HAMILTON FOOTBALL BANQUET.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3006, 20 October 1891, Page 2

HAMILTON FOOTBALL BANQUET.

Satubday last being the end of tho football season in \V;iik:it<>, iho Hamilton Club was entertained at a dinner by the, well-known and popular proprietress of the Hamilton Hotel. Invitations had been sent to all who had been in any way connected with the club during the past season, and about thirty, including several visitors, took their seats at the tables, which had been arranged with Mrs Gwynne's usual good taste, and were laden with all the delicacies of the season, neither trouble nor expense being spared hy the hospitable hostess to make the affair a success. The Hamilton banner, surmounted by a football, occupied a prominent position in the room. In the absence of Mr L. O'Neill, President of ";lie Hamilton Club, the chair was taken by Mr Geo. Kdgecumbe (Vice-President), and the vice chairs by Messrs Coates, Cussen (also Vice-Presidents), and Crowe. After ample justice had been done to the good things provide:!, the tables were cleared and the usual loyal toasts were drunk with musical honours. " The Army and Navy and Volunteers,'' proposed by the Chairman, was responded to by Mr A. Peacock, followed by the " Hamilton Football Club," Mr W. Hammond (captaiu) responding. Mr Davies, Professor of Music, who has lately taken up his residence in Hamilton, presided at tho piano, his skilful manipulation of that instrument adding much to the enjoyment of tho evening, and when called upon for a song he gave " Oh, the Fairies," which was loudly applauded. Mr Mayes followed with "Dear Old Paddy's Land." The presentation of medals now took place. The first was a gold medal presented to the club by Mrs Bright, of the Commercial Hotel, for the best all-round play during the past season. Tim second was a silver modal, tho gift of Mr Gwynne, for good play. Thoso were two veiy handsome trophies supplied and tastefully inscribed by Mr Howden, jeweller, of Hamilton, on whom the workmanship reflects great credit. In in-iking the presentation, the Chairman said : "Too first modal that I have to present is tho gift of Mia Bright, the landlady of the Commercial Hotel, by whom it was given for the best all-round play, and it has been awarded to " Jack " Gillett, I am very pleased, indeed, to present it to Mr Gillett, as he is one ot the younger mombcrs of tho team, and 1 have olten remarked when there was any business to be attended to or work to be done, Mr Gillett was always there. As it has been awarded by his fellow-footballers, there can be no doubt but that he fully deserves it, ami I then; fore have great pleasuro in handing it to him." Mr Edgocumbn concluded his remarks by proposing the health of the recipient, which was drunk with enthusiasm. In acknowledging the eift, Mr Gillett said : " Gentlemen,—l heartily thank you for the manner in which you have drunk my health. In regard to the medal, I think there are some members of the team who have done more work than I have, and who are therefore better entitled to the medal than myself. (Cries of No ! No !) Should a medal be offered for competition next season, I feel sure the prize will be more closely contested than this has been. During tlie past season only a tew members of the team rolled up regularly to practice, and those who did showed by their form the benefit of so doing, and I now call for three cheers for Mrs Bright, the donor of the medal." Mrs Blight's health was then drunk with musical honours, followed by three hearty cheers. Mr W. Bright, in a few, well-chosen tfrms, responded on behalf of his mother. The Chairman then proceeded to present the silver medal for good play to Mr Bertie Hume, and in doing so said : " Gentlemen, — I have another presentation to make to Bertio Hume—a silver medal given by Mr Gwynne (the lion. sec. of tho club), for good play during the season— and I am quite sure that no presentation ever made to the Hamilton footballers has been awarded with greater pleasuro than this to Bertie Hume. Ha is a most unselfish player, and I hope his example will be followed by the junior footballers of Hamilton. I am not a footballer myself, but I can hear what competent judges say with regard to the players." Mr Hume said " I have much pleasure in accepting this medal, and thank the donor viry much, and I will now ask you to give three cheers for Mr Gwynne. Three choers were given lustily, and his health drank with the usual musical accompaniments. Mr Hammond (captain of the team), said he had nuw a very pleasant duty to perform. He had been requested by the members of the Club to hand Mr Gwynne a small present subscribed for by them, as a slight token of esteem, and appreciation of tho warm interest he had taken in the welfare of the club, whoso past successes were largely due to his untiring efforts on its behalf. Tho present, a pair of gold sleovo links neatly inscribed " R..T.G. 1801" tho inscription being the handiwork of Mr Howden, was then given to Mr Gwynne, who in returning thanks said : " Mr Chairman and Gentloman, I really do not know what to say. This present I assure you i? one of the most unexpocted things I have ever met with. I do not know what I have done to deserve it. I never expected anything of the kind, and whatever I may have done was for the good of the clab, and with the

