MORRINSVILLE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 222048, 8 February 1900, Page 2

MORRINSVILLE.

FARE WELL TO ME. C. POWER

OFF TO THE TRANSVAAL.

(From our own Correspondent.)

CbTE of the most interesting gatherings that has taken place hero eventuated on Monday last, to bid farewell to Mr Charles Power, who had offered his services for South Africa. About 30 sat down to dinner, which was provided by Host Scholium, and a most enjoyable evening passed—with songs, sto'-y, toasts, and tobacco. Mr J. Clifford occupied the chair. The first oast, ‘The-Queen,’ was drunk amid great enthusiasm, the whole company singing the Na ional An hem.

‘ Mr Power,’ the guest of the evening, was proposed by the chairman, who expressed confidence that Mr Power would be a credit to the district., and presented him (on behalf of a few admhers) wish a pair of field glasses, and asked him to accept of a horse.

Mr Power feelingly responded, and expressed his intense appreciation of the kindness this denoted, and accepted with pleasure the unexpected offer of a horse, but he wished all present to undeivand that his services had not beeu definitely accepted, as ho had yet to go through the tests, but if he did go (which lie sincerely hoped he would) he would endeavour to merit the complete confidence placed in him, and said that he never would forgot the kind wishes that had been expressed towards him.

During Mr Power’s speech a subscription list went round the company wheu £‘2o 10s 6d was subscribed.

Then followed toasts interspersed with song and story. The roasts included ‘ The Army and Navy',’ ‘ The Colonial Forces,’ ‘ The Government,’ ‘Tho Ladies,’ and ‘The Agricultural and Commercial Interests of the District.’ Air Hinton, on behalf ot the football clnb (of which Mr Power was a member), preseu'ed him with a silvermounted pipe, and expressed the hope tha r he would enjoy many' a good smoke out of it in South Africa, and that while doing so he would recollect tho friends who would he watching his career yi'h great interest. This present Mr Keogh (representing the Lockerbie estate hands) supplemented with a bountiful supply of the requisite ‘ weed’ wherewith to fill it.

Then followed more toasts, songs, etc., which was kept up until oarly morning', when proceedings terminated by wishing our guest every success and a safe return. ‘ Auld Lang 83116 ’ was sung and glasses broken according to time-honoured oust on, and Mr Power was carried out shoulder high. • A good numb r were present at the station on Tuesday morning, and hearty cheers were given as the . train moved off. Among those to seo Mr Power off were Messrs McOaw and Jioah, superintendent and manager of Lockerbie Estate, which shows tho appro-iation in which lie was held by his employers. During tho evening Mr Tlinton, taking advantage of the large number present, rnnn'ioned the fact that Te Aroha .Pines were cousiHering the' exnedi' ney of merging inro a Mounted Infantry 0 rps, and 1 hat-lie had- been approached shorn forming a squad at Mo rinsviiie, which could be drilled 'ocallv. Fift.ee ■ utimef. was given in, and I h Ik- .vd of others who are "tiling *,_• 1 rq >0 I oxp-'ct t hear v f at lea .J j ■ mug from here