Presentation to Father Bowe, Carterton

New Zealand Tablet, 21 August 1913, Page 29

Presentation to Father Bowe, Carterton

There was a large gathering of the Catholic congregation at Victoria Hall, Carterton, last evening (says the Wairarapa Daily News of August 14), the occasion being a social to the Rev, Father Bowe on his approaching departure to Dannevirke. The affair , had been arranged at very short notice, the announcement of Father Bowe’s departure only, having been made on Sunday; but it was excellent in every respect, and most enjoy carried out by members of the congregation, Mesdames Berrill and Hudson acting as hostesses. -Songs were contributed by: Mrs. Wilkins, ‘Every ship will find a harbor ’; little Dolly Hudson, ‘ Take me back to heaven, daddy ’; Mr. Beal, ‘ Asleep in the deep ’; Miss Redmond, Sing me something Irish’; Mrs. Nix, ‘Come back to Erin.’ Accompaniments were played by Mrs. Dudson, Miss Dudson, Miss Maguire, and Miss Redmond. Little Miss Therza Rogers performed a classical dance with delightful daintiness and grace. At a suitable interval Mr. J. A. Dudson and Mr. R. J. Chapman escorted Father Bowe to the stage, and the former made a presentation to the Rev. Father on behalf of the Carterton congregation. Mr. Dudson said the duty which had been thrust upon him at short notice, was both pleasing and painful. It was to offer a token of appreciation to Father Bowe, and at the same time say good-bye to him, and wish him God-speed on his journey to a new district. Father Bowe had been among them for some six years, and had faithfully devoted himself to the spiritual welfare of the congregation and promoted their temporal improvement. The Rev. Father had been working earnestly at a special object, and had secured some £4OO towards it, but was now called away before completing his task. However, he had left a nice nest egg for his successor. They were all very sorry to lose Father Bowe, but he was going to a larger parish, and would therefore have a greater scope of work. He asked , Father Bowe to accept a purse of sovereigns as a small token of the esteem in which he was held by the congregation of Carterton. The gift carried with it the best wishes of all for his future happiness and success in his work. Mr. C. Sullivan, then asked Father Bowe to accept a travelling rug and bag from the Featherston parishioners, with their good wishes. In acknowledging the gifts and kind words accompanying them, Rev. Father Bowe said that anything he had done was but his duty, and his duty had been a labor of love, and he could have done nothing without the hearty co-operation he had received from the congregations at Carterton, Martinborough, Greytown, and Featherston. This had been his first parish, and naturally he felt a peculiar and particular interest in the people first placed under his charge. He was sorry to leave them, but he had to obey orders. He had not thought he would have had time to bid farewell to all the parishioners, but he now found that his successor, Father Kinkead, could not arrive until after Sunday week, and this would give him opportunity to see most of them before he left. He thanked Mr. Dudson and Mr. Sullivan for their kindly remarks, and the people for the presentations. With regard to the sovereigns, he asked to be allowed to hand them back to be added to the fund for their own school, as referred to by Mr. Dudson. He expressed his gratitude to the people for their many acts of kindness to him since he came into the parish, and complimented the Carterton ladies of the congregation for the fine social they had given in his honor at such short notice. The generous offer of Father Bowe to devote his gift to the school fund was vigorously declined, and it was insisted that he should keep it for his personal use. Vocal items were then contributed by Miss and Mr*. Dudson. A most pleasing supper, provided and Served by the ladies, was enjoyed by all. A very Successful function was closed by the singing of ‘ Auld lang syne.’