KOITERANGI NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1925, Page 1

KOITERANGI NOTES

(Ciuiirihuied). Vie art) now in the middle of the festive season and the settlers with their families arc having a brief spoil from their arduous duties during the milking season. Social functions and dances arc the order ol the day. 1 lie principle cvciii of these festivities was tho ontcriaininent tendered to Alt' and Mrs Dimmirk. who have jusl retired from the position of Postmaster and Postmistress of Koitcrangi after some •10 years of faillnil service. It is generally recognised that ot all the public departments, the post and telephone are perhaps the hardest, dealing as it dues with the public correspondence. Judging by the very large gathering ol the sett let's with their families speaks volumes for the manner in which Mr and Mrs Dimmick carried out their public dufies. Iho hall was decorated for the occasion. .Mr \\ inter presided and an apology was received from the Post master at Hokitika. Mr Winter said he felt honoured a! being asked to preside at the very large gathering ol" settlers to do bottom to two very worthy pioneers ol this distn,.;. and as Air and Mrs Dimmick’s public services were -■> well known anappreciated, it would he quite xupei tluons for him to enlarge upon them. He would now call ell Mr T. R. Uhe--terman (Cuunly ( liairmant. t-i s.u a few words.

Mr Chesterman said he was very pleased to join thi- large gathering to do honour to so worthy pioneers, whom lie bad known for 37 years and upu., ,Is. lie had carried 11. M. mails lor j,'term and knew the hardships and diliicultics the early settlers had to put lit- with. There were no bridges HOI motor cars in thn-e days and the roadwere oulv hush tracks, lie concluded |,v wishing Mr and -Mrs Dimmick many years of happiness to enjoy their veil earned rest. Mr Fleming and others also -poke eulogising Air and Mrs Dimmick’s pithlie services and vi-hing them long hi' and nrosperity. Mr Smith then came Pu'ward amt said he full he liad been very highly honoured, having been asked l>y thos' present to present Mr and Alt's Dimmick with two beautiful chairs, before them as a small token of the esteem in which they were held by their fellow pioneer settlers of Koitcrangi. He tbon conducted Mrs Dimmick to one ot the chairs, when she was wheeled round th" hall hv the elderly gentlemen. After conducting Mr Dimmick to the other (hair he was taken the rounds ot the ball bv ih- old lady pioneers, amidst cheers' . Air Dimmick feelingly replied in said on behalf of Mrs Dimmick and himself he heartily thanked them for I their beautiful and valuable present. ' He ids,i thanked the speakers for their kind remark's and a-ur.-i them that their gieat kindness would be remembered while life lasted. An enjoyable time was t lien spent m dau< ing and at interval-. songs given. showing rliat the Koitcrangi ladies were ujr-to-tlato in their vocal abiiities. Mrs Amberger. Mrs Crop;., Miss E. Clarke. .Mr T. Stopi'orth were in good form, and Master S- Chinn. Airs Morris and'Miss James played the accompaniment. while .Mi'> Morris and Mr Kelly supplied the dance music. Dancing was kept going till midnight, and three cheers for Mr and Mrs Dimmick. brought to a close one ut the most successful functions ever held a. Koitcrangi to a close. The c.ppoinment of Mr and .Mrs Cropper to succeed Mi and Airs Dimmick seems to have been well chosen, seeing that they have entered into their"’new position with every attent ion.