FAREWELL SOCIAL TO MR AND MRS J. A WALKER AND FAMILY.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 140, 8 April 1892, Page 5

FAREWELL SOCIAL TO MR AND MRS J. A WALKER AND FAMILY.

The farewell social tendered U> Mr and Mrs J. A. Walker and family in l.ho Aratapn Hal) lest Monday evening was a. complete success. Although tlie affair was got up at very short notice the atti-mlaur.c was very large and representative, oinpvi.'-iug several frit mis from Arapohue , Row R. G. Boler also luoked in during the evening to say farewell. The Aratapn Band

volunteered their services and played several runes outside the hall before tiio dancing began. Dance music was provided by Messrs Jno, Liudsay and T. Drench assisted by Messrs S. ami A. Webb. K linonds and Jama-son. Mr W. .1. Basses t maae a eapanic M. C . and several friends enlivened the m*o«-endings with songs; Mrs Black and Mrs T.' Bassett sang a duett. Mrs Black a song, and .Messrs Edmonds, Marcroft, and A. Morgau a song each. Tony Keane sang 4 Ou The Ball ’ and the footballers joined heartily in the i;hovus During thecourse of the t v.-niug several short speeches were made. Mr W. J. Bassett spoke on behalf of employees and wished Mr and Mrs Walker a happy future. Mr Frank] ya Bradley spoke for the district at large and said he was glad to sec so many present, He remembered a long time ago—a. day or two after MrT Walker was boru—-there was a m?cliug beingheldat Aratapu(theu Bonner s mill) and Mr Shepherd introduced him to Mr Walker as the man who had been sent out from Home to put up tho Kopuru mill. From that day io this I have enjoyed Mr and Mrs Walker’s company and very often their hospitality. I am sorry that we have now met to say" good-bye, but jf the removal is for their good we must be satisfied. Mr and Mrs "Walker have always given liberally to so dal affairs and it must be very gratifying to them to see so many persons present that evening to bid them farewell. He wished them ; God speed’ wherever they might go. Mr Stallworthy, who spoke on behalf of the footballers, said that Mr Walker and his wife were- truly one in their support of football and other sports. They were truly the best friends that footballers in <his district ever had'and local players would specially regret their departure. Before Ml* Walker came to this district, two years ago, football was looked upon generally as a game too dangerous to be encouraged, but the liberal support and patronage accorded to it by Mr and Mrs Walker had changed this in a great measure, and the public now liberally supported the game, even the ladies lending their encouragement with considerable enthusiasm. The Aratapu Club would not soon forget Mr Walker's zeal and enthusiasm when he accompanied them to Helenxvi le on the last occasion. It was the zeal and encouragement of Mr Walker which in

a great measure stirred into activity the Aratapu representatives and enabled them to place upon their banner (the beau iful gift of Mrs Walker) the glorious record of victories which it contained—five in lS9 r and ten in 1891. To the liberall.y of Mr and Mrs Walker the N. W. Rugby Union were indebted for the large and handsome banner which, now hung by the side of the Club banner, and of which the Aratapu Club were the proud winners during last season, If the Club was again successful in the coining season the banner would become their property and if such were tho case the first telegram despatched would be to inform Mr and Airs Walker that the Club had wou the banner, lie could not sit down without saying a word of the young Walkers now growing into manhood. He had been associated with thorn on the cricket and football fields and in oilier institutions, and had always f.mnd them thorough in what they took up and at the same time kindly and generous in their dealings ; they would be greatly missed as well as Mr and Mrs Walker. In conclusion he thanked Mr and Mrs Walker on behalf of footballers for their many kindnesses and wished the family every future happiness. Mr T. Nield, on behalf of the Rifle Club, testified to the liberality of Mr Walker. The Ladies’ Prize day inaugurated by him had been taken up in other districts. They would miss his face on the range but would not forget him. Mr J. A. Walker, who was received with applause, said that after sitting* patiently whilst others had said so much .about him he thought it was time for him to speak. They were very sorry to leave their friends, but after being more or less connected with the district for the last 2l years, it was a proud moment for them to have so many friends present to bid them farewell. As to tiie footballers, if they did not win the banner this season he would tomahawk them. Mrs Walker was an enthusiastic footballer and her voice had been vigorously raised in support of the Club on the field. He hoped, as they were leaving, that the ladies and gentlemen of Aratapu would support the Club, and he hoped that no small differences would be allowed to mar the unity of the players. As to the Rifle Club they would be very glad to continue their support, and offer prizes for competition. When we came to Aratapu ou the last- occasion we felt we were coming to a comparative exile, but our minds were soou disabused. It is something to us that, holding the position we have held amongst you, we can leave without having created any great amount of friction, and I feel proud to see around me so many of the employees, and to know that I have not a single enemy amongst them. As long as we live we shall not forget this night, and if any of .our friends come to town we shall always be glad to see them at Melrose, North Shore. The Company then sang For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and afterwards “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Dancing was kept going till two o’clock, the attendance keeping up to the end and then all present joined hands and yang* “ Auld Lang* Syne” ; and thus ended the heartiest and most successful affair of the kind we have yet witnessed.