FAREWELL TO MR GOULD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 267, 11 June 1910, Page 5

FAREWELL TO MR GOULD.

In spite of a drizzling rain and an unpromising night, over sixty of the Ohura residents turned out to a banquet in the Mangaroa Hall, tendered to Mr G. S. Gould, on Saturday last, on the occasion of his retiring from the position of County engineer. During his stay in the district, Mr Gould, by his genial disposition, striking personality and courteous manner, has won the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact, and Satruday night's enthusiastic and representative gathering bore testimony to. the respect in which he is held. The chair was occupied by Mr Stevenson, (County chairman), who carried out his duties in a very efficient manner. After the toast of the "King" had been drunk, that of "Parliament" was proposed by Mr McClenaghan, Mr McGinlay reiponding. Both these gentlemen, in a few facetious words, spoke of the need of good roads and bridges and the dilatoriness of our legislators in affording these to the back-block settlers. In his response to the "Army and Navy," happily pro posed by Mr Woof, Dr Latchmore touched a sympathetic chord in the hearts of his hearers when he made an appeal to them to unite their forces and form a mounted corps. The "County Council" was proposed by Mr Rlgg, who lucidly explained to his hearers the difficulties of a County engineer, and incidentally referred to Mr- Gould as "one of the best." Mr Stevenson suitably responded, pointing out the necessity of increased taxation and the efforts the Council were making to- adopt a sound, practical policy. Mr Dennison proposed the "Local Bodies," Mr Meredith replying, and pointing out that the settlers had realised the need of unity in joining the Farmers' Union, a body yet to become, the speaker said, a power in the country. The names of two con firmed bachelors were coupled for the toast of "The Ladies" —that of Mr Marney and Mr McClenaghan. After a brief interval the chairman, in a neat speech presented Mr Gould with a handsome travelling case, suitably inscribed, and a case of gold-mounted pipes, on behalf of the Ohura residents. This was the event of the evening, Mr Gould being received with renewed cheers and repetitions of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." He remarked that of all the contracts he had undertaken or superintended in the Ohura this was the most difficult he had ever had, if he was to do justice to his feelings. A final toast to "Trade and Commerce," proposed suitably by Mr Sandison, was responded to neatly by Mr W. Williams, who outlined the history of commerce in Ohura. Songs by Messrs McClure (encored), Bryant, Hansen, Wakeford, Goldfinch, and Barron, and recitations by Messrs Rigg and Sefton were interspersed with the various items throughout the evening. A vote of thanks to the promoters and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem, brought to a close one of the best evenings yet spent in the Mangaroa district.