VALEDICTORY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4597, 13 August 1923, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

STATIONMASTER ENTERTAINED. The esteem in which Mr J. J. Rowe, stationmaster, is held by his fellow workers and the business men in Paeroa was evinced by the large gathering which assembled at the Soldiers’ Hall on Saturday night to farewell him, and at. the same time to make a presentation. In addition to the railway servants and business men there was a number of friends also present. .The evening took the form of a " smoker,” at which His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, presided. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr E. Edwards, and Crs. Brenan, Vuglar, and Silcock were also present. Apologies for absence were received from Mr H. Poland, MP., and Crs. Flatt and Bain. In opening the proceedings the chairman said he hoped the memory of that evening would live long with Mr Rowe. After proposing the toast of “Local Bodies,” Mr W, H. Taylor, chairman of the School Committee, said he was pleased to be present to offer fellowship to Mr Rowe, whom he had come to know and to look up to as a very worthy man. In responding to the toast the Mayor said he had been told that he would catch a lot'of trouble because he took the position as Mayor too seriously, but he thought that if he was going to do the job with anything like results he had to take it seriously. At the present time there was a hig outcry for roads and footpaths, and he could assure all that the Council would do its utmost and give a fair deal as far'as funds permitted. There was a big future before the town and country, and Paeroa was destined to be an important place. The fact that the Railway Department required 30 acres for the railway junction indicated that Paeroa would play an important part in the destinies of railways in New Zealand. If townspeople would refuse' to cry “stinking fish” and not allow others to do so, and each play his part,. Paeroa would rapidly occupy the position in the minds of outsiders that it should. In responding on behalf of .the Chamber of Commerce Mr P. EBrenan (vice-president of that body) said that the chamber was regarded as the irresponsible local body of the town. One of its functions was to keep the local authorities up to date and bring matters forward that were quite beyond the limits of the ratepayers. He endorsed the remarks of the chairman with regard to the possibilities of Paeroa, and already there were evidences of a forward move. Mr E. Edwards, in proposing the toast of "The Railway Service,” traced the development of the railways to the present. The last big work to be completed was the Otira -tunnel, which linked the east coast of the South Island with that of the west. This to the South Island was just as big as the Main Trunk was to the North Island. Every town when i railway was mooted became a centre of attraction, and generally progressed. The railway service was manned by men. Paeroa had been fortunate in having railway servants of ability, and in this Mr Rowe was no exception. He had played the game, and had pushed ahead the commercial interests of. the town. In responding Mr Hottennot, stationmaster of Waihi, said that it was well known that the railways were the most used and the most abused, but nine times out of ten the public got the wrong side of the question. Unfortunately, the public only heard one side. It was men like the guest (Mr Rowe) who had helped to make the service what it was to-day. The position of a stationmaster, was a trying one, as he had to act as a buffer between the management and the staff and the public, He had known Mr Rowe for twenty years, and although they had had differences he admired Mr Rowe very much and regretted his leaving Paeroa. Mr A. Steedman, in proposing the toast of “The Business Men’s Association and Commemrcial Interests of the Town,” referred to the part taken by the stationmaster. He had done what he could as stationmaster, and was always found to be obliging and courteous. The toast of “Our Guest,” which was proposed by His Worship the Mayor, was drunk with enthusiasm and ended with three hearty cheers. In proposing the toast Mr Marshall said he was glad to have the privilege of proposing the toast while he regretted the necessity for- having to propose it. While in Wellington ths other day he and Mr Brenan waited on the assistant manager for railways in order to express to the management the high esteem in which M' Rowe was held by the citizens of this town. The speaker had had a good deal pf station work, and had always received the utmost service and kindness from Mr Rowe. There was one thing that he was pleased to say, and that was that one did not find reels of red tape lying about in the Paeroa office. He would say that if Mr Rowe had any faults they were "virtues which were carried to excess. Mr Rowe was held in high standing by the public, and in his courteousnes? and kindness he held his office in a dignified manner that was known all along the line. He expressed the hope that he would yet hear of Mr Rowe in a high office in the service., and he felt sure the future had bright and useful days in store for him. In saying this Mr Marshall said that he felt he was only voicing the views of the very large gathering. He then handed to Mr Rowe a well filled wallet, with the very best wishes from the business men of Paeroa(Applause.) Mr W. Wilson, on behalf of the railway .staff, said that when the business men could speak so highly of the S.M. it was something to be proud of. As a previous speaker had said, the S.M. was a buffer, and all he could wish for would be that all S.M’s. were the same, and he was sure they would carry the strain. They were all truly sorry that he was leaving, and the sentiments of the staff were that they had not worked

under a better boss. Mr Staunton, senior clerk, spoke of the fine qualities possessed by Mr Rowe, and said that everyone was truly sorry he was leaving. Messrs Little, McLeod, Bridges, and Hamilton also spoke of the high regard and appreciation in which the guest was held by the men in the various departments of the service. Mr Rowe, on rising to reply, was greeted with cheers, and feelingly responded on behalf of Mrs Rowe and himself. He thanked all from the bottom of his heart for the kind wishes. He had many regrets in leaving Paeroa. He liked the people very much, and got on well with the business men of the town. He thought that the people of Paeroa were as warmhearted as they were on the Coast. He would value very highly the present made that night, and always cherish kindly feelings of Paeroa (Prolonged applause.) Other toasts during the evening were “Farming Industry,” proposed by Mr Brenan and responded to by Mr Vuglar ; “Sports,” proposed by Mr Staunton and responded t.o by Mr Silcock ; and “The Chairman,” proposed by Mr Wilson. Songs and items during the evening were contributed by Messrs Curran, Thorburn, E. Edwards, R. Corringham, D. Brown, C. Little, and C. Holes, Mr R. Corringham playing the accompaniments.