VALEDICTORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 963, 7 March 1911, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

A farewell and presentation was tendered to the Rev P. J Mairs at the Methodist Church last night. As previously stated, Mr Mairs has been appointed to Deunistou, on the West Coast, for which district he leaves this week. Last night’s function was confined exclusively to Methodists, except tor a letter of apology for absence read from the Rev G. K. Aitken (Presbyterian), who expressed regret at Mr Mairs’ departure from F'oxtou, and referred to the good feeling and hearty co-operation which existed between the two churches, and extending his best wishes for the departing minister’s future welfare. The Mayor (Mr G. H. Stiles), who, by the way, is the Vice-President of the Primitive Methodist Conference, presided. After the usual devotional exercises, the Chairman called upon Mr Judd, of Shannon, to say a few words. Mr Judd briefly outlined the history of the Shannon charge since Mr Mairs’ arrival. Prior to Mr Mairs coming to the district the Shannon church building was a retreat for swaggers” —now it was a comfortable and ornamental building, and a centre of religious activity. Others had contributed towards the success which had been achieved in Shannon, but the moving spirit was their departing minister. The Rev Mr Jones, of Feildiug, paid a high tribute to Mr Mairs’ loyalty and enthusiasm in the cause of Methodism, and said he was held in very high esteem by his brethren at conference. Pie eulogised the work in the Foxton charge during Mr Mairs’ ministry. Mr Jones’ address bristled with humorous anecdotes and stories —old and new. Mr Stiles, in asking Mr Mairs to accept a solid leather travelling bag for himself and a memento for Mrs Mairs in the shape of silverbacked brushes, etc., said that the responsibility of bringing Mr Mairs to Foxton rested upon his shoulders, and he thought they could conscientiously say the selection had been a wise one. Pie said it was the unanimous wish both of Foxton and Shannon that Mr Mairs should stay with them lor a further period, but he had set his mind upon labouring among the miners of the West Coast. He could say that Mr Mairs was leaving Foxton without having made an enemy, and would carry away with him the best wishes not only of the Methodists, but the townspeople as a whole. Mr Mairs, in acknowledging the gifts, said he would be sorry to think that be was not going to visit Foxton again. He had endeavoured to do his duty here. At first it was an uphill struggle, but his people had stuck to him manfully, particularly so at the Shannon end —and, he added, Foxton would have to be watchful or else Shannon would be the centre of the charge. He admitted that they did not ail share his optimism—that there were differences of opinion in matters of administration, but if he had made an enemy he was not aware of it. It had been his desire for many years to labour among the miners, for whom be had a great love, and now 1. '.1.. was open for him. He was leaving Foxton with his plans unfulfilled, but no minister could expect to reach all his ideals, and he hoped that they would rally round his predecessor and thus accomplish what he had left undone. On behalf of himself and Mrs Mairs he thanked them for their kindness and prayed that God would abundantly bless them. The Doxology closed the meeting. It is matter for regret that a wider scope was not given to the meeting to allow other townspeople to be present and pay a tribute to the sterling qualities of the departing minister. Since Mr Mairs’ arrival in Foxton he has taken a keen interest in public matters: his practical knowledge of landscape gardening has been exemplified in the beautification of the triangle and the bowling green. He was one of the local Bowling Club’s most enthusiastic members. He was a good citizen and is held in the highest esteem by members of the community. As a minister he is a loyal and enthusiastic Methodist, out he also possesses a large charily fur all other denominations. He is just the type of man who will appeal to the miners and although Foxton regrets his departure, he may rest assured he carries away with him their very best wishes.