APPRECIATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 102, 18 December 1939, Page 4

APPRECIATION

MR J. W. SUMNER'S SERVICES

ILLUMINATED ADDRESS PRESENTED

The following is the text of the illuminated address presented last Saturday afternoon by Mr W. A. McCracken, Chairman of Directors of the Rangitniki Dairy Company to Mr J. W. Sumner in appreciation of the long term of service to the company raul to the residents of the district.

WE the undersigned all of whom have had the pleasure of

working in association with you feel that we cannot let you retire from active participation in that work without recording the deep appreciation which we ourselves feel and know to be felt generally throughout the district for the very valuable services which you have so ably rendered this community.

We are aware of the many other activities to which you have given yourself so tirelessly for we know that as Chairman of the Harbour Board, Chairman of the Ratepayers Association and as a member, of the Power Board you have set at no small sacrifice to your self, a standard of personal service which few can hope to reach. It is in particular, because of what you have done for the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company that we now address ourselves to you. The records of the company show that on the twentieth day of April 1915,

you presided over a meeting at your residence, when it was decided by fourteen settlers present to establish a dairy company, you being elected as its first chairman. It must have been a matter of real," personal satisfaction to you to see during the twenty-four years in which; you have assisted in the control of the company's affairs so substantial a growth upon the foundations so well laid by you. Believe us when we say that you have rendered very conspicuous service and richly deserve the satisfaction which you

must feel in the results of your labours.

We join in the most sincere good wishes toward you in the hope that you may have yet many years of happy life before you. We trust that freedom from the more exacting ties of responsibility will give to you another keen pleasure in the con templative interest which we know you will continue to take in our affairs. Allow us, rir, to express the hope that the evening of your life shall be spent in calm and pleasant haven. This we feel will be the sincerest wish of that community in which the name of JOHN WILLIAM SUMNER will continue to be remembered with affection and esteem. Signed: W. A. McCracken, C. F. Eivers, W. R. Boon, S. E. Spence, D. G. Radcliffe, lan B. Gow, Jas jJamieson, J. Riini, R. E. Blair, F. A. Dawson., J. Rutherford, W. B. Gow, R. Crocker, A. G. Martin, W. P. Brizzle, A. L. Luke, L. Buddie, H. O. Garaway, F. Prideaux. There are other signatures to come The Awakeri Hall in which the persentation was made was filled witjh suppliers and friends, the district being fully represented. A full report of the proceedings will appear in next Wednesday's issue.