FAREWELL SOOIAL AND PRESENTATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3102, 2 June 1892, Page 2

FAREWELL SOOIAL AND PRESENTATION.

[BY ODR TE ROttK OOKBKSPON'DKN'T.I Mr N. T. Maunder, tho well-known Waipa County Clerk, who has been a settler in the district of Te Rore for over 1G years, being about to take his departure from the Waikatw, was entertained by his friends nt at a farewell social, which took place in the Te Rore school-room on Friday evening last, at which his friends also look tho opportunity of presenting him willi an addross and a handsome marble clock. Mr j.imea Melville (the Chairman of the Te Rore .School Committee) occupied the chair, and Mr JI. liichdale the vice-chair. There were quite 100 present, among them wore noticed Mr E. T. Wood (from Auckland) the Rev. Mr Andrews (from Te Awarnntn) Messrs W. E. Aloadwav, S. Keid, R. Drabble, T. M. Hall, W.'H. James, MeKinnou Bros., E. Robinson, J. Lee, J5. (Meson, J. Munro, Drabbla Eros.. J. Higginson, V. Bolton, C. S. McCullum, Hodgson Bros., A. Smith ami others. Apologies were also received from other gentlemen, who frnm various causes, were prevented from attending. Mr Maunder being tlia head teacher at the Sunday School, all the members of thaA body were also present, and about a dozen ladies of the district. These latter had charge of the tables, and after nmple justice had been done to the excellent spread provided by them, the chairman rising referred to Min interest Mr Maunder had hithorto taken in local matter.-!, which had wou for him many warm frieuds, and as an acknowledgement of the esteem in which Mr Maunder was held he had much pleasure in presenting him with the following address from his numerous friends :—" Te Rore, Waipa, 1802.,—Mr N. T. Maunder : Dear Sir,—We, the undersigned settlers in the. Te Rore and surrounding district, hearing with regret that you are about to leave the Waikato, and being desirous of expressing our appreciation of the valuable services yon have rendered to the School Committee, Sunday-school, and in leading the singing it public worship, also our sorrow at losing so industrious a settler arid good neighbour, please accept this timepiece, given as a slight mark of the friendship and good feeling that we feel towards you. Wishing yourself, Mrs Maunder and family health, happiness and prosperity in the locality where you ace now about to make your home, we beg to subscribe ourselves." (Here follow the signatures.) The timepiece which was prepreseuted with the address, was a very handsome black marble clock, on which the following inscription was engraved :— " Presented to N. T. Maunder by his Te R'ire friends." In rising to replv, Mr Maunder evidenced great surprise. He said he did not know what he had done for the district to be presented with such a handsome present as tho clock just handed t> him by the Chairman, and said that he was

quite unable to put in words the gratification 1)0 felt at tin) expressions nf friendship that had been made to him, and although the gathering was a surprise to him, ho appreciated tho compliment. After again thanking his miity friends for t/io very handsmne present, Mr Maundvr took his seat amid applause. The room was then cleared for the social, which was opened by tho Tβ Knre choir, consisting of Misses Hodgson (2), Che-tor (3), James Richd-ilp, •in<l Nixon, and Messrs 1. Il.Migxon and N. James, singing "Ye Banks and Braes:" a reading by Miss Nixon; sung, "There Was a Lad Born in Kyle," Mr Anireiv, who sans it remarkably well.and had t>> re.< pond, to an encore; chorus, "All Tears Away," choir, in their usual good style, f'>llw\vi'd by a violin duet by Messrs Iko Hodgson and W. James. This was exceedingly well rendered, and the gentlainen responded to a much-deserved encore. The next item was conundrums, by Mr Jas. Hrdswrn ; duet, " Juanita." Misses Nixon and Hodgson; song, "Gates of the West." Miss Maggie Chester. The Chairman now gave, the house a great treat with his reading on " Underground Railways," causing roars of laughter. The next on the list was a duet, sung by four members of tho Sundayschool —Misses J. Chester, E. James, T. Bruce and J. Bolton—and although it was their first appearance on the stage, thoy saug decidedly well, and received a fair share of applause. Messrs Hodgson and Jitmes again favoured the houso with a violin duet, which was also applauded. Another duet, sung by Misses Chester and James, needs special mention. Mr Jas. Hodgson now gave some more conundrums. Misses L. Chester and M. Hndgson then sang, "Ye Must be Born Again," and these young l'idies, considering it was their h'rst apuearance in public, sang remarkably well, and deserved an encore. The Te Rore choir sang several other pieces during the evening, which well deserved special mention, but owing to the want of space I have to pass them over. Miss Nixon, the teacher of the Te Rore school, played all the accoinpHiinnents during tho evening in her usual excellent style, aud is deserving of the highest praise. It was the opinion of all that tho performances throughout, both practically and financially, was tho most successful ever held iri thiii district. Before the gathering dispersed, Mr Maunder said that although he was now turning his back on Te Rore, it would never be turned on any of his friends he was leaving behuv.l him in Te Roro, and should any of them ever venturo to the locality where he is about to go to make his home, they would find the words posted over his door " All Te Rore Friends Welcome." (Applause). Mr Maunder once mow touk the opportunity of thanking his many friends for their kindness towards him that evening, and took his seat amid applause, tho successful evening terminating about 11 p.m. Mr Maunder lnaves the Waikato during the present week for Auckland, en route for the Turanaki province, where ho has property, and where his relatives reside.