VALEDICTORY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5035, 4 October 1926, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

MR. W. H. BLAKEWAY.

PRESENTATION IN PARISH HALL.

After the service at St. Paul’s Church, Paeroa, last night the congregation gathered in the Parish Hall for the purpose df formally farewelling Mr and Mrs W. H. Blakeway, who leave Paeroa to-day to reside at Hamilton.

After supper had been partaken of Dr. T. G. Smith, senior lay-reader, on behalf of the congregation, expressed regret at losing their guests. He said that both Mr and Mrs. Blakeway had been connected with active church work , for ten years, and their departure- would be keenly felt by their many friends. Dr. Smith said that he had been closely associated with Mr Blakeway and knew him to be .a man of high principles and a loyal church worker. Mrs Blakeway had been a loyal and consistent wotrker in the Ladies’ Guild, and was ever willing to assist in advancing the work of the church. He asked their guests to accept a travelling rug, with scraps, as a slight token of the love and esteem in which they were, held and to serve to remind them occasionally df their old friends at Paeroa. In conclusion the speaker wished them good health and happiness for the future. Mr Blakeway was received with hearty appleuse on rising to respond. He said that it was hard to make a fresh start in a strange toton, and equally as hard to say au revoir to old friends., Mrs Blakeway ,and he would always carry with them happy memories of the good-hearted, loyal people of Paeroa. Theii- residence here had been very happy, and it had been ; a lasting pleasure to be. associated with such splendid church folk. In thanking the congregation for their tangible expression of goodwill Mr Blakeway said that he and his wife had only tried to do their little towards furthering the work of the church, and he felt very proud to hear that their sevi.ces had been of value and were appreciated. They looked forward with pleasure to visiting Paeroa from time to time. He hoped the church would make an endeavour to form some kind of club for the purposle of interesting young people after leaving Sunday school in church work. He wished the parish every success .and prosperity On behalf of the Diocese of Waikato the Ven. Archdeacon E. M. Cowie, Hamilton, added his. quota of appreciation of the loyal services given to church matters by Mr and Mrs Blakew.ay. He said he could quite understand how the gathering would miss their old friends, and that a big gap in the ranks of the workers would be caused. What Was Paeroa’s. loss would be Hamilton’s gain, and he looked forward to having Mr i a,nd Mrs Blakeway associated with church work at Hamilton.

On behalf of the Ladies’ Guild Mrs W. Barclay (president) said that Mrs Blakeway had been a tower of strength in the guild, and nothing had been too much trouble for her to do. The members were very fond of her, and wished her and Mr Bl.akewlay good luck, health, and prosperity in their new sphere.