Koputaroa's Farewell

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 December 1915, Page 3

Koputaroa's Farewell

I TO lTy MAOIU VOLUiNTJfIMJS. -Last evening at the meeting liousu tiie Madri and pakeJua Residents or Koputaroa, gaitliered. iii great niu'u'ber to say fmwell to the nieinueiii pr ? , tbo matife race who have yplunt-eered Mr the front/- ■ There >rei;c :ih ; aay visitors from Levin presenlt, and gatheiing presided ■ over by Mr U. Blenkhoru, (lua'yor of Levin,) ""was a'jnost euccewfill one. The mayoress, also wjus present. . >;' •. N The toasts, including "The King," "The Army and..Navy," "The Flax Industry/*' "The Boys at the Front," "The'."VifliibiS;" "The Levin Band," wore proposed in excellent and appropriate speeches and ivere honoured enthusiastically. • . (Mr Tuiti'McDonald delivered a striking and forcible speech. In earnest phrases, full of sound- sentiment, lie conveyed to lids 'audience the contrast between the way the members of - the native race and their paika.ia neighbours came toi'ward to fight tlhe 'battles of the 13.npiro. Mr McDonald concluded a great .•»».'.r "All our boys have gone, but Hie paikeLa.who h'ad all nty stake requii'ed to T.'itn a sticik." ' * ■

The Mayor/ in a brief speech, urged nil to do their duty and when pence came to use tlie lessons learned in the war for .the betterment of themselves and their people. Musical items were givpn by Miss Ruby Stansell (encored), and Messrs Eeoleton. Morris, J. Rose, A. Rose, and Gardner. A feature of Tiia part of the program was a Fijian song by the young Maori soldiers, while a little girl, Rulby Robinson, recited' very prettily "The Eventful TjitV of a Child's Kitten." The Levin Braes Band was present and played .many 'fine selected items. - A sum of £4 5s was collected i') the room in aid of -the "Wounded Soldiers' Fund, the efforts of N\lr Morris contributing largely to the success of the appeal, a noticeable incident connected wtith it being a gif 1 ". of 5s from one of the young Maori volunteers. 'His act ot denial won lienrty applause from thise present. At ten o'clock refreshments wore served with true Maori hospitality and then dancing was commenced, being kept up till the early hours'