COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 161, 9 July 1926, Page 11

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

RETIREMENT OF MR. JOHN HENDERSON.

"A white man!" was the torse eulogy which summarised a series of congratulatory and complimentary remarks on the career of Mr. John Henderson, at a social evening tendered to him by the Devonport Traders' Association in Ford's tearooms last evening, on the occasion of his retirement from business after twenty-five years at Devonport. Sergeant Rowles, who thus voiced the general opinion of those present, was preceded by a lengthy list of speakers, who testified to Mr. Henderson"s qualities as a business man, a church worker and a public-spirited citizen. Mr. P. King presided, and was assisted by Mr. W. 0. Marks with a fine musical programme, and Mr. L. Waters with secretarial duties. The wholesale and retail grocers, of whose associations Mr. Henderson has been for some years Dominion president, were represented by Messrs. A. J. Entrican, A. W. Page and F. J. Hutchinson, who spoke in appreciative terms of his activities. The Rev. R. Watson reviewed Mr. Henderson's work in Presbyteri:uiism, while Messrs. H. B. Burnett, J. Woodall, E. Aldridge and W. K. Howitt expressed the good opinions of their colleagues on municipal and civic bodies, and were supported by several other speakers. Mr. Henderson feelingly responded, and particularly thanked the Traders' Association for arranging the function, and for the handsome wallet which stood as a memento of their regard. During the evening several toasts were honoured, and songs were contributed by Messrs. F. Lithgow, L. C. Sparrow, A. E. Lock, W. O. Marks and Woods, Mr. L. Cusworth acting as accompanist. Mr. Perry Taylor also gave an elocutionary item. The function concluded about 11 p.m. by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne' , and the National Anthem.