VALEDICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 9, 2 April 1902, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

,At tha Kaponga Town Hall on the 25th nit., a farewell social was tendered to Mr and Mrs J. L. Harwood, who are leaving there for Midhirst, haviug bousht the business lately carried on by Mr Catrufchers. About 270 persons were present, and the function is said to h ive eclipsed a'l previous efforts. Mr P. W. Wilkia opened the proceedings by re.ferrin;; to the objsct of the gathering. He, alluded to the f*et that during tb,o, ten years Mr Harwood had been in Kaponga, he had not made a single et'.emy. Dancing was then indulged in, being interspersed with songs by Misse3 Wilkinson and Espagne, Messrs Wilkie, Putt and Betts, a feature of the programme being an Irieh jijzby Messrs 1). Murphy and W. Fitzgerald. About the middk of the evening the chairman, Mr M. Fiizgorald, called or: the secrstary to road out the address to be presented to Mr and Mrs J. L Harwood, expressive of tho regret fell; at their departure, nnd -alluding to th« esteem in which they were held by the people of Kaponga. Tha Chairman then on b»half of the peeple of Kapnnga pr esemted Mr and Mrs Harwood with a handsome silver dinner service, as a memento of th« high esteem in which they were held. No matter, said the chairman, when or where business was to be done, Mr Harwood never considered his own feeling*. He was courteous and obliging to everyone. As sopa as Midhirst knew him as Kaponga did, his circle of friends there would be as large, if not larger than that he was leaving behind. Messrs Astbury, Sexton and May also spoke in high prawe of the departing guests. Mr Harwood, in warmly acknowledging the expression of goodwill and the handsome prefect, said the memory of the time spent in Kaponga would always remain fresh. The whole company then lustily sang " For he's a jolly gocd fellow." Dancing was resumed till o"ay-break. An excellent supper, prepared by the ladies, was greatly appreciated. Apologies for unavoidable absence wire read from Messrs MeG-uire, Major, Dingle, Stevens, and othera,