VALEDICTORY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

MR. AND MRS. F. W. GRAINGER AND FAMILY. The schoolroom of St. George’s Church, Patea., was well filled on Thursday night with members of the congregation, who assembled to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs. F. IV. Grainger and family. The early part of the evening was spent in games and competitions, songs being also rendered by Miss W. Johnson, Miss Jean Harley, and a- recitation by Miss Betty Petersen, and after a dainty supper had been enioyed, the vicar, the Rev. H. B. Goe'rtz, in a brief and feeling speech expressed the keen regret felt by the parishioners at the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Grainger from the district. They would never forget the splendid work carried out by Mr. and Mrs. Grainger on behalf of the church. He asked them to accept a solid leather travelling bag as a slight token of the esteem in which they were held by the people, who wished them long life, happiness and prosperity in the future. Messrs C R. Honeyfiekl,. T. E. Roberts, and AY. C. Glenny also spoke, and wished Mr. and Mrs. Grainger every prosperity in the future. The speakers eulogised the work done for the church by their departing guests, and declared that they would be sorely missed from the district Mr. Grainger, in reply, thanked the speakers for their very kind remarks, and the parishioners for their handsome gift. He was glad to find from the balance-sheet of the church, that the finances were better than during the lean years of the past. Mr. Grainger paid a. tribute to the work of the Ladies’ Guild who had Worked assiduously to build the church up. But for home duties both Mrs. Grainger and himself would have done more Mian they had for the church. He honed that locally and elsewhere in the Dominion a greater effort would be made to encourage the young men to attend church move. Whether it was through the present secular system of education or not, he could not say, but the fact remained that the young men were not attending church as thcv should. Both Mrs. Grainger and he felt acutely leaving, so many 'kind friends: as the rlav of their departure drew near ttev felt it the mce. They would always l-ememhev their Patea friends, and hoped to visit the town from time to time He again thanked them for their handsome gift and good wishes, which would serve to remind them of the many friends they had left behind in Paten. (Applause.) The proceedings then closed u-itb the singing of “For They are Jollv Good Fellows.” “Auld Lang Syne,” and “God Save the King.” During the evening apologies for non- " tteudaimo were received from M : ss Kelly and Messrs 0. Horner and Corfe. The competitions that were held were won bv the_following: Treasure hunt, Mrs. Semple; tomous men and women competition. M’ s. G P««ooek: naner . animal competition, Mr. IV. F. Shelld. —Patea Press.