VALEDICTORY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4965, 23 April 1926, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

THE REV. F. B. DOBSON. PUBLIC PRESENTATION. The St. Paul’s: Parish Hall wag filled to capacity last night, when the Church of England people of P.aeroa, Hikutaia, Wharepoa, Karangahake, and Hauraki Plains assembled Jo take formal farewell df the Rev. F. B. Dobson, who has been vicar of the Parish of Paeroa for the last ten years. Mr W. H. Blakeway, wear’s warden, presided,-and with him were the members of St. Paul's vestry and the Revs. Coimol.ly (Te Arohq) and W. Averill (Hauraki Plains), W. Pickering, and His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall). The proceedings: opened w(ith an enjoyable musical programme arranged by the choirmaster, Mr R. W. Evans,, those contributing to the harmony being Mesdames J. Mitchell, C. P. Toplis,s, and Robinson, Misses D. and F. Miller, the Rev. W. Averill, .and Messrs T. A. Moresby, Ha,rqld Hill, and W. Dixon. Miss A. Coote acted as acconwanfet. ' THE PRESENTATION. Mr W. H. Blakeway said that the gathering had been arranged to enable parishioners to show some tangible recognition of the 'faithful services. rendered by Mr Dobson as vicar, and as a citizen. It was very pleading to see such a large gathering representative of many denominations. It was over ten years since their guest had arrived in Paeroa. Those who had been closely associated with! the vicar had f-oiund him a true Britisher, whose integrity and honesty of purpose was always manifest, and he had endeared himself to a very large circle of friend's. The* speaker briefly traversed the various undertakings that' had been accomplished In the parish a,nd the progress made' during Mr Dobson’s regime. Special tribute was paid to the pioneering work done by Mr Dobson on the Hauraki Plains, and mention w'ais also made! of the splendid work' and devotibn to duty bf the vlbar during the influenza epidemic in 1918. The parishioners were genuinely sorry to lose .thdir vicar, who- ha,d proved himself a valued and loyal friend. . -

Mr Blakeway then called on Dr. G. T. Smith, senior lay-reader, to make a presentation on behalf of the parishioners, of Paeroa; and Netherton.

In a happy speech z Dr. Smith endorsed the remarks of the previous, speaker. In hajiding Mr Dobson a substantial wallet, of bank-notes Dr. Smith said he felt it an, honour to be asked to publicly recognise the (services that had been so worthily performed by thei/’guest during his ministry . It was a pleasure and a privilege to place on record the appreciatlion of the large parish which had been ably tended, very often under considerable difficulties, by Mr Dob-

50n..,. _ The wallet'was inscribed, “Presented to the Rev. F.'B. Dobson by the parishioners, of the parochial district ; of Paej-oa, as a token of affection, rei, gard, and esteem, on his retirement after ten years of fadthful services a r s vicarV.l9l6-1926.” • presentation the large gathering rose and lustily sang “For ■ he.’s a jolly good fellow,” followed by prolonged cheers. ■ Mr J. Elliot, .representing the congregation at Hikutaia, 'said that in Mr Dobson the settlers at Hikutaia had always found a, friend who was > loved and revered. Mr Dobson was intehsljf huma : n, and his devotion to duty over such a long term of years, and' under many difficulties was a monument to his faithfulness. Mr ■ Dobson had commanded respect, and his practice of example rather than precept was much, admired. Their guest,had a tactful way of showing kindness, , a.nd had carried put-hiss ministry in/ an unostentatious manner.. There were many monuments to the work and ministry of, Mr Dobson, including the handsome church at Hikutaia. . On behalf of the. church people of Hikutaia he asked 1 Mr Dobson to a ccept, a cheque, for a substantial. sum, and in conclusion wished Mr Dobson, his wife, and family, health and happiness. Mrs' J. Silcock. who is. regarded as the Mother of S(. Paul’s,'Paeroa, on behalf of the Ladies’, Guild, tlhank.ed ■ Mr Dobson for the’ help a.nd kindly advice he had always freely given the guild. Mrs Silcock referred to the great' work that had been accomplished by Mrs Dobson, who,' by her genial and loving nature had endeared herself to a very wide circle of friends. The guild was missing her greatly. On behalf of the gtfild the speaker witshed Mr Dobson good health and many years of happiness in his new home at Manurewa. The Mayor (Mr W. Marsha.ll) said .that speaking as an individual he had nothing but the profouhdest respect for Mr Dobson, and he much regretted that with the fulness of years it. had been necessary to lose their guest from their midst. In his official capacity' he had found it necessary to confer with Mr Dobson on matters of public importance, a,nd had a high regard for the sound judgment, breadth of vision, and willing help and co-operation tha,t their guest had shown. Too much could not be said of the work Mr Dobson had performed during the terrible epidemic, and many a person had good cause to remember Mr Dobson and his goodness with grateful hearts. In conclusion the Mayor wished l)fr and Mrs Dobson and family a happy time in their new home, a,nd said that he felt sure he was voicing the feelings of the citizens of Pae.rqa .when he said that the community would be considerably the poorer by his removal from their midst. The Revs. Connolly and Averill also referred in eulogistic terms to the, good work accomplished by tlie- retiring vicar, and offered him their best wishes for the future. On rising to respond Mr Dobson received an ovation. After acknowledging the presentations-he said that al- ' though he wa.s deeply grateful and .touched at. the tangible expressions of appreciation of life services and the eulogistic remarks that had been accorded him, he felt that the personal element did not enter into the

m’atter so greatly; as it was the Master of the Churdh that was being honoured. A vicar was largely wha,t the congregation made hijn, and although the parishioners had differed, with him on occasions n’t was well to remember that a vicar had his own opinions. Similar to the finger-print system, no two people had the same natures, and each one made his or her own impression. On beha.lf of his uiife, family, and hijuself he was truly grateful; to the good folk who had come forward and assisted the work of the church and made progress possible... In the autumn, of his life he would look back with considerable pleasure on the many happy years tha,t had been Bpent at Paeroa, He said that he could not find words to thank adequately the many people who had, by presentations and helpful words of good cheer, made their last days, hi the parish such happy and memorable ones. Mrs Dobson had been a, loyal helpmate, and the work she had done for the church had been done faithfully and well. He hoped, and felt sure, - that the parishes of Paeroa and Hauraki Plains would continue to develop and flourish, and he wished them all passible success. His ministry at Paeroa had quite often not been qn easy one, but he NW done his best and it was a great comfort to hear that his humble efforts had been appreciated/ Supper was then served, and after winging "Auld Lang Syne’’ many who attended the social took the opportuniy of saying au revoir to Mr Dobson.