VALEDICTORY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 267, 20 December 1928, Page 5

VALEDICTORY.

MR. AND MRS. F. F. HOCKL^. fifc. Appreciation at Rotorua. 'IS .4 A very large number of representative citizens gathered to do honour to Mr. F. F. Hockly, member for Rotorua, dfid to Mrs. Hockly and family. Some' 250 persons were present during: the evening. After supper was disposed of His Worship tile Olay or, Mr. J. N. Me-. Lean, briefly and effectively an,-.* nounced the particular cause of the gathering which was to farewell their late member, and family, who, to the deep regret of their many friends, were leaving Rotorua. The speaker said that all shades of political opin-i ion would be sorry to lose so good a ciitzen. During his residence he had endeared himself to a wide circie of 1 friend. He had ever in his capacity as representative of the district, and as a citizen,-done his duty and devoted his energies to forward the interest of all within the constituency. It was with regret that he, on behalf of the citizens, said farewell to Mr. Hockly and family, and hoped that they would again return and dwell in Rotorua. There was a gleam of pleasure that shone through the gloom of farewell; one of the Hockly family would return and settle in Rotorua. (Loud applause). Wherever Mr. and Mrs. Hockly went they would carry with them the most earnest wishes of a very wide circle of friends for their health,happiness and prosperity. (Loud cheers).

Mrs. E. Robertson, on behalf of the ladies of Rotorua, made a most effective acknowledgment of the great services rendered to everyone in the district, not only by the late member, but by Mrs. Hockly. Mrs. Hockly had, during her residence in Rotorua, endeared herself to all with whom she had come in contact. Ever exerting herself in the cause of social uplift, she had done much —perhaps too much for her health—in the helping of others. The speaker feelingly referred to the personal touch of the late member. Not only did he do his duty, but he went beyond that ; he gave of his personal time. This the speaker supported by a concrete instance. On behalf of the various organisations to which she belonged and the ladies of Rotorua, she wished their departing friends every happiness that life could bring and trusted that they would speedily return.

Mr. H. M. Martin, on behalf of the farming community, emphatically stated Mr. Hockly had ever attended to everything that could be of benefit to the farming interest in the district. He was the best member that Rotorua had ever had. The speaker alluded to the many ways in which Mr. Hockly had sacrificed his time and leisure for the benefit of others. As a practical man he know what the land man wanted and he pushed the farming interest to the benefit of all within the district. His loss would be seriously felt by those on the land. He, like other speakers, wished them every good thing that could befall in their new home.

On Mr. Hockly rising the audience spontaneously rose and sang the song of good fellowship, a prolonged ovation following. He thanked the previous speakers for the kind things that had been said cf himself and of Mrs. Hockly. To serve those who had entrusted him with their confidence was a pleasure, not a duty. At all times he had given of his best to the interest of a constituency that he had represented for nine years. During his stay in Rotorua he had made many friends, more perhaps than lie had made in any other place in which he had sojourned. He left, both his family and himself, with deepest regrets. Whether they would return was in the lap of the gods. His defeat at the polls carried no bitterness. Those who went into battle must take defeat with a smile. (Loud applause). Speaking for Mrs. Hockly, he expressed the extreme pleasure that the kindly references had given her. She would always remember the many friends that she had mode during her residence in Rotorua. (Loud and prolonged applause). Handsome bouquets were then presented to Mrs. and Misses Hockly by Misses Jean McLean, I’at.ricia Ryder ";!fia ; 'J%ap Johnson. All therfijoined in singing “ Auld Lang Syne.’’-r-Rotorua Chronicle.