hope nf seeing fresh numbers inscribed on the blue banner ; and I hopn th it, whuTwr may bo appointed secretary next ye;ir will keep the same end in view. I m;iy tint take so active a part in the club's aii.urs next .season ; but wherever the blue banner may (to there also will go my hna.-t. T again think y»» for your handsome prf-.'iit, and the hearty manner in which you have drunk mv health." Mr B-ivly then .sane "On the Bill," Mr Hammond then proposed the toast " \V,<ikato Clubs," coupled with the name .if Air Cruicksliank, who inado a humorous response. The next toast, was "Other Sports," coupled with the name of MiCrowe, proposed by Mr T. G. Sandra, who said that the cricket season was now coming on, and that in the past Hamilton could boast nf a strong club and some good cricketers. The club, however, had eventually fallen through for want of young players to take the place of the old ones as they dropped out. Ife now saw a number of young men growing nu in the district who, if they were not, sin irt enough to become good footballers, mii'ht yet become good cricketers, and he hoped that many ' f them might tie induced to join the Hamilton Club, which was now being resuscitated. Mr Crowe, in response, said: "1 have played most games in my time but in my opinion fonlh ill is the king of games, for, in addition to developing the, muscles of the players, it teaches them fi act in combination, and to keep their tempers." After referring to various sports —cricket, tennis, boating, riding, and others, Mr Crowe said: "I would like to compliment Mr Arthur Storoy f-r his plucky riding in theTally-110 Steeples, and whose health I have now much pleasure in proposing." Drunk with cheers and acclamation. In returning thanks Mr Storey disclaimed any credit for his riding in the race, which lie declared could have been as well done by many other Waikato riders. (Cries of no ! no ! and question !) Mr Mayes now renderod another of his amusing comic songs. "Our Visitor--," coupled with the name of Mr Gruicksh ink, was next proposed by Mr Coates. Mr Cruicksliank said he was very sorry that he was the only member of his club present, and ho ventured to say that when it became known how the Hamilton footballers entertained their visitors, it would take those i gentlemen all their time to provide room for them in the future. Mr H. Hume then sang "The Place Where the Old Horse Died," which was followed by Mr Dimes' song, '"Three Pretty Maids," the latter eliciting rounds of applause. This gentleman's health was proposed by Mr Coates. Mr Davies, in replying, said he had travelled muni the world several times; but never in the course r.f his life had he met with such a warmhearted community as the people of Hamilton, who seemed to be willing to help a poor man along. He hoped that he might remain long amongst them, and that he might never in his public capacity or private life do anything that should cause them to reeret the kindness they had shown him. The next item was "How Wo Beat tjie Favourite," recited by Mr Qiunn. Mr Cmwo then proposed "The Press," and in the course, of liis remarks said in his opinion the. success of the Hamilton Football Club was in a great measure due to the interest taken in football by the staff of Tub Waikvto Tunis. Mr Edgecombe, repiving on behalf of the Press, said that in the past there had been some good footballers on his stalF, which he was glad to say was still well represented in tho football field. He would always be glad to give reports of the matches due prominence in the columns of his paper. He thanked the meeting for tho hearty manner in which they had lesponed to the, toast. Mr Hammond then said the thanks of the club were due to Mr Edgecombe for his kindness in gratuitously advertising the match in aid of the Sibb'n Fund. He had no doubt Mr Edgecumbe's action had contributed greatly to the success of the event. Mr Hammond's remarks were suitably acknowledged by Mr Edgecombe. "The Ladies," were then proposed by the chairman coupled with the name of Bertie Hume, who in a few appropriate remarks responded. " Absent Friends," the next toast, proposed by the chairman was drunk in silence. The uext item on the list was "The Grand Old Rugby Game," (a local composition bv "Centre-forward") sung by Mr G. C. Manning, who received an encore, and the health of the composer was then drunk with musical honours. . Several other songs followed, including "Killaloe," by Mr T. Q-. Sandes, which was well received ; Mr Gwynne then sing an amusing parody, " A Friendly Game of Football with the Boys of Killaloe," which was loudly applauded. In proposing the health of "The Hostess," the Chairman said few persons in Hamilton took a greater interest iu football than their generous hostess, Mrs Gwynne. This was tho third occasion on which that lady had provided the Hamilton footballers with a dinner. Mrs Gwynne s health was drunk in bumpers followed by loud cheers, and " Here's a health to all good lasses." Mr Gwynne on behalf of himother returned thanks and said that he could say of her as he had already said of himself, that wherever the blue banner went, there her heart went also, and he sincerely hoped that she might bo long spared to follow the banner, a sentiment which was heartily endorsed by all present. At the suggestion of the chairman (it being now near midnight) tho company sang "Auld Lang Syne," followed by "God save tho Queen," which concluded a most, enjoyable evening.