A POPULAR OFFICER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 32, 5 July 1939, Page 5

A POPULAR OFFICER

: — 0 •- . MR T. ANARU FAREWELLED , . ___• V <A< MANY YEARS OF SERVICE The ability and tact which he had displayed throughout his long service as an officer of the Native Department and for many years as Registrar of the Waiariki Native Land Court were referred to when Mr Tiweka Anaru was farewelled on, the eve of his retirement from the public scr-i vice at a, valedictory dinner at Rotorua on Saturday evening. During the evening Mr Anaru was presented with a well filled wallet as a rnarK of the respect in which lie is held by the staff of the department, and liis friends, a happy function closing with a dance. The function was a striking t/iI bute to the esteersj ii} which Mr Anaru is held, not only by the staff witty which he has been associated in Rotor ua for many years but also officers of the department throughout tlie Dominion. Among those present were thj» retiring Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, Mr R. N. Jones. C.8.E., Judge McCormick, Judge J. Harvey, Mr O. N. Camp'bell, Undersecretary of the Naljvo Department. Mr T* Jackson, Mayoi of Rotorua, Mr H. Tai Mitchell. C.M.G., chairman of the Arawa District Trust Board, the remaining four registrars of the Native Land Courts in the North Island (Messrs C. V." Fordham, 11. J. Thompson, J. H. Robertson i P. H. Hudson) and officers of the department from both the northern and southern districts of the island. The attendance totalled approximately 160. Upon the entry of Mr and Mrs Anaru they received a remarkable, reception as they made their way to their places at the official table, upon, which rested a large bowl of violets specially, sent to Mrs Anaru by Princess Te Puea, of Ngaruawahia, as a tribute from the Waikato Maoris. Among other tributes reference to the popularity of Mr Anaru was also made by Mr H. Tai Mitchell who said that although Mr Anaru came from the East Coast he had been ia Rotorua for so manj'- years that he had been adopted by the Arawa people as one of their own kin. The three large mar aes in the Arawa. district looked upon, the function as a great occasion and the large attend, ahce testified to the esteem in which Mr Anaru was held throughout the district. The speaker mentioned thai a gift of Arawa land at Maketu had some time ago been made to Mr Anaru and the Arawa people hoped that ho would settle there in his retirement so that he would remain in the Arawa demaip.