VALEDICTORY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4654, 28 January 1924, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

POPULAR DEPARTING GUEST.

PRESENTATION TO MRS. BUDD.

About 200 people assembled at the Paeroa Tennis Courts on Saturday afternoon last to do honour and say farewell tp Mrs F. 5. Budd, who is leaving the district to reside in Hastings. The gathering was a very representative one, and comprised many townspeople of Paeroa, a number of visitors from tire surrounding district, and the various branches of sport were full represented. His Worship the .Mayor (Mr WMarshall), in addressing the gatherin;-, said that the townspeople , in conjunction with the Paeroa Tennis Club and Golf Club, and the many friends of Mrs Budd, had seen fit to accord her a public farewell as a tribute of recongition of the valuable services renered to all branches of sport and social institutions in Paeroa. The Mayor referred to the great amount of work done by Mrs Budd during the distressing war period, and. later on, the support and valuable help given when community .singing had been instituted in the town. He felt sure that Mrs Budd had contributed more to the social welfare of Paeroa. than any other citizen, and said it would indeed be a .hard matter to replace her. To her many friends she had given joy and pleasure, and had never spared herself to give social matters a big help along. Mrs Budd’s departure from their midst was to be very much regretted, and it was realised that the serious los,s to Paeroa and district would be a decided gain to Hastings. Mr Marshall also referred to the good work done by Mr Budd, and the high’esteem in which he was held. His Worship then asked Mrs Budd to accept an octagon-shaped gold wristlet watch, suitably engraved, as a slight token from her many friends in the sporting and social institutions of Paeroa. Mr H. Poland, M.P.. also spoke eulogistically of Mrs! Budd and of the willing and valuable services rendered by her in assisting to make Paeroa a better and brighter place in which to live. Mr Poland said that he was speaking for the people of a. very wide area, the Ohinemurj Electorate. and he could say that their guest was well and favourably known in every part of it. He endorsed all the Mayor had said with regard to Mrs Budd’s social activities in the Go’dfields towns, particularly Paeroa and Waihi.

Mr Budd responded on behalf of his wife, and. said that it was rather a coincidence that his wife should have been accorded a public farewell on that day. as it marked the 50th anniversary of the arrival of her parents in Paeroa. Mr Budd said that he and his family deeply regretted leaving Paeroa and their many friends, and expressed sincere thanks and appreciation for the goodwill and hospiitalitv that- had been extended to his wife and himself. He expressed his grateful thanks to the gathering,for their handsome gift, which, he assured them, would be very highly treasured.

Mrs Budd also briefly thanked her friends for their token of esteem. At the conclusion of the presentation a dainty afternoon tea was served by the lady members of the tennis club.

In the evening a small dance was held under the auspices of the tennis club in the Soldiers’ Club, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. During the sapper adjournment the president of the club, Mr R L. Miller, wished Mrs Budd au revoir and good luck on behalf of the members, and expressed the great loss the club would'sustain by her removal from their midst.' Extras were played by Miss de Castro and Messrs H. Towers and E. Seville. Songs were contributed by Mrs: Budd, Miss R. de Castro;, and Mr H. Budd. The evening terminated with the singing of, ‘.‘Auld Dang Syne” shortly before midnight.