FAREWELL EVENING TO FATHER WANDERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5321, 6 February 1947, Page 6

FAREWELL EVENING TO FATHER WANDERS

• ] Returning To Europe For ] Year's Holiday • Nearly 200 parishioners of St. Eaith'sj Rotorua, attended a function in the Parish hall, Ranolf Street, last night, to bid farewell to the priest of the parish, Father Wanders, who is. returning to Holland for 12 montks' holiday aftqr almost 21 jiears in New Zealand. Ife leave Rotorua on February 17. On belialf of parishioners, Mr. L. C. Ryan spoke eulogistically of Father Wanders' serviee with the ■Catholic Church in Rotorua., In appreciation of these services he tock great pleasure in presenting' a chequc for 100 guineas as a gift from parishioners. Mr. A. D. Dibley, on behalf of Ngongotaha parishioners also spoke brieflv arfd presented Father Wanders with- a further eheque. Several priests oi neighhouring parislies, including Father van 'Beck, from Taupo, spoke of their assoeiation

with the guest of the evening'. j In reply, Father Wanders spoke feelingly of his years in New Zealand, and in Rotorua in particular. "When I first came to New Zealand," he said, "I didn't really expect to find any Europeans here except perhaps the Governor-General and' his staff-1 I expected to see only Maoris swinging l attle axcs!" He then went on to tell of the diffieulties Rotorua presented as a parish from the priest's point of view. Maori and European problems, he said, had to be tackled from an entirely different viewpoint, and he apologised if he had at times mixed his formulas. • Apart from his church work in the parish, continued the speaker, he had aiwayr been interested in sport — i'Too interested at times, in fact," he said amidst laughter. "I have always felt rather guil'ty when, on hright Satuniav afternoons, I shoulderei! a golf bag or my football 1 oots and left all the work to Father Wygerinck." Father Wanders spoke of the help he had reeeived from Father Wygerinck and Father Wardle in the parish work. He felt sure that the parish - would be in very eapable hands after l e had gone and Father Wygerinck carried on in his stead. In conelusion, Father Wanders sincerely thanked" all those who had conti'ibuted to the magnificent gift. Ue hoped that he would return to Rotorua after hi^ leave expired, but, although he felt certain that he •vould come l.ack to New Zealand, he was not able to decide his future movcments. Several musical item? were given by parishioners and supper was served at thv conelusion of tho evening. Anothcr farewell function will be tendered by Maori parishioners in the Tamatekapua meeting house this evening.