COUNTRY NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 18826, 20 May 1920, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS

FIVE RIVERS. Last Friday evening a large gathering of prominent settlers assembled in the barn at Awarima Estate, Five Rivers, to say farewell to Mr T. Oilier, who had been manager of the estate for the past six years. The programme commenced with dancing and during an interval Mr T. Ready took the opportunity of presenting Mr Oilier with a well-filled wallet of notes. He referred to Mr Giller’s fine qualities as a neighbour and said that he had done most of the initial work in making known to the public the quality and remarkable fattening and carrying capacity of the Five Rivers land. When Mr Oilier took charge of Awarima it was rather in the nature of a ion eh diamond, but his energy and ability had worked wonders in transforming thorn ends of .acres of tussock and swamp into ••(;!>!? of tiie finest grazing and cropping lend in Southland. Mr Oilier rc .-ponded, saying that the laruc heartedness of his neighbours had marie the mist six years the happiest of his life, and that if his neighbours had found him r. good friend he had never been amongst a better group. Mr R. Taylor, e. late resident of the district, also referred to the inexhaustible fund of knowledge which Mr Oilier was always willing to share with his younger and mom inexperienced neighbours. Mr 11. Hillas presented Mrs Bright with a beautiful pendant also from the residents of the district -who much appreciated lier never failing hospitality. Mr Oilier mads a short speech of welcome to the new owners, Messrs Royds and Williams, of Canterbury. A most enjoyable supper was provided bv the ladies. Lively dance music was rendered both with violin and bagpipes by Messrs W. Sinclair, D. Beer, Gerrard and J. Rankin. The happy evening was brought to a close by the singing of Auld Lang Syne in the early hours of Saturday morning.