FAREWELL SMOKE SOCIAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 241, 2 July 1915, Page 3

FAREWELL SMOKE SOCIAL

TO MR. G. SMITH. A very enthusiastic ''unci enjoyable farewell which took the form 'of a smoke social Was tendered to Mr. G. Smith, foreman' of the locomotive branch of the railway service at Taihape, in, the, Railway social. Hall, on Wednesday night. Mr. Hi Mercer, statiomuaster, occupied the chair. The seating accommodation was' taxed to its utmost,' The proceedings were opened by the chairman, who proposed the toast of '"The King,"' which was loyally and enthusiastically drunk and the National. Anthem sung.

Mr. J. Currie, in : proposing the t'oa'at of "The Boys at the Front, "said he thought they would 'all agree that this toast was one of the most'important on the list. He need hot remind them how noblv they | were fighting, and ! he thought they should couple with the names of their boys all those who were fighting for the British Empire and the Allies. He honoured all those who had,gone to the front and he thought everyone should do something; Therewould nev'cr be true peace' until" what he termed the scientific barbarism of Europe 'was' forced at the' bayonet point to,sign a hew'.agreement:' He would'as'lc them to heartily and enthusiastically honour the toast. Lieutenant Johnson thanked the Company very "much "for giving' him : the honour of responding to'the toast. He thought it was the ; bouriden duty' rl o'f "every' abie-bdied f hi'an in' : Neiv' Zea'lalidto. enlist for' the front, unTess"" Ife'lia'd other oncumbcrarices to' prevent him. The gallant landing' of' our troops at Gallipoli would'go down to ' posterity and those men would always be honoured. He felt confident they had no need to fear the future, and New'Zealand was producing as good soldiers as anything in the United Kingdom. He thanked them for the loyal manner in which l they drank the toast. ' •

Mr. C. T. Jeffries, district engineer at Ohakun'e, proposed the toast of-■"-The Fallen. '* In |lie course of he said lie' had been associated'" vHtTr Sm\tH for many years and lie 'Riievf their'guest was regarded- as'a of the department. When tJUir Ijoys\ieft for the- war-flags' were ■ ''flown 'frora every flagstaff, 'but 'there 7 good deal of sentiment ''in' this and "he questioned whether "young men' rea/iy 'realised the ■■ pos'slbilrtres ''-which % tended .their taction.-' :/ 'Ortfat e #Hta?ni : Ivas, to-cia'y one' 6f the lehtftng rfa£ioW : of if\&. world' arid he felt'that:- ; if I 'they' spent'"' six months in Germany they >buld : realise, thte* yiet !; 'bfeneflt 6f*'b'eihg : •'under tht\'mle df'tlfe British'''flag.' He' asked that the Wast' be •'drUnK' ih tf silence." '''-. •'' "■-' * ;V '' *' '''

'' Sir.' L&vfofn, in'- Hbtx&\ 'Wfti« E3\CX,- SaiO : %e*nird %e<m ;; a:' , memUcrof the E.F.C.A. since its insti-"j gatio'n. ' He regardeiF'it as tv : v &s"&s'&'■' ful and effective, iritetiftttibii 'a'h'd -iie v bcwas deserving* 'of ' port. , . I • •■- * I " i ';¥li("'^sident^f' , ihe EIF.C;A'.; in fo- ; : siionuu;g,'said lie 'had' been a .'benefit' to raflwuVnYeiv throughout Nov;- Ze;i]and:* : 'U:e idiik 'this opportunity of thanlang-tire IfctiPfove-'j ' "Jf S iof liis" inters W«%lftf i i&W.lifcg- U i?O3 1® .?•;« ,rt:-..-:, j. •$.-, ~.,.■•.,:.. ,- y *:•• : * ""*'' '■''* |X ''" '- '< v """ '''' U>ua ' ILLS.

Wished him every success in his new spheres The toast of "The Navy" was entrusted to Mr. Jeffries, who said he thought there was no need to dilate upon the British Navy, for they learnt about'it from childhood. The people .of. the British Isles were seafaring people', and as a result their commerce now Reached, round the whole world. They had the finest navy in the world •and they owed the existence of the British Empire to that navy.—The roast was enthusiastically honoured. The toast of "The Locomotive Pioneer 'iffitfi proposed by Mi-. T. Shute, who said he was pleased they had given him that toast to propose! The present •generation of Taihape hardly knew ;vwha±/£tiwas like in the old days. Generally speaking, Taihape. had progressred; more than' any town . New Zenlaud. Twenty' years ago .there., was nothing- here * and now to-day they had many of. the improvements to be. found

in. cities, i ..:... ■-.--• ••■ « ->:. Mr. Hastedt, 'in responding, ,sai.d, he could take his mind back twenty years and in the intervening'time many irn.provements had, been effected. The speaker detailed inany reminiscences of earlier days and ni conclusion .said h.o considered the 'railwaymen .here were, second to none, in the Dominion,, and -they had in: their guest the .best ..of locomotive foremen, (Hear,,hear). . The chairman .said he now had .the,. ■pleasure of proposing the health of j" The l Guest.''' ,He had , known,. Mr.. Smith 14 years ago. Their guest .had, .-first entered > the service as , a .parcels, 'clerk at Thrum l and for a. short time ■was'relieving stationmaster," but lie afterwards deserted the quill for the footplate. He had 38 years' Service to his credit and he had been at Taihape for the past three years. Oh behalf of railwaymen here and at Marton and Tanmartinui, he presented Mr." Smith with a purse of .sovereigns, and would convey to'Mr. Smith and his wife and family every wish for their future

