KAPONGA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1921, Page 7

KAPONGA.

(From Our Own Correspondent..) On Thursday, December 1, the Town Hall was packed to the doors with one of the most representative audiences ever assembled in the district, the occasion being a farewell social tendered to Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Ward and their family. For the past nine years Mr. Ward has occupied the position of postmaster ar. the local office, and the gathering on Thursday evening was a reflex of the excellent, manner in which Mr. Ward had carried out bis work. The entertainment of the guests of the evening took the form of a concert, followed by presentations and a dance. The concert programme was one that would have done credit to a much larger population than that, of Kaponga,, and the insistence upon encores amply demonstrated that the efforts of the singers were appreciated. Mrs. Murphy, of. Dawson’s Falls hostel, was in splendid voice, and delighted everyone with her four numbers, in spite of a distinctly stuffy atmosphere, which made singing extremely difficult. The programme was as follows: —Pianoforte solo, Miss M. Guy; song (in character), Reggie Hill and Hilda Guy, and chorus; song, Mr. A. C. Anderson; song, Mrs. Murphy; instrumental trio, Mrs. McCarthy, Messrs. McCarthy and Anderson; song, Mr. Lyall; song, Mr. B. Cleland; Highland Fling (pipes); song, Mr. D. Poole; duet, school children; song (humorous), Mr. Hamilton; song, Mrs. Murphy; song, Mr. Corkill; duet, Messrs. Poole and Lyall; song (Scotch), Mr. Burroughs;. At the conclusion, the chairman of the Town Board (Mr. R. Cook) called upon Mr. A. V. Tait to voice the regret of the district in losing such a capable, courteous, and efficient officer from the post office. This Mr. Tait, in happy vein, did, showing at the same time that, notwithstanding Mr. Ward’s many parts, there were some details of farm work in which he was not quite so proficient, for during the labor scarcity Mr. Ward was called upon during his vacation to assist in mustering sheep and dipping them, which Mr. Tait declared Mr. Ward insisted upon doing upside down! Mr. R. G. Cook (chairman of the Town Board) traced the many institutions of the township that had received valuable assistance from Mr. Ward, instancing the Fire Brigade, school committee, hockey club and cricket club.

Mr. Cook then, on behalf of ths residents of Kaponga and surrounding district, presented Mr. Ward and Mrs. Ward with an oak case containing a full set of stainless cutlery, as well as with two envelopes containing cheques, one addressed to Mr. Ward and the other to Mrs. Ward.

After a bouquet had been handed to Mrs. Ward by little Molly Severne, on behalf of the ladies, Mr. Alex. Melville, representing the fire brigade, asked Mr. Ward (their superintendent) to accept from the brigade members a case of pipes, expressing the hope of all the members that Mr. Ward would have an opportunity in his new home at Huntly of completing the necessary 2 years that would entitle him to the gold star for 25 years’ service. He concluded with an apology from Fireman Bertie for absence, Mr. Bertie unfortunately being ill at the present time in the Dunedin Hospital. The next speaker, on behalf of the Cricket Club, was the Rev. Avery, who wished Mr. and Mrs. Ward and family ‘‘God speed” from the cricketers. He also spoke for the boys’ draughts club, and called upon Vernon Betts (captain) to present Colin Ward with a set of chequers and a board.

Mr. Semister, Presbyterian, minister, spoke of the great loss the local church was sustaining in the removal from their midst of such staunch supporters as Mr. Mrs. and Miss Ward. Their only consolation was the knowledge that the church al Huntly would be enriched by just the measure of Kaponga’s loss. On behalf of the local church people and those of Awatuna he asked Mr. Ward to accept a suit case and travelling rug.

Miss Alma Ward, organist and Sunday school teacher, was the recipient of a beautiful gold wristlet watch from the same source.

The final presentatioon camp from the Kaponga Schoool Committee and headmaster. It consisted of an enlarged photograph of the carnival queen group. This Mr. Hilll, secretary of the school committee, explained was chosen as a memento of the “big push” which was so successful during Mr. Ward’s term as chairman. i Mr. Ward, is rising to respond, was greeted with hearty applause. He said that he found it extremely difficult to find words that would adequately express his feelings. He thanked one and all, on behalf of Mrs. Ward and himself, as heartily as words could be found to express the inexpressible. Nine years ago he arrived in Kaponga, and found a fire brigade in process of formation. His previous experience naturally caused him to join in the movement, and he had the honor of being the first superintendent. He felt great regret at leaving. He had had opportunities of promotion before, but had let. them pass by, but the time had arrived when he could no longer refuse to move on. His experience on the school committee had been of a very happy character, and he was proud of the improved condition of the school ground, due to the assistance given by parents and friends in making the late Queen Carnival such a success. The speaker said that he had supported the various sports clubs as far as he was able, as he considered this to be one of the duties of every citizen, this apart from a great deal of enjoyment he himself* had derived from his association with these bodies.

In conclusion, Mr. Ward paid a tribute to his wife, who, he said, though not fond of the limelight, was always an ardent supporter of his own efforts on behalf of Kaponga. It was most gratifying to find that on leaving the district they retained the confidence of such a gathering as was present that night. The singing of “For They are Jolly Good Fellows” concluded this, the second part of the evening’s programme. Supper and a dance followed, the music being supplied by McCarty’s orchestra.