"Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are gathered here today to symbolically transfer the turf of our croquet club at Weraroa Road  to our new greens here at Speldhurst.

At the erection of all stately and superb buildings, it has been the custom from time immemorial , to lay the first or foundation stone at the north-east corner of the building.

We are not laying a foundation stone to a building but we are laying the foundation of a new location; and from the foundation laid today may we figuratively raise a superstructure perfect in its parts and honourable to its builders.

This piece of turf has been uplifted from the south west corner of our previous greens and is now placed in the north east corner of our Speldhurst greens to figuratively represent that stone.

The south west corner represents age, experience , knowledge, custom,  while the north east corner represents youth, new learning, technology and patience.

So as the roots of the turf grow and spread and intermingle with each other, so the development of our new greens springs into life for the benefit of all who play here and to spread the harmony which has been a noticeable characteristic of this club, and may they remain pure and untarnished from generation to generation.

So now we just try it for level * * * and try it to make sure it is square * * *.

It only remains now for me to scatter food and fertiliser to help prevent disease from attack and to hope that it never suffers from starvation, grass grub attack and other unwanted enemies.

And I call on Declan Leahy to water the turf.

That concludes the transfer of the turf.

Thank you"