY YEARS ON

THE CARTERTON FOOTBALL CLUB CELEBRATION OF DIAMOND JUBILEE INTERESTING AND HISTORICAL OCCASION MANY REMINISCENCES OF DAYS GONE BY (“Times-Age” Special.) Twenty, forty and sixty years on. fading memories revived, old acquaintances renewed, grey-headed men. shadows of former “giants,” flitting from table to table intermingled with fresh-faced youths—sneh was the atmosphere prevailing in the P. and A Tea Kiosk al Carterton on Saturday nighi, when 150 past players, present players, members of other clubs and supporters of the Carterton Rugby Football Club gathered for the club’s Diamond Jubilee smoke concert. Interesting and enlightening were the reminiscences of the old timers, who were present in full force, and their tales of Rugby football in the days “when men were men” were received with enthusiasm. Air Austin Reid, president of the Carterton Club, was in the chair. Mr Reid extended a welcome to all present, and several letters from old members were read by Mr 11. J. McKenzie. Prior to the toast of “The King” those present stood as a mark of respect to deceased members. This was followed by the roll call, each who responded standing and giving the name of the did) he played for. and the years in which he took an active part. During the evening All- J. F. Thompson presented the Reid Jubilee Cup to the Carterton and Greytown captains. As it is Carterton’s jubilee year, the club will hold the cup for the first six months and Greytown for the remainder of the year. The trophy is to be competed for annually.

AN OLD TIME MATCH.

“Sixty years ago on July 5, your club and Greytown played on Vickerstaff’s paddock and on that day Greytown emerged winners by three points to nil.” said Mr J. F. Thompson. president of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, in proposing the toast of "The Carterton Football Club.” “During the years Carterton have amply revenged that defeat and have a record of which any Rugby club in the Dominion would be justly proud. Apart from the success you have achieved on the field it is indeed a notable occasion for a sporting club in the Wairarapa to be in a position to celebrate a diamond jubilee, and I wish sincerely to congratulate the club. “Sixty years ago there played Rugby in the Wairarapa your fathers and grandfathers, and those grand old pioneers did not have the same conditions as exist today. They played well and willingly. In those days the players played in the middle of the field as they do today, but the supporters fought it out on the sideline and there is no need for me to tell you what that meant,” said Mr Thompson. “In those days a team consisted of ten forwards and five backs, so it can be seen that the game was more of a forward one. I regret very much that the only living member of those first two teams, R. Kemble, is not with us tonight. He played quarter-back for Carterton in that game—a position that has now gone by the board.

“The Carterton Club has a notable record in that it has won the Wairarapa senior championship 21 times. The club has also done its full share in providing players for the Wairarapa representative team and also for the All Blacks. Players such as the McKenzies, Reids, Armstrongs, Fairbrothers and a host of others are well known to the Rugby public all over New Zealand. I would like io take this opportunity of paying a tribute to E. McKenzie, our New Zealand selector. who last year selected a team that pleased everyone in New Zealand, and who, I am sure, will do the same again with the side to tour South Africa.”

Mr Thompson also related many amusing and interesting anecdotes of Rugby in the early days. “No club in New' Zealand has a better record that has Carterton,’’ Mr Thompson said in conclusion, “and to the young players coming on I would like to say that they have a wonderful tradition to uphold, and should feel honoured that they are members of a club like Carterton. The secret of the club’s success in the past has been that it played the game as a team, in the right spirit, trained, and has always received the support of the town. If this is continued, and f am sure it will be, the Carterton Rugby Football Club will enjoy as much success and prosperity in the next sixty years as it has done in the past.” SOUND FOUNDATIONS. In responding, Mr A. Reid observed that a comparison could be drawn between the building of a house and the building of the Carterton club. Both i were built on sound foundations. "Our I club has a long and noble record,” he I said, “and so long as Rugby is played in the Wairarapa I see no reason why this club should not be in existence. We have always tried to instil the spirit of fair play into the members of this club, and I trust that we have succeeded,” he added. Mr Reid thanked all the old timers for the splendid way in which they had rallied round and made the celebrations the success they were.”

Mr L. J. Fairbrother, who proposed the toast of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, said he considered that organisation had always carried out its duties in a first-class manner, particularly in regard to junior Rugby. The Union had earned a high place in the Dornin-

ion. This was brought home by the fact that they had in their midst the sole New Zealand selector. The Wairarapa Rugby Union had every reason to feel proud of its efforts.”

“1 would like to place on record the service rendered to the Union by the veterans of the Carterton Club,” said Mr H. McPhee, chairman of the Management Committee of the Wairarapa Rugby Union in replying. “The Union was foi-med in 1887, and in those days there were only three senior teams in the Wairarapa competition—Mastertoil Greytown and Carterton. The strict training methods adopted by the Carterton Club have always borne fruit, and much to the Union’s annoyance, the senior competition has often been, won after the first four or five games have been played. Mr McPhee also mentioned the All Blacks produced by the club and the splendid work done on the administrative side by the Carterton members. “Carterton members are always popular and welcome on the Wairarapa Union,” he said, “and I can justly say that this club alI ways retains the confidence of all other clubs in the district.” VETERANS TOASTED. “This club owes a deep : debt of gratitude to its veterans, and had it not been for their keen interest in the coaching and general activities of the club. Carterton Rugby would not have been on the high plane it is on today,” said Mr I. Hart, in proposing the toast of “the veterans.” “In the old days,” he said, “if a player wanted to play Rugby he had to make many sacrifices and the result was that they took their game more seriously, played more keenly, and the standard was better than at the present day. I could point to many of our old members who wore the silver fern, but we cannot do that today.” Among the veterans who responded were F. Fairbrother, K. Armstrong, C. Moore, W. Howard Booth, W. Armstrong, W. Henry Booth. N. McKenzie and J. Darroch, Others toasts honoured were:—“Wairarapa Referee’ Association,” Mr C. A. Gray—Mr H. J. McKenzie; “Greytown Football Club,” Mr K, Reid—Mr W. Tully and Mr M. Parker; “Kindred Clubs,” Mr G. Steffert —various captains; “The Ladies,” Mr J. Taucher— Mr T. Harp; “The Entertainers,” Mr A. Reid; “The Press,” Mr W. A. Hart. PROCESSION OF PLAYERS WELL ATTENDED BUT SPOILT BY WEATHER. Despite the adverse weather conditions, 130 past and present members of the Carterton Rugby Football Club took part in the procession from Holloway Street to the Showgrounds on Saturday on the occasion of the club’s diamond jubilee. Preceded by the Wairarapa Pipe Band, and the'Carterton Municipal Silver Band, and watched by cheering onlookers, the procession marched along Holloway Street and from High Street to the entrance of the Showgrounds, where the procession broke up and took shelter from the rain in a nearby inn. The 1879-99 players headed the procession and the honour of heading them fell to Mr W. Howard Booth. There were about a dozen of the “Old Timers” in this section. Then followed the 1899-1909 members, led by Mr A. E. Booth. Here again the old timers had turned out in grand style. Mr W. A. Hart was first of the 1909-1919 contingent. which was also well represented. The periods 1919-1929 and 19291938 wore well represented, and the present players led by the senior captain and the Wairarapa representative F. Fitzgerald, brought up the rear of the precession.

lesterday a church parade to the various churches was held from the Memorial Square.