VALEDICTORY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 72, 7 January 1936, Page 3

VALEDICTORY

GATHERING AT RAKAIA.

MR AND MRS! A. S. HENDERSON.

Representatives of the residents of the Rakaia district last evening waited on Mr and Mrs A. S. Henderson to bid them farewell before leaving the district.

Mr H. A. Harrison (chairman of the South Rakaia Road -Board) expressed regret that because of Mr Henderson's ill-health, it was not possible to hold a public farewell, and in handing Mr and Mrs Henderson a wallet and a cheque, and an autographed book containing the names of the subscribers to the presentation, said how sorry the district was to lose them. Both Mr and Mrs Henderson had been excellent citizens, and Mr Henderson would realise, when looking through the autograph book, that it was not only clients of the bank who were sorry to see them depart, but the citizens generally. Miss E. M. Stewart, for the Plunket Society, thanked both Mr and Mrs Henderson for their kindly help and assistance, the advice of Mr Henderson as treasurer being valued by the society. The Rev. H. J. W. Knights said the church was losing a highly esteemed family whose place would be hard to fill. Mr B. McNamara, who has been associated with Mr Henderson in the Bowling Club, and with Mrs Henderson on the Relief of Distress Committee, expressed the sincere regret of the district in its loss through their removal to Christehurch. Mr Henderson, for himself and family, thanked the visitors for their kindly thought, saying that during his residence in Rakaia he had always found it a pleasure to assist with anything for the betterment of the district, and trusted that his endeavours had been successful. Both he and Mrs Henderson had been particularly interested in the Plunket Society and would be sorry to break their association with it.

The visitors were entertained to supper by Mr and Mrs Henderson.

Mr Henderson, who has been manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Rakaia for the last 15 years, joined the staff of the bank at Inyercargill in 1890, being later transferred to Waimate and then to Dunedin, where he was appointed assistant - accountant in 1913. In 1916 Mr Henderson was appointed manager at Greytown, later being shifted to Whakatane and then to Rakaia in 1920. Mr and Mrs Henderson and family intend to make their home in Christchurch.