VALEDICTORY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2876, 3 October 1895, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

Membera of the Geraldine Fire Brigade and of the Victoria Lodge, 1.0.0. F., met at the Oddfellowß' Hall on Tuesday evening to give a " send off" to Captain W. Winefield, who ia about to remove to Dunedin with hia wife and family. A capital supply of refreshments was provided, and at the head of the table sat Mr Kalaugher, N.G., Victoria Lodge, Lieut. Brown occupying the vice-chair. The following programme was gone through during the evening : Toast, " Her Majesty the Queen," proposed by the chairman ; song, Mr Robson; toast, " The Visitors," by Mr J. Mcllroy, coupled with the name of Mr A. S. Sugden; duet, Messrs Krause and Mcllroy; songs, Messrs E. Logan, T. Scott, E. Robson, and J. Dean. Mr Kalaugher, N.G., on behalf of the Lodge had much pleasure in presenting Bro. Winefield with " Our Motto." (The motto of the Order, which was handsomely enclosed in a deep gilt frame.) In making the presentation the N.G. spoke in the highest terms of Bro. Winefield as a member and officer of the Lodge. He was a man who attended to his duties and was always to be found at his post. The Lodge doubtless were losing a good member in Bro. Winefield. Bro. Winefield suitably replied. Song, Mr Mines; duet, Messrs Mcllroy and Krause; toast, ** The Ladies," proposed by Mr E. Bobson, and coupled with the names of Messrs Mines and Mcllroy. Mr J. Boughton, on behalf of his employees, felt it a pleasing duty to present Mr Winefield with a memento showing the respect in which he was held by his fellow workers. The presentation took the form of a silver-mounted greenstone pendant, nicely engraved. Mr Winefield, iu reply, hoped he might ever meet with as good a master and as nice a set of employees as he had met at Geraldine. Mr Mines proposed the toast of " The Oddfellows," coupled with the names of Bros. J. Kalaugher, N.G., and J. W. Pye, D.D. Song, Mr E. Logan. Bro. Kalaugher replied, pointing out the benefits to young men, both married or single, by being members of the order of Oddfellows. Bro. J. W. Pye followed in the same otrain, and mentioned that he was sorry to have to bid good-bye to one of the best young members the Lodge ever had. He (Bro. Pye), had been an Oddfellow for Borne 18 years in Geraldine, and in the whole of his experience he had never met a member who had Btuck to his post and done his duty better than Bro. Winefield had done. He was a most promising young member ; a really good, iu faet, a pure Oddfellow. Bro. Winefield, he could assure them, was looked upon by old and young members alike with great respect. (Applause). Mr T. Scott, a song. Mr A. R. Hardy proposed the toast of " The Geraldine Fire Brigade," with the names of Messrs Krause and Robson. Song, Mr Sugden. Mr Krause, in reply to the toast, remarked that Captain Winefield, he believed, was a most efficient member of the brigade, and veiy few could approach him in this respect. Mr Robson felt that the brigade was not only losing a good captain, but members were also losing a friend who had thoroughly endeared himself to them. Geraldiue's loss would undoubtedly be Dunedin's gain. Song, Mr John Pye. Mr Boughton said he would like to make a few remarks with respect to Mr Winefield. The latter had been in his employment for nearly eight years, and during that time he had always found him to be a very steady and trustworthy tradesman. (Hear, hear.) He wished him, with his family, every success in the future. Mr J. Dean proposed the toast of the " Geraldine Town Board " with the names of Messrs J- W, Pye and Sutherland. , Mr J. .W Pye proposed " Mrs Winefield and family." This toast was drunk with musical honours and was replied to by Mr Winefield. Song, Mr E. Robson. Mr Sutherland, iu replying to the toast of the" Town Board," mentioned that he would always do his best to advance the interests of the brigade. Lieutenant Brown, for the members of the brigade made a presentation to Captain Winefield of a massive silver albert and locket. In doing so he endorsed what had been said with respect to the Captain's efficiency as an oflier. He thought the vacancy would be one that they would find hard to fill as woll as it had been filled by Captain Winefield. (Applauae.) Captain Winefield feelingly replied, aayiug that »roat credit was due to the brigade membera for the harmonious maimer in which thoy worked together and the degree of efficiency thoy attained, despite the little help thoy got from outside sources. (Hoar, hear.) But as rogards the efficiency of the brigade ho gave the credit of this t > the members themselves. (Cries of " No ! No !) Mr T. Scott made a few romaks respecting the choosing of ;i now capiain, and thought the brigade would find some one to fill the vacancy, but ho was sorry the brigade was losing such an efficient captain as thoy had in Captain Winefield. Mr J. Pye, as one of the oldest Oddfellows iu tho district, added a few words to what had been already said with respoct to Bro. Winefield. Ho always heard it said that it took uiuo tailors to

make a man, but he found in tho Victoria Lodge they had two tailors, and these were two of the best members they had. (Applause.) The lodge now had to part with one of them, much to its sorrow, for, as a young member, Bro. Winefield had been a really good man for any position he uudertook. Mr J. Pizzey proposed the " Press," and Mr G. Krause contributed a sony. The toast of "The Chairman " was proposed by Mr Winefield, and the gathering broke up about midnight with " Auld Lang Syne." Mr A. S. Sugden acted as accompanist during the evening.