health and happiness. Mr. Smith thanked one 'and all forthe manner in which they had drunk the toast and for the very fine presentation. He first! came out to New Zealand in 1876 and he now had a- record•of some 38 years' service. He'commenced as a parcels clerk and during - his time had spent 25 .years-on iU r footplate. He had always, found fcho ' nien: of the Mayi .Trunk fine fellows, to work with. A fjirenjian;-, had •'•ter" f-he'men's inti}re/ji%: - .s, i >vt'll ,; of' : h ; is uopa'rtmeii^ i:ir He tlioi^htuthwc. iwcre, ho 'fdier'ri'.ei-i than those on t\m l'aiLwny'.s, for' Ihey were .used to t fig]y: 'of'all'''kinds'/ 'He ' thanked the . allip--;.. brariehe's for the .present . and £or :| t^ie 7 , ma-nrier ■iri.-'whieh ,'thp .toast .was, ciru;;; . v'Apxdause); : ■'■' _ .. .~, .., ......•.-,, • l As"'" the' '■ representative, of ..Welling-. |•■ton* riieh who canto tp Taihjipe., Mr. Mit- S •4lra'm rt eulogised-' Mr. Smith's ~go.od I'pofntsV'feiid' Messrs. Gunn, Sullivan, and •Murphy • also spcike. 1 t '•-'• Mr."'B'. v Green/' as 'foreman' of works', 'of "this '"section! "also spoke in glowing, 'terms of Mr. 1 Snath, who had always' profve'cl 'llfinsc if'' a '-willing ''helper. -' MiV.T; Forb'esV""of' '' 'nisi- ' spoke in si'mihir' ! terms and said.. that what \Vn"s T.-uliape *s loss was Clirist'church's gain.' : "■, ' '• . ~

'Mr. Burrell, on behalf of the staff and the guards in, particular, congratulated Mr. Smith on his promotion, for that officer had always, been most fair in his dealings with the railwaymen. He wished Mr. Smith and his family the best of fortunes. Mr. Clarke said he had known Air. Smith for several years. Mr. Smith had been looking forward to this removal, and on beiialf of the office staff he wished him every success in his new sphere. Mr. Currie, as an old ex-loco. man. also expressed; regret at Mr: Smith 's departure. ( On behalf of the 'Church-of England. Mr. Chas. Savill said he was "Very sorry their guest was leayjng Taihape and- he would be greatly missed in Chueh of England work.

Messrs. .Buckley and Trotter...also made eulogistic reference to the guest of the eyeping. '-i ii *>'■ ■ ■ Mr. S- .B.eban -proposed* the toast of '' The Locomotive Staff,'' and V-f «''- \he course of ,a, lengthy speech, spoke in high terms of esteem in -which Mr. Smith was. .held, and he also made pleasing., references ; to- other hiom'hers of the railway department!' present 'at the, gathering. ... . ...... - --•- Messrs. Burrell, Crawford, Herbert, Lavin, andAYard responded; '' , The, toast, ,pf the A.S.R.S. ,wa,s7-.thfn proposed, ,thc ; speaker pointing out .that the .attendance was a proof of the es.teem in which Mr. Smith was held, , Messrs. Burrell, Herbert, and Wa.rd responded.. . .-.

,3*fr. S. -Green proposed ,thc- ; tea-st-•;<£, the R. 0.1., of which heTiad been a raosy ber for some years. The speaker gave a brief resume of his life artel"'stated kc. had 'first joined the- service asmriabourer and had risen gradually { to*'his present position. At the.-sam.fl > time*ho was sure that every man in the . service"* could rise in the same., way if .he was hard working and industrious. _ ',."

Mr. Clarke, on behalf of the R.OX. ! replied, aad pointed out the advantage ] of the various -railway-"Organisation's working -fn port ; their* several institutions,, otherwise they' 'would lose the- privileges they gained through their existence. l.ieatenant 'Johnson;- in ' "ir^erV''pat.ri" : "" otic speech', : p'roppsed, ihjj-t^a^ -fpj ASpfSp # , -2viitionak r- Reserve,'' associated _a*ii-' • the name 0f..-Mr. Yal^nt*iijv.»-« ; He I'<-lt con fid er.tr -the'. Reserve "was" doing good ■'xmk thronghemt *he">'Bomiriio ; ri;-'- ;; They-' ial.3 limped wrccess would ultimately'ix ithosc at home should" pre- j ) p*gi{tr.«fajr wnCrgcJiehfa:*? l& His p.vere :ili "Sini*'.'-way• acceptabbr, "lie" would ' as,auuc}i. time as he could help .the ; ;.io«il branch of the_ He,did •■•vlidH** 1

. ho-• <Hd ; *^a t !*,'' jat their service. ' (TZo-.;plause)»,«itThej-toast was astica,lly... ,-•; , ,^iL"'s3. ! '.fi ft . ,The ehairnt!an said they would—*-?.'-appreciate/ the offer of .Tchnson and he .dipped,, thoy_woyhJ v jirj-„ f.ent..his services. r v*The tucst./.d' "_-Th.^, !V{sitrpi«'i'i v.--), proposed J>,y. M'-". Mercer, who expressed diis pleasure, .^t. seeing^cit7v.enr< of''rPa-i'f-"-llfip.c. amongst, them that evening and. also visitors, front other .centres. The toast, was responded' to at length by .'.Messrs. .Beban, -finite,' ' Green, and.,Johnson.

1 f;o toast of ''The Ladies"; was pro[■os«d by Mr. Buckley in a very fine :=[••. -<>•' il. The toast of "The Press" was proposed by the chairman and responded to by Mr. A. Ilarvey. Daring tlio evening ;i number of vocal and instrumental items, were contributed and wore very much appreciated.