VALEDICTORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3779, 14 April 1928, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

A very enjoyable social function took place at the residence of Mr and Mi’s F. C. Hay last evening, when members of the Foxton Tennis Club, together with representatives of the Croquet and Bowling Clubs, foregathered .to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs McMurray and family, who are leaving to take up their residence in the Feilding district. The evening was spent in dancing and cards/ and at a suitable juncture Mr Hay asked Mr and Mrs McMurray to accept as a gift from members of. the Tennis Club an electric iron and electrically heated water jug. In doing so Mr Hay referred to the great assistance Mr and Mrs McMurray had been to the Club for years past. It was seldom that the dual qualities of good players and good workers were to be found in members of a sports bod} 7 , , but in this instance these combined qualities were manifest. Both Mr and Mrs McMurray had been good /workers and good players, and the Club very much regretted their departure from the district. The speaker said he also “had a private grievance” in the departure of the McMurrays, in that Mrs Hay and himself were losing good neighbours. After detailing, the numerous qualifications required to make the perfect neighbour, the speaker said that the McMurray family at-

tained these qualifications, and it was with great regret that he and his wife were losiner their company. On behalf of Club members he hsd much pleasure in presenting the guests with the articles mentioned, and wished them every happiness and prosperity in the future. Mr “Skeet” Bryant, Club captain, expressed regret at the rei moval of the McMurray family from the district. The Club, he said, could ill afford to lose such good members; the membership of the Tennis Club comprised a high percentage of young people, and .the loss of the older and experienced members was to be doubly regretted, because of their inspiring influence on the juvenile membership. Mr M. E. Perreau, Mayor, also referred to the good qualities of those whom they had foregathered ’ to honour. lie referred to the great amount of work Mr and Mrs McMurray had done during their residence here, more particularly to Mrs McMurray as secretary of the Dorcas and Plunket Societies, and to Mr McMurray as a member of the Borough Council and other local bodies. Mr Perreau paid a tribute to Mr McMurray’s value as a Councillor, and stated that at the latter’s instigation many valuable resolutions had been placed on the Council’s minute book. He expressed the regret of the general public at the loss of the services of both Mr and Mrs McMurray to the town and conveyed best wishes for their future. Rev. Mr Nicholas endorsed the expressions of previous speakers, stating that within his experience he had also found the McMurray family not only good sports ,and workers in other directions, but as members of his Church. He also lwished them every happiness and prosperity in their new home. ■ As President of the Bowling Club, Mr R. Bryant expressed regret at the departure of Mr and Mrs McMurray, the latter having been a valued member of the Croquet Club for a number of years, and conveyed good wishes fori.their future. In rising to respond, Mr MeMurray was received with applause and

in expressing thanks said that he did not think they quite merited all the good things said about , them, as in doing what they had done for the public welfare, they had been prompted in some degree by selfish motives, in that they were seeking to promote their own pleasures. This expression, however, was negatived by voices from the assemblage. Continuing, Mr McMurray said that of all sports bodies in Foxton the Tennis Club was the only one without assistance from some other source. He instanced the Bowling Club, which received their premises at a peppercorn rental, the Football and Cricket Clubs, which were provided with grounds free of charge. He maintained the'Tennis Club was worthy of the greatest support for the reason that it was a healthy and clean sport and catered for the pleasure of both sexes. He thanked the donors for their handsome presents and said that though they were removing to another district, they would often be in. Foxton and hoped to enjoy many games on the local courts. Mrs McMurray also expressed Tier thanks to those present. “For they are Jolly Good Fellows” was lustily sung and three cheers given for the McMurray family. Mr and Mrs McMurray expect to leave Foxton about the 23rd inst.