VALEDICTORY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 146, 19 December 1908, Page 7

VALEDICTORY.

♦ ■- FAREWELL TO MR McGAUGHRAN A social was held at Umutaoroa last evening, for the purpose of farewell- j ing Mr McGaughran aad fa mi- ' ly, who arc caving the di.;- ( trict or the Auckland province. There was a very large number present, including a large party from Dannevirke. Mrs Houlahan supplied the music for dancing in her usual capable manner, while the duties of M.C. were undertaken, and capably carried, out by Mr A. Augustine. The floor was in splendid condition, and reflected credit on, the efforts of the committee. ' During an interval in the dancing Mr A. H. Featherstone called upon the guest of the evening to accept a presentation in the form of a handsome oak clock. In doing so he said he could only reiterate that he was very. sorry that the district was to loose Mr McGaughran. He read the following address : — "Mr McGaughran. — Dear Sir,-*-Oii the eve of your departure for the Auckland province, tne settlers of Umutaoroa desire to meet you here to-night for the purpose of saying "Good-bye," and wishing you every measure of success the heart could desire in your new home. . You are now one or" our oldest settlers in the block, and; after 23 years' experience of you as a- neighbor we feel that we have reason to regret your leaving, although at the same time our, loss is lightened by the knowledge that some other community is about to gain an estimable settler. In, all our public movements you have ,ever borne a responsible part, and in your private business yon have established; a reputation for fair and honorable dealing, while your family have always participated in the most cordial manner in all our social functions. , We, therefore, part from you with regret, you can rest assured that you carry with yon our highest esteem, and our most ardent hope that yon and your famidy will live long to enjoy the just reward of your unselfish lives. Ou behalf of the Umutaoroa settlers we beg to subscribe ourselves your sincere friends. (Signed) A. H. Featherstone, J. Cook, T. Emmerson, J. Mexted, P. KeUy, J. Erieksen, J. O'Connor, Chas. Lars&n, W. J. Rountree, A. A. Sisson, Mrs E. Augustine, R. Gilmour, A, Cordell, D. Barry, G. Millar, A. Feierabend, J. o' Sullivan, W. Peck, G. Beatty, M. Corbett." "For he's a . jolly good fellow," was then sung, and Mr McGaughran retiirned thanks to the donors for their kind treatment of him that evening, and read the following address : "Friends of Umutaoroa and Danne^ virke — Ladies and gentlemen, — My feelings are mingled with thoughts of joy a nd N sorrow. With feelings of joy I am with you to-night to enjoy myself at your kind social. I return the kind donors my sincere thanks for the beautiful present which it is my good fortune to be the' recipient of. I am pleased to say I never enjoyed myself better in my life than I did with my friends and neighbors in the Umutaoroa Hall. Umutaoroa is blessed with, social friendship. There has been a lpt of kind faces, good neighbors hay© come and went since I came here, and very few hava left without receiving a kind donation and a social from "their fiends. It is pretty stiff on the pocket; but the people seem to en|oy being kind. I had no idea of bush or bush work ■when I earne here. Unrutaoroa was mostly all a forest, save a little bush felled along the track. Dannevirke was only a village, and small at that. It has grown from a settlement to a borough, and through the instrumentality of my countryman, John BaJlance, whose scheme it was to put the people on the land. Previous to" the Waipawa and Dannevirke Associations being formed, the-re was a syndicate in formation to acquire all the land about Dannevirke. Mr Ballance said "No, you monied men shall not get it." So he took the trouble to come from Wellington to Waipawa to instruct the working men to form themselves into associations, and apply to Government for the land. Hence we have a, borough instead of a village in. Danne- I virke. In conclusion, it seems hard j for me to say good-bye, after being j here so long. It is like leaving the | home of my childhood, after seeing ' the country changed from a forest to lovely cultivated fields and beautiful ! gardens and homesteads. Good- : bye all. God bless you. A pleasant Xmas and a happy New Year. A good season and a 'bumper factory cheque is the wish of yours truly — James McGaughran." The address was received with a storm of applause, and the singing of "He's a jolly good fellow," and cheers. Mr J. Gilmour, sen., said that lie could not et the chance pass without doing something appropriate to the occasion. He sang a verse, from "Will ye no come back again," the chorus of which was taken up by the audience. Dancing was then resumed until the supper adjournment. Supper was provided on a most lavish scale,

and was dispensed by a willing band of young folk. During the evening extras were played by Messrs Christofferson (violin), and Enersen (piano), Cordoll, and Peck (accordeon). Songs were rendered by Messrs McGaughran. and Millar, a recitation by Mr McG-augh-ran, and a step dance by Mr Wilson. Altogether a most enjoyable evening was spent by those present, who are all greatly indebted to Mrs Augustine, who was the life and soul of the party. ' She and Mrs Kelly A<*ere responsible for the entertainment, and a special word of praise is due to these two ladies for their i untiring efforts to make the gathering a; success. ' Dancing was kept going merrily until "daylight did appear," when tlie gathering broke up, voting the I affair the most enjoyable ever held in/ Umutaoroa.