VALEDICTORY.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 June 1918, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

MR. W. WATSON FAREWELLED

A large gathering assembled at the Fire Brigade Hall last night to farewell Mr. Wally Watson, who has severed his connection with the railway service and is entering into business on his own account in Raetihi. There were at one time during "the evening no less than one hundred-persons present, representing the townspeople, railway service, fire brigade, and the sporting community. Mr. Watson, during his nine years' 'residence in Taihape, has taken a prominent part in patriotic and social functions, and has devoted the whole of his energies to any cause that needed assistance, and it was to mark the appreciation of his efforts by the community that the function was held.

Capt. Reid, of the Fire Brigade, was

in the chair, supported by Foreman Mortland as vice-chairman. Captain Reid apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr. R. W. Smith, M.P., but our genial member was ably represented by his "two sons, R .and T, Smith. Apologies weTe"~ also received from Messrs Absolum and O'Flaherty. The evening was spent in a sociaj manner, toasts being proposed and responded to, and songs and" recitations contributed by maay of those present. Capt. Reid, in proposing the toast of "The Guest of the Evening," said they had assembled to say good-bye to Mr Watson on the eve of his departure from Taihape foT Raetihi. Mr. Watson had been a prominent figure in many social and patriotic functions, and his many friends in the town and members of the Fire Brigade and the

railway service felt they could not let Mm depart without some recognition of his efforts during his residence here, and he asked Mr. Watson to accept on behalf of the three, sections of the community present a purse of sovereigns as a mark of their esteem: As a brigade-man their guest had been all that an ideal fire-fighter should be, and they were extremely sorry to lose him. He wished him every success in his new sphere. (Applause). Mr. Sullivan, on behalf of the railway service, bore testimony" to the sterling worth of Mr. Watson, saying he had worked with him for six years, and when you were brought into contact with a man daily in his work you would get a true insight into.his real character, and he had always found him to be in every sense a manly fellow. As a social worker their guest had freely given of his time and money. On behalf of the service he wished Mr. Watson the best of luck in his future undertakings, voicing the regret of his fellow-workers in losing him as a comrade. (Applause). . Mr. Siddells, a member of the railway service, endorsed the previous speaker's remarks.

Mr .Beban, on behalf of the townspeople of Taihape, bore testimony to the many sterling qualities of Mr Watson, who had been ever ready and willing to do what he could to help along a good cause, and on behalf o; Taihape people he wished him every success.

| Mr. Watson, in responding, was TeI ceived with applause. He thanked j those present for their kindly expressions of esteem "and for the generous presentation made, and for which he tendered them his deepest thanks. He had been nine years in Taihape—some of "the happiest years of his life—which he would always' look back on with the greatest pleasure. To the men of the railway service he was grateful for the way in which they hac always treated him. and he advised them to stick together and fight for better conditions. To the fire brigadesmen he was sorry to leave them. Though living in Taihape for nine years he was sorry he had only been | a member of the Brigade during the last months. He now knew what he had missed; and he thanked f'enj for many acts of kindness, and he was proud to have been- a member of their organisation. He could not close his remarks without voicing his appreciatin of and thanks for the kindly feeling that had always been ! shown him bv the people of Taihape during his nine years* residence in their midst, and he was very sorry indeed to leave a place where he had been the recipient of so many kindly acts. He thanked them again for their valuable present' and for the kindly spirit which prompted it. Mr. Watson resumed hi? seat to the' strains of "For lies' a Jolly Good Fellow."

During the evening songs were contributed by Messrs R. and T. Smith, Drew, Hanbury, Upchurch, McInteer. and Strong: recitations by Messrs Sullivan, R. Smith and Reid. The usual toasts were duly proposed and responded to and tEe gathering broke up with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne - ."