VALEDICTORY.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43343, 27 June 1908, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL to REV. E. M. COWIE AND MK F. PAVITT, Sexr. The boisteroud weather that prevailed on Thurtday evening last did not prevent the residents of Te Aroha and sur* , rounding districts meetiog in fuu force, to attend a conversazione to bid farewell to the Rev: E. M. c ° wl ® and Mr F. Pavitt 1 ; eenr. The Rev. Cowie, as our 'readers are mj*' been transferred to Hamilton, while Mr Pavitt is leaving to takejip his abode in Auckland. His Worship the Mayor (R. V- Somers, Esq.)

occupied the chair, and was supports on the platform by Dr. Kenny, Rev. Blair, Messrs £ Pilling, F. Marshall, R. Parr, F. Wild, Scott, Bruce, Baskett and others, Apologies were received,-from ; Kev. Father McGuinness and Mr Holden. The Mayor, in his opening remarks ; said that the /Rev arriveo to :

take charge of. S. Mark’s _ some six.years ago, and durihg his sojourn f had endeared himself to members of all denominations—but, especially to S. Marks. They had found'him all

that could be desiredr-a thorough Christian. He was always ready was* sist and go to the help of his fellowmen whether it be through -hail, ram, or , snow, it was all the. sarne-A Once he, made a promise h|b|toul4VfrH. ’ and his many * lU ml long in. the memory- s of all. inc Chairman said he had pleasure.. : in presenting the Rev* Cowie with a purse of sovereigns,. which he

banded to tlbe rev. gehtlejnan amid prolonged applause. . Mr Somers, m making the said the contents of the purse had beea freely given, and nothing in the way or • cadging had been indulged in, a« , denominations had subscribed towards the present. t Mr Thomas Gavin also spoke very ■>. highly of Rev Cowie, and said that men of his calibre were few and far , , between. He Said it mattered little ... what denomination a .man belonged

to as long as he had a heart like tne Rev Cowie’s. 1 He said he had met the rev. gentleman at all hours of the night and in all. weathers visiting the sick and distressed. . . Mr J. Marshall ; (MomnswUe) apologised for Dr. Seville, and Messrs H. Clifford, Spargo, and Snell. He endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers, and said the Momnsville people fully appreciated, the Cowie’s services as a minister and ft man. He (Kev. Cowie) had earned out his duties to the Supreme Being. and to his fellow man, and was» g<K<d x example for any young man to follow ,vg Messrs Scott and R. .Parr also added their testimony to Mr Oowie’a'worth. The Rev Cowie, who was visibly impressed, briefly returned thanks. He Raid the six years he had spent’ in Aroha ;£|gj were the happiest days of his life. He thanked the Vestry of S. Marks, who bad r.;

treated him with the utmostconsiaerauom - He hoped to have the opportunity of meeting them all from time to. time. The second part of the programme was set apart for the presentation of a purse of sovereigns to Mr P. Pavitt, sehr. Mr Somers, in making the presentation said they could ill afford to, lose a man ®f Mr Pavitt’s stamp, who was looked upon as “The Father of Te Aroha,” and not a bad father either. He had resided amongst them for 26 years, during which

time he had taken a prominent part in all local affairs and was always ready to help in any good work. All present in the Hall gave three cheers for Mr Pavitt, and joined in singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.’’ 8 ' . t> m Mr Gavin, Rev. Oowie, Mr D McL. Wallace, Mr F. Marshall, andjslr R. Parr, spoke in eulogistic langam concerning ;Mr Pavitt. ■ Mr Marshall said that Mr Pavitt belongs to a type that is passing away from us—a courteous gentleman. He . was a man who found something (else to de besides making the “ almighty dollar. Mr Pavitt briefly replied. A programme of songs, recitations, etc., was gone through. ments were provided by the ladies and done full justice to.