PAHIATUA NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3206, 4 June 1909, Page 6

PAHIATUA NEWS.

|From Our Resident Correspondent). Thursday. 'SOCIAL TO MR R. B. ROS3, M.P. Between three and four hundred people from all parts of the Pahiatua electorate assembled in the Drill Hall, last evening, when a complimentary social and presentation was tendered to Mr R. B. Ross, M.P. The committee, of which Mr J. D. Wilson was an energetic secretary,had decorated the Hall with evergreens and flags and the function was a decided success. Mr Thos. Hodgins made a "very capable chairman, and after a few introductory remarks read apologies for absence from Sir J. G. Ward, Hon. J. A. Millar, C. Hall, M.P., T. Y. Seddon, M.P., J. Jennings, M.P., Hon. W. W. McCardle, D. Crewe, and from several gentlemen in the Pahiatua Electoral district. " The Hon. A- W. Hogg said that with regard to the guest of the evening, Mr Ross, that gentleman had not only earned the esteem of the Ministry, but also of the members of the House, and he assured his, aadience that Mr Ross had always fought for the interests of the country. The speaker deait largely with the financial ourlmk in New Zealand, enumerated the benefits that had been derived fr«m the "Advances to Settlers Act." He would always strive to remove taxation from the necessaries ( of life, and hoped to achieve greater reforms In thefuture. The speaker concluded a lengthy speech by congratulating residents of Pahiatua and the surrounding districts on the progress they had made during the past twenty years. Dr. Riddell, of Ti Tree Point, in making the presentation to Mr Ross, of a parse of sovereigns, eulogised the good work Mr Ross had done for the settlers in the back-blocks, and in this respect Mr Ross had earned tneir esteem. Mr Dillon, M,P., also referred in eulogistic terms to Mr Ross' qualities. Mr Ross, rising amidst applause, heartily the ladies and gentlemen for the great honour they had done him on this- occasion. He also thanked all those who had worked so strenuously in his interest for the past three and a half years, and those who had worked so hard to ] bring the social to a successful issue. | As the hour was late he would not j make a speHch, and again thanked* one and all for their assistance. | The Hail was then cleared for j dancing, which was kept up until two o'clock, to good music supplied by j the Arcade Orchestra, Messrs C. ! Hicks (piano),) E. Starkey (cornet) J and Chester Burt (violin). Mr C. Bluett made an excellent M.C., and the supper was in charge of Mr A. East. During the evening between the speeches songs ■ were nicely rendered by Miss Burgess and Mr Hill (2), the accompaniments being played by Mias Burgess.