A MINISTER FAREWELLED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2740, 7 April 1916, Page 3

A MINISTER FAREWELLED

A sVSccssful gathering was hold in the Methodist Clittrcli, J'ahiatua, when ihc; Kov. J|. . lm | jirs. .Richards, who are leaving J'or Inglewood were, tendered ii farewell social. The attendance was large and representative, and included visitors from Woodvillc, Ballance, and Makbinako. The senior circuit steward (11 r. 0. Johnson) presided, and he stated that Mr. .Richards had completed a three-years' term in Tahiatui'i. Although the health of both Mr. and Mrs. Richards had at times been very_ indifferent, and Mr. Richards had suffered by removals of Methodist families, yet good work bad been accomplished. The speaker, on hehalf of tho congregation, wished tlio reverend gentleman and bis wife God speed, better health, and every happiness and prospmiV jii their now sphere of labour.

The llovs. C. Abornethy (of Woodville) and L. 11. Fenn (Anglican) spoko on various aspects of the ministerial work. They paid tributes' to the work and personality, of tho,departing minister, ami extended their best wishes to him and -his wife.

On behalf of tho office-bearers and circuit generally, Mr. E. S. Holdaway presented the Rev. and Mrs. liichards with a cruet set, with a shield ou either side, suitably engraved. Tho Rev. Mr. Richards returned thanks for the gift, and expressed his hearty appreciation of the kindness, friendship, sympathy, nnd co-operation ho had received during his term. Women at the Lav/ Courts. The Royal Commission on the Civil Service recommended recently tho sub-, slitution of women typists for scriveners at the Law Courts,. whore all the copying work is done in handwriting by men. Whether., they will come as writers'or as tvpists is not yet known, states the "Daily Mail." . . "We are not looking forward to them, but if they como we will make the best of them," say the scriveners. Years, of.experience ina law stationer's or a solicitor's office, it appears, go to tho making of an efficient writer in the. scrivencry department. How women untrained in legal phraseology and the complexities of" legal documents will shape at the work is a subject on ■which tho department has misgivings. Typewriting as a substitute for scriyenery does not find favour at the Law Courts, where the officials fear that it would lend itself to fraudulent alterations. _ It is not a question of sentiment in favour of things mediaeval. The long quill pens were given up Tears ago. Parchment is used now only where the law eompls and such cases are a small proportion of tho scrivener's work., Already the occupation is modernised, and it is not because of its modernity that the Law Courts look on the typewriter-with misgivings. '