VALEDICTORY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15338, 23 July 1915, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

COLONEL. AND. MRS COSSGROVE HONOURED. Seldom has there been so large a gathering in the Runanga Hall, at Tuahiwi, as there was on Monday night last, to bid farewell to Colonel Costsarove and his family/ who after 16 years' residence in the district, have re. moved to Christchurcb. Chief Tame Kirini was in the chair, and speeches were delivered by the chairman, Mr Ereura Teaika, Mr Ihakara Karaitiana, and Mesdames Nijjoniho and Barrett. Mr Teaika, in a very feeling speech, expressed the profound regret of the Natives at losing Colonel Cossgrove. who for so mamyears had lived among them as their \ friend and helper. He had not only j been their teacher, he had been himself ! as good as a doctor, and while he and | Mrs Cossgrove had the medical care i of the Maoris, there was never any diffi- j eulty. Mrs Cossgrove had been a-! mother and nurse to all, and her care j and loving services to both young and ' old would never be forgotten. He ask- i ed the colonel to accept a handsome ! travelling rug a« a small token of tho ! esteem in which he and his family were i held. ■ . 1 A farewell song was sung by a ntrm- j ber of the wabines, and then Colonel i Cossgrove replied. He said he was ! grateful indeed for the kind things 6aid j about himself and family, and especially for wrjat was said *of his wife. Tt had been her one aim to help them, lie thanked them for the handsome rug presontr-d, and assured them that he did not need the nig to remind him of his sojourn among fhom. He was not leaving them on account of anythinu i that had been said or done by any \ among them, but in order to devote his i whole, time to tho Scout movement, which had its birth in Tuahiwi, and >a«l become such a power for good ! throughout the Dominion. ■ Refreshments wore thon handed round, and songs, recitations, and j hakas were continued till midnight j Colonel and Mrs Cossgrove also received j a number of presents of Maori work, I among them a valuable Maori rug, j which belonged to the Into noted Chief Tuta Niboniho. This was presented i by Miss ' ITariata Nihoniho, his daughter. j