VALEDICTORY AT KIHI KIHI.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 3, 25 April 1911, Page 2

VALEDICTORY AT KIHI KIHI.

PRESENTATION TO THE O'CONNOR FAMILY.

In large numbers the residents of Kihi Kihi and neighbourhood' met'in the Town Hall on Friday evening last to say farewell to Mr and Mrs P. D. O'Connor and Mrs John O'Connor, who, amid general regret, are- leaving the district to take up Auckland.

For about twenty years the dis- v fi trict has benefitted by the-asso-ciation of the O'Connor family with its private and public ;--j affairs. So complete has been their identification with all its ; interests, and with the personal -, and general welfare of its inhabi- >• tants, that their removal*is felt v like the severing of a long and close friendship. As was well emphasised by various speakers at the valedictory function, Mr P. O'Connor (with his late brother, Mr John O'Connor), has for so long been intimately connected with the growth and grogress of; the locality that he has become a . part of its history, and his going means, therefore, not only an im- _ mediate public loss, but the withclrawal of one more link with, the. _past. British throughout the Empire, have been singularly fortunate in the supply of men of character and worths'wi able and willing to serve the j> commonweal. This characteristic, : , which has achieved almost the permanence of a tradition, has' . received admirable exemplification in the record of Mr P. - O'Connor's association with the social and civic life of the KihiY. neighbourhood. When the matter ot Mr O'Connor's intended removal came within publie ; knowledge, the movement t 0...; recognise his private and public: J services rapidly took shape, gathering momentum as it went along. The response was ready, and enthusiastically generous; ;:k and on Friday evening culmin-v 1 ?; ated in a gathering thoroughly A representative in its characterand unaffectedly appreciative in" M its spirit. Mr O'Connor was, unfortunately, too unwell to be present at. the social and presentation in the evening ; but in the afternoon he was able to attend a specially convened gathering for the pur- ;-" pose of informally receiving a ~~" handsomely engraved walkingstick —the gift of the footballers ; of the district—and of hearing ; read the text of an illuminated address which, when completed, will form part of the presentation; tokens.

Mr Jos. Corboy, chairman of the Testimonial Committee, presided, and in well-chosen words welcomed Mr O'Connor. Mr P. :*■

J. McCarthy read the address, and Mr W. H. Grace made the formal presentation of the walk-ing-stick. Mr O'Connor replied in suitable and cordial terms, expressing his appreciation of the gifts and the spirit of friendship they implied. At the evenmg.meeting a large crowd assembled to hossmr the occasion and the guests!?

The gathering took the form of a dance and concert and, by common consent, was the most successful function ever held in* the Town Hail. The extent of the O.Connor family popularity was indicated by the presence of numbers of visitors from Te Awamutu and other places in the vicinity. Mrs P. D. O'Connor, and Mrs John O'Connor were present, while Mr P. D. O'Connor was; represented by his, brother, Mr Maurice O'Connor, of Auckland.

Mr Jos. Corboy again presided, and after a spell of dancing and music the presentations were

made. These- consisted of pre- • sents of plate to Mrs P. D., and v /Mrs John O'Connor, and walkingstick and illuminated address to Mr P. D. O'Connor. The presents '.:■',; were greatly admired —their intrusic value being considerable—and formed a fitting medium of the high regard they were m- " Intended to express. ?JPt Mr P. J. McCarthy in making i "the presentation of plate to the ladies, and the illuminated address to Mr O'Connor, spoke in I felicitous phrases of the high per- \ sonal qualities of the recipients. l -He recounted their acknowledged • v benevolence of heart and kindli- ) ness of spirit and expressed the j sense of social and personal I loss which the community felt in f their departure and concluded a I singularly - appropriate little I speech by reading the text of the address, which is as follows :

TO PATRICK DANIEL O'CONNOR, Esq.— .

We the residents of Kihi Kihi and surrounding districts wish to express .our sorrow at your departure from amongst us. During the years that you have lived here* your many acts of kindness and generosity have endeared you in the hearts of the people, while your wise counsel and cheery assistance have brightened the road for many a struggling pioneer and weary wayfarer. Lovers of sport will always remember you as an enthusiastic supporter of all manly games and pastimes; while we all realise the satisfactory state of sport in this district to-day is due chiefly to your unfailing generosity and support. As a public man your actions have always been eminently satisfactory, but it is as a private individual always helping some one up, always unostentatiously assisting any and every one who needed help, fhat you will, be remembered and loved by the residents of this district. To yourself and your wife arid family we wish many happy years of health and prosperity. Signed on behalf of the residents of KihiTObA and surround'ng - ' districts.

Mr W. H. Grace then made the presentation of the walking-stick, speaking in cordial terms of Mr O'Connor's long and faithful services as County Councillor, and dwelling on his association with the neighbourhood as settler, neighbour, or friend. He eulcgised Mr O'Connor's services to the cause of sport, and pleaded for the encouragement of the clean and healthy interest in athletics, which Mr' O'Connr had done so much to foster. _ . -. Mr F. D. "Woods, of Te Awamiitu also spoke on behalf of the footballers of the district, and from personal association with Mr O'Connor in the control of the . game, testified to the value of his -~ ready help and wise counsel. Mr Maurice O'Connor replied in suitable terms on behalf of Mrs P. D. O'Connor, Mrs John O'Connor, and his absent brother, remarking on his own natural pride in the place attained by his b .other and family in the regard and affection of the r.e'ghborrhood. . > During the intervals of dancing vocal items were contributed by Messrs L.. O'Malley and R. Garrett—visitors "•" from Auckland. Mr O'Mally sang "The little Irish girl" with much taste and was heartily encored, responding with 'The Deathless Army." Mr Garrett gave a very fine rendering of 'Ttip Van Winkle" and in response to a cordial encore sang "Because" in excellent style. Local contributors to the programme were Miss Clifford and Mr Hume-Jones—the former giving a tasteful rendering of ''Killamey" and the latter singing "Father O'Flynn," ■ Mrs Gardiner's playing of the dance music was greatly, appreciated, and Mr Percy Wurr accompanied the songs with much effect. A special word of praise is due to the committee and those in charge of all the arrangements. These were carried out without a hitch and the smoothness with which they were controlled added greatly to the success of the whole function.