ROSS NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1917, Page 4

ROSS NEWS.

(Our Osvn Correspondent.)

On Fi’iday night there was a large gathering in St Paul’s School Room for the purpose of bidding farewell to the Vicar, the Rev H. Monaghan, who is leaving us to take up work in the Wellington Diocese, he having been appointed to the Parish of Pahiatua.

Occasion was taken of the opportunity to present to Mr Monaghan a small token of tin esteem in which both he and Mrs Monaghan are hold by their church people, such token taking the form of a cheque. Mr Grimmond in making the presentation, referred to the many good qualities possessed by the Vicar pud his good lady, and wished them every success in their new parish. He went on to state that though Ross vvas not by any means ati important parish it needed a strong, vigorous man to get over a district unaided, which in size was large enough to constitute a diocese. He referred to the splendid type of men that had been sent over in the past and hoped our good fortune in obtaining such men would hold to us in the future. He thanked the Vicar and Mrs Monaghan for the good work they" had done during the past three years. Mr Monaghan, in reply, thanked Mr Grimmond and those present for the good wishes and kindly thoughts shown towards Mrs Monaghan and himself and also for the tangible expression of those thoughts handed to him to-night and gave a resume of his work on the Coast. He came over with the intention of staying two years but it was now three and as his home and his wife’s home was in Wellington he felt he wonkl like to work near his own kindred for a time. This had been his fiist parish and he had made many friends .-whom he would never forget. That tangible sympathy he had met with, when on the occasion of his coming, he bad ’lost all his belongings in the wreck of the Kairaki, nad been with him during the whole of his stay on the Coast and he would never forget the Coast nor the kindhearted people on it. During the evening items were given by Mesdames Brice, Monaghan, Roa,ch, Misses B. Evans and R. Smith, and the Rev H. Monaghan and H. Osmers. A plentiful supper was provided by the ladies of the parish and a few games and an occasional dance combined to make a pleasant evening pass all too rapidly.

Mr and Mrs Monaghan leave for their new home on Wednesday carrying the good wishes of all the people they had ministered to for the past three years.