Senior-Sergeant Ryan Honored

New Zealand Tablet, 3 November 1921, Page 21

Senior-Sergeant Ryan Honored

The Orange Hall was filled to overflowing on Thursday evening, the 13th ult., when members of the congregation of the Church of the Holy Name, Ashburton, together with many other friends and well-wishers, assembled to do honor and say farewell to Senior-Sergeant P. Ryan and Mrs. Ryan, the Sergeant just having retired on superannuation, and with Mrs. Ryan taken up his residence at Riccarton, Christchurch. Mr. M/ J. Burgess, chairman of the church committee, presided, and conducted a very enjoyable euchre tournament, through which were interspersed vocal and instrumental music, recitations, and a clever dance. A pianoforte solo was played by Miss M. Scott, songs were rendered by Miss Maggie Cunningham, Miss Kathleen Burgess, and Mr. M. J. Burgess, who chose a most appropriate theme, and rendered in a very pleasing manner the song “Good-bye, Dear Friends, Good-bye.” Miss Eileen Kirk danced a sailor’s hornpipe, and Miss Merle Cunningham, a seven-year-old performer, recited in a very pleasing manner the story of the dog “Carlo Brown.” At the close of the tournament the Very Rev. Dean J. J. O’Donnell presented the prizes which had been won. He afterwards expressed the esteem in which the guest of the evening was held by all who came in contact with him both in his social and his official life. He referred to the eulogy expressed by Mr. E. D. Mosley, the Stipendiary Magistrate, on the 40 odd years of Sergeant Ryan’s official life, w r hich had been passed without a blemish of any kind; and agreed with the Magistrate this was both an honorable and a unique record that Sergeant Ryan might w T ell be proud of. He also referred to the many excellent qualities of character possessed by Mrs. Ryan. 0n behalf of those present and many others unable to attend, he presented Sergeant Ryan with a wallet well filled Avith bank notes. Mr. L. M. Espagne concurred wdth all the previous speaker had said, and referred to the splendid example the Sergeant had given the younger members of the police force to follow in the execution of their duty. Mr. M. J. Burgess in a neat speech endorsed the remarks of the previous . speakers. He mentioned the fact that the function was not exactly a private gathering, nor was it really a representative citizens’ send-off, but those present felt they could not let so fine a personality and so excellent an official depart without some tangible recognition of his citizenship and service in their midst. Messrs. W. J. Cunningham and Val. Cullen also spoke in similar terms. Senior-Sergeant Ryan heartily thanked those who had thought of him in the way that was expressed by their attendance and the very valuable present they had given him and Mrs. Ryan. He felt, so far as he w r as concerned, that he did not merit it. He had done his duty according to the dictates of his conscience. He had endeavored to give every man he had met . in his official dealings a fair and square deal. He was not going far away to live, and 'he hoped to meet many of his old Ashburton friends as time went on. A hearty welcome to their new home in Riccarton was extended to all their friends. ,