VALEDICTORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3043, 1 June 1926, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

SEND OFF TO MR, AND MRS. E. HEALEY. A large number of citizens and friends of Mr, and Mrs E. Healey, met in the Council Chambers on Saturday afternoon to make a presensation to them on the eve of their departure from Foxton to take up their residence in Wellington. In opening proceedings, the Mayor (M. E. Perreau, Esq) said it was a pleasant occasion on which they had met, yet mingled with regret. He was pleased to know that the people of Foxton had recognised good citizens, but they were sorry they were losing them. However, as Mi 1 , and Mrs Healey were leaving Foxton they all joined in wishing them good luck in their new sphere of life. During their 20 years of residence in Foxton both Mr. and Mrs Healey had made numerous friends and had been connected with practically every institution in the town. They were also keen supporters of sport and Mr. H'ealey was an enthusiastic member of the Bowling Club. All were pleased to know, however, that Mr. and Mrs Healey were going to a large city where they intended to take life a little easier. During his sojourn in Foxton, Mr. Healey had been a valuable member of the Chamber of Commerce. The All Saints' Ladies’ Guild would miss Mrs Healey. She had been a member of all local ladies’ institutions and at all times a willing helper with any deserving effort. On behalf of their numerous friends and well-wishers, the Mayor asked Mr. Healey to accept a liqueur stand and also handed to him, on behalf of Mrs Healey, a sunshine handbag as tokens of the esteem in which they well held by the people of Foxloii. Rev. W. H. Wialton, on behalf of the Bowling Club and All Saints’ Church and Ladies’ Guild, expressed regret at the departure from Foxton of Mr. and Mrs Healey. Mr. Healey Was a prominent local bowler and possessed a true spirit of sportsmanship. His departure would be a loss to the town, but Mr. Healey recognised in Wellington greater for his capabilities and he wished them both God speed, health and happiness, and hoped that they would not forget their friends in Foxton. Mrs Healey had been a keen and energetic member of the Horticultural Society and a good Church worker. She had always been willing to assist the choir with any effort and her energies in connection with the annual children’s ball would be greatly missed. The ladies of Foxton would miss her from a social point of view also. He wished both Mr. and Mrs Healey a bright and happy future and hoped they would long be spared to enjoy the fruits of their labours and look back with pleasure on their sojourn in Foxton.

Mr. D. Christie spoke on behaf of the Horticultural Society. As a member of that body Mrs Healey would leave a gap which would be difficult to fill. She had been a keen exhibitor and despite this fact occupied the position as a class steward in connection with shows. Mrs Healey had also displayed a sportsmanlike spirit and had very often been beaten at exhibitions by bulbs or cuttings she had given to fellow exhibitors. Mr Healey had been an excellent citizen and he was sorry he was leaving Foxton. From a humanitarian point of view, he had been the means of placing Foxton on the map. However he wished both Mr. and Mrs Healey good luck and happiness and expressed the hope that they would prove as useful in their new sphere of life as they had been in Foxton.

•Mr. A. E. Admore, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, also made eulogistic reference to Mr and Mrs Healey and said that what was Foxton’s loss was some other town’s gain. Cr. Walker, in paying a tribute to the departing guests assured

them of a hearty welcome when paying Foxton a visit in the future. Mr. J. K. Ilornblow, speaking of 20 years association with Mr. Healey said they had been associated with each other on many local h' iitutions and lie had formed a very high opinion of Mr Healey’s citizenship. He thought perhaps Mr Healey was making a mistake in leaving Foxton, as he had achieved his success here and his business was advertised throughout (lie world as being located in Foxton and he suggested that Foxton should have been the Mecca for his famous treatment.

In returning tlianns, Mr. Healey said that it was with a feeling of great regret that he was leaving Foxton. His business was taking him away, however, as it was no longer possible for him to carry on without yider organisation. Ho thanked the speakers for the kindly sentiments expressed and assured them that he would always have a deep regard for all his Foxton friends. He referred to his associations with the Bowling Club and Chamber of Commerce. Bowling, he said, had been his only form of recreation and he would look back with pleasure on the many happy times spent on the local green. The Chamber of Commerce he considered a most important local institution and it had always had his support, The gifts presented to both himself and Mrs Healey that day would serve as mementos of the happy years they had spent in Foxton.

"For They are Jolly Good Fellows” was then sung and hearty cheers given for both Mr. and Mrs Healey.