VALEDICTORY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4899, 4 November 1925, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

BOWLING CLUB FUNCTION. PRESENTATION FROM MEMBERS. A special gathering of bpwleijs, and visitors assembled at the bowling green on Saturday evening, when a complimentary evening was tendered to Mr D. Brown. The’ evening was mild and the green was-playing Well, some half-dozen rinks, taking part in the roll-up. About'nine o’telock a halt was called, and at the invitation of the president (Mr. E. Edwards) the gathering assembled at the pavilion.

After welcpming the visitors .Mr Edwards explained that the evening had been arranged, to give the members an opportunity of formally saying au revoir to Mr Dave Brown,, patron of the club and l.ast years president. The departure of Mr Brown would mean a distinct logs' to the club, Mr Edwards:said, but much as they disliked his going the members were not desirous of standing in the way of his advancement. Their guest was among the most highly esteemed members of the club, and his -example had been an inspiration to the members on many oe'easions. Under the presidency of Mr Brown the club had been led .to success on every occasion last season, including the winning of the Clothier Shield and the Goldfield Stars. Had harmony and such goodfellowship, not prevailed .throughout it would not have been possible for the club to have won through such a successful season. Their guest was deservedly popular among all classes of the community, and as head of the club he had been an able leader and an host in himself. The speaker said he felt sure that Mr Brown had never made an enemy in the-district. On handing Mr Brown a wallet containing ■ a ' cheque Mr Edwards said .that it was the unanimous wish of the members that the services of their guest should be. recognised in some tangible form, and he would ,dpk him to accept it on behalf of the club as a small token of the esteem and veneration in which he was held by the members. In conclusion .the speaker wished Mr and Mrs Brown good health, prosperity, and every happiness for the future, and expressed the hope that they would visit Paeroa at the first opportunity, when they could be assured of a royal welcome.

Mr G. H. Taylor, a past president of the blub, paid tribute to the sportsmanlike qualities of Mr Brown, and said that his genial and sunny disposition and ready help would ,be sadly missed, in the bowling -community particularly. Mr Taylor instanced how the members of the Waihi club that afternoon had cheered Mr Brown and expressed regret at his departure from Paeroa. Such tribute from a sister club spoke volumes for the good qualities of their guest. Mr W. T. Power, ex-president,, eulogised the good work done by Mr Brown, not only during the time he had been president but also while he was on the committees. “His place will be a hard one to fill, and we all wish him bumping good luck,” Mr Power .concluded. In proposing the toast of “Mr and Mrs Brown” Mr Forres', a foundation member of the club, said that Mr Brown had the happy faculty of making friends and winning their respect and admiration. Nothing he could say, in his opinion, -was too high praise for their guest, and he could only express regret at his departure and add his quota of good wishes.

The toast was enthusiastically honoured.

■ln responding. Mr Brown, who was accorded an ovation, said that he could not find words to adequately thank the members for their kind remarks concerning his wife and himself. Ho thanked them all. sincerely for their token of esteem, and. 'could only say that he was a very, proud man, and grateful to them all. He reminded the inembers that the success .the club had me.t with last year could not have obtained had it not been for the co-operation and ready assistance that had been accorded him. He had considered it an honour to have held the position of president, and what he had lacked in skill as a bowler he had .tried to make up by service and enthusiasm. He .was. sincerely sorry to lose so many genuine friends and good sports, and realised that he.would be a very, lonely man in Auckland. He could honestly say that he had crammed more pleasure' and fun into the few short years that he had «been in Paeroa than he had experieced during the many years he had lived in New Zealand. He wished to thank the members for their kindly references to Mrs Brown, and said they wpuld both look forward with pleasure to visiting Paeroa in the future. The speaker concluded by wishing the members every success and prosperity for the future.

After singing “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” and giving cheers for Mr Brown, the bowling was carried on until 10 p.m.