PRESENTATION TO MR JENNINGS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 459, 24 April 1912, Page 5

PRESENTATION TO MR JENNINGS.

MINISTERS TO BE PRESENT

AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION,

The presentation to be made to Mr W. T. Jennings, ex-member for the Taumarunui electorate, in recognition of the conspicuous services rendered on behalf of the district during the nine years in whicn he represented it in Parliament, bids fair to rank as one of the most important functions which has taken place at Te Kuiti. The who : e district, extending from Kawhia to Taumarunui is to be represented at the gathering, while people from the out back localities are sure to be present in large numbers. The gathering is to be non-party in character inasmuch as people of all shades of political opinion have contributed to the testimonial. However, as far as the political aspect is concerned there cannot fail to be a preponderance of Mr Jennings' supporters, and the fact that the new Ministry will be strongly represented, will lend additional public interest to the occasion. The Hon. T. Mackenize, Prime Minister, and the Hon. G. W. S. MacDonald, Minister for Public Works and Native Affairs, have already accepted invitations to be present, and it is anticipated at least one other member of the new Cabinet will attend, as well as several private members of Parliament. Invitations have been extended to Sir James Carrol! and Mr R. McKenzie, ex-Ministers and they have signified their intention of being present providing they can make the necessary arrangements. In addition to the presentation to Mr Jennings, advantage is being taken of the occasion to formally open the new Municipal Buildings and Public Library. The opening ceremony will be conducted by the Prime Minister.

The Ministerial party is to arrive by the 4 p.rn. train from Auckland, and the ceremony of opening the Municipal Buildings will take place at 4.30.

After the ceremony deputations will be received by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Worka until 6 p.m , when the party will be entertained by the Borough Council at dinner in tne Cuiincil hall.

The public meeting in the Skating Rink, at which the presentation to Mr Jennings will be made will open at 7.30 p.m. The meeting is to be free to the public and ladies are specially invited to be present.

After the public meeting the visitors are to be entertained at a smoke concert to be held in the Town Hall, Taupiri Street. At the function to bo held in connection with the opening of the Municipial Buildings, the Mayor (Mr James Boddie) will preside, while at the public presentation to Mr Jennings, and at the smoke social the chair will be occupied by Mr A. Scholes (chairman of the Waitomo County Council).

APPRECIATION AT WAITARA

[]JY TELKURAPIJ. —I'fI.KSS ASSOCIATION*.] Waitara, This Day.

On Thursday evening a social in honour of Mr Jennings wa3 attended by the Hons. Mr Laurenspn and Te Rangihiroa, on behalf of the Ministry. The Mayor handed to the ex-member for Taumarunui a purse of sovereigns, subscribed for by his friends, and a brooch for Mrs Jennings, from the lady members of the election committee. The services of Mr Jennings were highly eulogised by the Ministers, who said as a back blocks member, he would be greatly missed, and the hope was expressed by them that the electors would, when opportunity came, return to their old lore.

The gathering terminated in a demonstrative way, cheers being given for the Ministers and the ex-member, and a resolution was carried unanimously expressing the opinion that the policy of the Mackenzie Ministry would be found satisfactory to the country.