COMPLIMENTARY GATHERING.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18402, 8 June 1925, Page 6

COMPLIMENTARY GATHERING.

MR F. HORRELL HONOURED. Mr F. Honell, who is widely known as a member of many public bodies, was the guest of the Rangiora County Council at a complimentary social held r-t the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association's rooms on Friday night. The occasion of the function was -Mr Horrell's retirement from the Council in consequence of his removal from the county to the borough, after filling €Tie office of chairman of that body during the thirteen years of its existence. Prior to the formation of the countv Mr Horrell was a member for I*3 years and for 13 years chairman of the Rangiora, Road Board. The gathering was also taken advantage of to giro expression to the appreciation of tho services of Mr H. Garrett, who retired from tneCouncil in company with Mr Horrell owing to having no further property interest in the countv. Mr H. Tallott, chairman of the Council, presided, and seated with him r.t the upper table were the guest- of tho evening, the Hon. 1). Buddo. M.P., tho Mayor of Rangiora (Mr It. Mcintosh), the' Mavor of Kaiapoi (Mr H. Mcintosh), members of the County Council, the County Clerk <Mr J. Marshall), Mr H. Garrett, and the Council's banker, Mr F. 13. Glasgow. Amongst others present were: Messrs J. D. Wyllio (chairman) and J. Fitz,patnck (Clerk) of the Kowai County Council, Messrs E. Evans (chairman) and JCowens, of the Evre County Council; Mr C. I. Jennings (Deputy-Mayor), Mr Colin Mcintosh (president), and Mr W. R. Pike secretary of tho Northern A. and P. Association. Mr O. Machattio (Town Clerk) and Mr J. Bosomworth (acting-Town Clerk at Kaiapoi), and the borough and county electrical engineer (Mr'J. C. Hancox) and his staff. Apologies for , absence were received from the chairman and tiepnty-chair-man of the Ashley County Council, Mr C. Leech and Mr W. A.Rowse. After light refreshments had been partaken of, and the toast of "TheKing" had been honoured, Mr G. K. Crysell proposed the toast of "The >»cw Zealand Parliament." The Hon. D. Buddo, in responding, said no section of the community appreciated the attention given them by Parliament as much.as did the county settlers. The townspeople, as a rule, could look-after themselves. Referring to the guest of tho evening, he said he could hardly tell how many years had passed since he first became associated with Mr Horrell ir> pubiic life. vSpeaking of him as a friend and neighbour, he could not say too much in praise of his many good "qualities. He sat with Mr Horrell on the Rangiora Road Board for a. considerable time and ho always found bim ready and willing to use iiis best endeavours to further the .interests of the ratepayers, and at the same time save their pockets as much as possible. Regarding the work carried out by the Road Board and Council dunne ~Mr Horrell's term of office. J\e mentioned in particular the Gust bridge. Recently he had also taken a leading part in "the movement to form an Ashley River Trust. Altogethr no publicman hiul worked more energetically or mons usefully than their guest, and it was sincerely to be hoped that he would live many years yet to enjoy the leisure his retirement from the Council had made possible. The chairman then .-proposed the toast of "Our Guest," .and in doing so eulogised his services to the district during Tiis long connexion with public bodies. Mr Horrell, he said, had given almost all his time to public matters untiringly and ungrudgingly, and a just estimate of the value of his-services could not be given in speech, nor his self-denying work be praised too highly. "Under his chairmanship the Council' bad been a very happy family, discord being a thing unknown. ,'".'.">. . The -toast was honoured most, enthiisiasticallv.. ■'■'.'.. •'

