LEAVING PAEROA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3264, 17 May 1943, Page 5

LEAVING PAEROA

MAJOR & MRS T. R. MOORE PRESENTATION OF CHEQUE FUNCTION IN ARMY HALL Testimony to the work and 1 personal qualities of Major and Mrs T. R. Moore, officers of the Paeroa Salva- ■ tion Army Corps, wlm have been transferred to Oamaru, was borne by several speakers on Thursday night at a farewell gathering which filled the Army hall to capacity. The Rev. J. R. Nelson (Methodist minister) presided, and' was accompanied.on the platform by Major and Mrs Moore and Mr T. H .Jamieson (minister of the Presbyterian Church). The event began with the singing of the hymn “All People That On Earth Do Dwell,” after which Mr T. H. Jamieson led the assembled company in prayer. Opportunity was taken at this stage to hear the remarks of Mr C. N. O’Neill (Scoutmaster of the local troop of Boy ’Scouts), who was obliged to leave early to attend another function l in the town. Tribute From Scouts References were frequently made in these days, said Mr O’Neill, to the need for a considerable improvement in the moral fibre of community life in the Dominion. It was no use aiming shafts of criticism at the Government of the country concerning existing evils. What was needed was to. inculcate in the individual right standards of life and character. And to do this it was necessary to “catch them young.”' Hence the necessity and value of institutions like the Boy ■Scouts. And so far as the local troop of Scouts was concerned, Major Moore had rendered considerable assistance in seeking to achieve the aim of the 'Scout movement to inculcate in young life cleanness of thought, speech and life. As a member of the Scout 'Committee he had always been ready to co-operate and to assist the movement in every way. Having paid tribute to the work of Major and Mrs Moore in other directions, and to their personal worth, the speaker expressed the hope that they would find opportunities in Oamaru of continuing the valued service they had rendered to the community in Paeroa. Tribute From Mayor

At a .later period in the meeting a tribute to Major and Mrs Moore was paid by the Mayor of the borough, Mr Edwin Edwards, who had been detained at an important meeting of the Borough Council.

The Mayor, who was accompanied by a number of members of the council, said it was with much regret that he had heard the news of the impending departure of Major Moore, who had been ever ready to assist in matters concerning public welfare;' and who as a member of the Paeroa Patriotic Committee had given much time and co-operation in patriotic affairs, especially as an organiser in the one-time evacuation project, and in other plans for organising finance drives in the district. The work and personal worth of Major and Mrs Moore were much valued in the community, and he wished for* them much happiness and useful service in the new sphere of work to which they were going. Mr B. Gwilliam (a member of the Paeroa Borough Council) spoke in similar terms and expressed his appreciation of Major Moore as a man. Testimony to Major Moore’s interest in the Paeroa All Services Club and his work in that connection was borne by Mrs E. Turton. Mr D. I. Prime spoke appreciatively of Major and Mrs Moore’s co-oper-ation in the Saturday night fellowship meetings. The friendly and co-operative delations of Major and Mrs Moore with other churches, and their deep spirituality of character, as well as the earnestness of their work in the local Army corps, were testified to by the chairman and Mr T. H. Jamieson. Cheque Presented

Mr W. Malcolm referred in highly appreciative terms to the particular work of Major and Mrs Moore in the Army corps, and said their ministry had proved helpful not only in times of well-being, but in times, especially, of sorrow and loss. Mrs E. V. Slyfield spoke of Mrs Moore’s gracious and esteemed help in matters connected with the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union. Miss K. Roberts, on behalf of the local corps, spoke in terms 'of appreciation of th© excellent work done by Major and Mrs Moore. A presentation was made to Major and Mrs Moore by the chairman of a substantial cheque representing contributions from the general public, and to Mrs Moore a bouquet was presented by little Miss T. Caddy. Major and Mr» Moore, in responding, described their stay in Paeroa

as the happiest experience they had yet enjoyed in their career as Salvation Army officers, and spoke warmly of the help they had received not only from the members of the local corps, but from members and ministers of the religious communions and from the general public, the Major referring particularly to the cheerful assistance given by members of/the .business community. They were genuinely sorry to leave Paeroa, which was necessitated only by orders from headquarters; but they hoped to find even fuller opportunities in the larger sphere of Oamaru for the work and service they had tried to accomplish in Paeroa. Enjoyable Programme An enjoyable programme was prot oaccomplish in Paeroa. those contributing being Mesdames J. Stevenson, R. Catton, D. Murdoch, L. Trim, H. E. Whitton, Mr R. Jutson and (representing the Presbyterian Girls’ Bible Class) Misses 0. Ardern, S. Fisher and F. and 0. Hollinshead. The organ accompaniments were played by Mrs J. R. Nelson, Mrs T. Aitken, Misses E. Davie and K. Roberts. The proceedings terminated with ;,he ..vxv-.is Vi supper.