VALEDICTORY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 August 1916, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

FARE WELLING A KAUKAPAKAPA

RESIDENT,

On Thursday last a large gathering of spttlers, with their wives and children, assembled in the Kaukapakapa Hall to farewell two of the pioneer settlers — Mr and Mrs M. Hudson. The ladies of the district had arranged the Hall as a drawing-room, and the building wore quite a cosy appearance.

Mr F. Dye, as the oldest settler of the Kaukapakapa district, spoke ot the work of Mran d Mrs Hudson in the districtHe particularly referred to Mrs Hudson's forty years of service as a Sunday School teacher, as a member of the Church choir, as a supporter of the Wesleyan Church, as a temperance worker, and as a friend and sympathiser of all who were in trouble. He recounted some of the hardships through which the early settlers passed, hardships in which the guests played a part. As a token of esteem, he, on behalf of the residents, many of whom Mrs Hudson had taught in Sunday School, asked her to accept a tangible recognition in the shape of a luxurious easy chair, and a silver teapot.

In making the presentation Mr Dye voiced the sentiments of all, when he trusted that Mrs Hudson would long be spared to enjoy a peaceful close to a life of self-sacrifice.

Rev. Mr Lamond, of the Wesleyan Church, speaking of Mrs Hudson as a Church worker, gave a cordial recognition of her value as such, and acknowledged that the local Church would be the poorer for her absence. He also referred to the feeling that he and other Church members had experienced, that they were afraid the tax on Mrs Hudson's energies was greater ■ than the Church could justly accept, and made sympathetic reference to the recent death in harness of the late Rev. C. J. Merton.

Although visibly moved by the parting, Mrs Hudson, in the absence of her husband, who was unavoidably absent on urgent business, bravely made a touching reply, thanking her neighbours for their handsome gift, which, she said she valued chiefly as an expression of good-will. The meeting broke up with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne" and " God Save the King."

On Sunday morning last a farewell service for Mr and Mrs Hudson was' held in the Kaukapakapa Methodist Church, the Rev. J. A. Lamond officiating. Later the Sunday School children made a presentation to Mrs Hudson of a writing cabinet containing writing paper envelopes, and a fountain-pen,