, Mr Horrell, after expressing his,sincere thanks lor the, many kind things spoken of him, said ho was one of the oldest residents in the district, having settled in Wbodend with his parents in 1859. His first connexion with a local body was in 1880 when lie assisted tho late Mr E. J. Patcma-n to obtain the Woodend Domain, and with him ho was appointed a member of the Domain Board. l In the year 1897 he was elect--ed to fill a vacancy in the Mandet-ille 1 ' and-Rangiora Road Board, and -he :held a seat on that.body until tho Road Board district was merged into a county. Mr Horrell spoke for nearly an hour, giving an historical sketch of the progress of, the district and the activities of the Road Board and Council during the 23 years he was connected with' them. '2o years as chairman. Tho . Rangiora Council had been keeping pace with the times in supplying 'the residents; of the. county wjith electricity: He was sorry that he had to sever his connexion with the Council when it was, in. a. sense, in financial difficulties. They had got into debt through unforeseen circumstances. The Government had-' ceased to give a subsidy on their rates owing to the Council having paid their contributions of about £2OOO to ..the Hospital and Christchurch Aid Board out of rates. This meant a loss of £SOO and added to this there was the grant of £SOO towards the Fallen Soldier' Memorial. No provision for this £ldUo was made in the rates'. To make matters worse.the annual cost of maintenance of roads, etc., had. increased during the past' two years from. £2OOO to £4OOO. Under tho new conditions of traffic, instead of a- horse track and two wheel tracks to keep in repair, th.eyr had pothbles all over the roads. Broken metal was now no frood for repairing roads and the Council was working on right lines in obtaining Birdlirag Flatshingle to use oh the roads. They we're looking to the Main Highways Board for a'certain amount of assistance'in tho upkeep of the main roads and this would give their finances some relief. He- was pleased in his retirement to know that such an amicable,feeling had existed at all times through his term as chairman. There had at times been a difference of opinion between members. That was more particularly the case over the Waimakariri Harbour Board, but not the slightest trace of illfeeling had been engendered. He was also pleased at the good feeling that had always existed between the county, and the two boroughs. The chairman then presented Mr Horrell with a framed enlarged photograph of the members of the County Council and also with a pine. In ieaard to the latter gift Mr Tallott said it had always been noticeable at tho Council meetings that when knotty

questions were being discussed-MruHoiv rell had his pine in full'commission. > Mr Howell" suitably thanked the Council for their gifts', he saici he would ;greatlv <value. -.-.-.. '.."-. Cr. M..-C. Ormandv then gave tho toast of ■.' 'The Health of Mr H "Barrett;" which was duly honoured, and the chairman presented him with ■; a framed, photograph of the Councillors and a- leather, wallet as mementoes of his connexion with the Council. Mr Garrett returned thanks and expressed his appreciation of the good feeling that had existed towards him during liis association with the Council 1 . Mr J. Marshall proposed the toast of "The. Rangior'a .'Borough Council." ■ ; The Mayor, in responding, said that Mr. •■■ Horrell • had very soon, got into municipal harness, being now a very energetic member of the Borouplv Council'; As chairman of the Finance Committee he was already-doing- excellent service. '

Cr. Jennings also responded and referred to his long! friendship with Mr Horrell r,nd association with him in public affairs, bearing testimony to an entire .absence ,of seif-seeking in h\? career. "He could say/ from.close persona] knowledge of Mr HorrelPg public life., that it had been absolutely clean. Other toasts honoured were? "This Kaiapoi Borough Council," proposed by Cr. A. Mcintosh and; responded'to by the Mayor and Town Clerk; "Adjoining Counties," proposed by the if-hairmnn and responded to by Mr J. D. Wyllio and Mr K. Eyans; "The Northern A. and P. Association," proposed by Mr YV. Stalker and responded to bv Mr Colin Mcintosh; "Our Banker," proposed bv Mr Marshall and responded to by Mr Glasgow; "The Borough and County Clerks," proposed by Mr Horrell and responded to by Messrs Machattio, Marshall a.nd Fitzpatrick ; "The Press " "The Ladies," .and'"The Chairman." . . . The proceedings, which had been throughout- of a very happy character, were brniieht to a close with the singing of "Auld Lang Syrie."