RETIRING MAYOR ENTERTAINS FRIENDS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XVII, Issue 7160, 7 May 1919, Page 3

RETIRING MAYOR ENTERTAINS FRIENDS.

| Pleasant function at Be)\ Tea I Rooms. | At the Bell Tea Rooms on the 2j.h j ul:o, the retiring Mayor, -Mr J. C. I Adams, who-has held that ofitce during the past two year*, entertained at dinner souie si-\'.y frienos. borough i councillors, representatives oi: local | bodies, prominent busings men and • public otticinl^, on the occasion of his | vacating office. i The room wa-i very tastefully I arranged, and an excellent dinner, ! exeelleu'ly served, combined to make ■ fhe oce-.'sion one of the most- pleasant : held in Tauranga for a long time past. Immediately dmi'ier was finished !'The toast of ibo King was honoured 1 and Mr Adams wi-loomed the guests. '• 1 wish tooxpiess to you/ he said, ! the greatpleasure I fcfl in meeting I you fcliia evening. We have just "one ' chrou°h a vow eventful two years — as e\cntful as any ir out- lives. During that time 1 have transacted business with you on many occasions, and have received many kindnesses at 1 your hands. .Now I hive eoree to the end of my term or oftio as Mayor, and in vacating that oftict 1 think h fitting that I should call you together and thank you for thus-? kindnesses, and for the way in which you have assisted me in the discharge of my duties. lam pleaded to see so many respond to my invitatatiou and trust you will all spend a very pleasant

evening." In '.ho coui-ie of the evening Mr 11. A. Sharp proposed the toast of Mr Adam?. la doing so Mr Sharp said ,

—" I have knowh Mr /idaios for many years, lie has served iv many offices. He has been painstaking and hard-working, and has done a great deal for tie district and the towu particularly. Ou every board or local body that lie has been a member he has been responsible for good work and has always been keen to do soui". thin» for the'town lie has made hu home. I feel that it wms a very nice idna to bring; us all here together to bid him farewell when he vacates the office of Mayor. We are all sorry that he is retiring from the burdens of oflice. c The duties of the Mayor — and of the heads of all local bodies— c'uriu" the past two years oF war have been very arduous, Th-y have had to take the load in '• keeping the home fires burning" and all had done their duty iv that respect, anrl I feel quite sure that you will all ag^ce that our \Uvor has not been behind the others He has given, hours of his time which lie was fortunately able to spare I ask you therefore to rise aud drink his health with eutlnmasm/'

Mr Adams, in replying, said;—" It is with considerable feeling that 1 rise and thank you gentlemen for the hearty manner in which you have honoured* the toast proposed by Mr Sharp. I only wished [ deserved the many kind things he has said. I have enjoyed this evening very much indeed, nnd have felt that I was among friends. 1 have now been a resident of Taurauga for foity-live years, and hope to be here till I die. i look upon the Mayoralty as the highest local honour that can be conferred on anyone, aud [ feel it an honour to have had the support of the townspeople during my term of oil ice. I have always felt" that the oftica of Mayor should not be monopolised for any length of time, and that it is for the becefit of any place that tho re should be frequent changes, and new blood coming in. My term of office lias been a strenuous one, aud I am now pleased to close my term with this little gathering, 1 am very grateful to you all "for responding so loyally to my invitation to be present, and again for the very hearty manner in which ycu drank the toast of ray health."

Mr Adams resumed his seat amid much applausp.

During the evening the following toasts were also honoured :—" Army and Navy;' proposed by the Yen. Archdeacon Tuke, responded to by Lieufc.-Colonel Moyfield : " Local Bodies,'' proposed by Mr G.- W. Brown, responded to by Messrs H, Southcy, It Kin> ard A. Montgomery: IiN.Z. Expeditionary Forces/ proposed by Colonel Ward, responded to by Mr H. Washer (President of the local branch of tlm lieturned Soldiers' Association); "P. eri cultural Interest.'' proposed by Mri Badgor, r^spond^d to by Mr T. Lochhead; " Progress of Taurnnsa 5' (r O w'u and Country 1 proposed by Mr B. C. Robbins. responded to by Messrs C r E. Mac mill an ani B Dive ; " The Press/ proposed by Mr U. P. Andrews, responded to by Mr W. H. Giilord.

A sons l»y Mr F. VV. Moiklp, recitations by BFessra H Southey and R. Kins, aud comet solos by Mr ATooda added to the pleasure of the evpninsfi and l! Aukl Lang Syne

brought the function to a close at midnight,