SEND-OFF AT LINCOLN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15612, 9 June 1916, Page 2

SEND-OFF AT LINCOLN.

MR AND MRS G. RENNIE HONOURED. The largest social gathering that has been held in Lincoln for a long time took place in the Druids' Hall on Wednesday evening, when the residents of the .district assembled to honour Mr and Mrs George Rennie and family, who are leaving to reside in the Waikato district, Mr Rennie having decided to make the change for health reasons. During the twenty-three feats' residence at Lincoln, Mr Rennie has closely identified himself with public affairs and has taken a very keen interest in all matters affecting the welfare of the district. He has also been connected with various bodies in Cliristchurch, having been a member of the Board of Education for-a number of years, a member of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, a director of the Canterbury Central Dairy Company, and a member of various other bodies. It is doubtful if the Lincoln Hall has ever held a more representative gathering. All the districts within a radius of seven or eight miles were represented, and there"were also many people from a distance, including parts of the JUlesmere County. The duties of chairman were undertaken by IVIr J. Grsh&in, chairman of the District High School Committee, who read apologies from several prominent gentlemen who were unable to attend. Before the social started, the chairman made touching reference to the death of Lord Kitchener, and at his request, the people stood m silence for the space of a minute as a mark of respect to the great soldier's memory. The audience then sang the National Anthem. An enjoyable programme of vocal and other items was contributed by 'Mesdames Bartram and Redgrave, Miss A. Boag, and Messrs Suckling, Carson, Morland, and Cook--B°on behalf of the residents of the district, the chairman presented Mr and Mrs Rennie with a cutlery canteen and an opossum rug. He made reference to the high regard m which the guests were held in the district, and to the manv friends they had made during their twenty-three years' residence at -Lincoln. Special reference was made to the deep interest _Mr Rennie had taken in the District High School and to the good work he had done as committeeman, and m various other ways. He had sacrificed a great deal of time and carried out much useful work, which entitled him to the lasting gratitude of the residents. Mrs Rennie, too, had won a warm place in the affections of the people, and had always been a prominent figure at social functions. Mr W. Bartram. as one of the oldest residents of the district and a member of the School Committee of many years standing, also spoke of the good work the guests had done, and Mr Cookson, headmaster of the District High School, conveyed to the guests the good feelings of "the teaching staff and punils and wished Mr and Mrs Rennie happiness and prosperity in their new E. W. Relph, manager of the Farmers' Co-operative Association, said he had had many opportunities of jud?nng Mr Rennie's worth as a public man and of noting his qualities from a commercial standpoint, and could conscientiously say that Mr Rennie was the personification of honour He had been successful in public life for the reaFon that no one conld accuse him of having taken a position merely on account of the glorification attached to

1 . • ' \ _ it. His one desire had been to render a service to the community. TMir Itelpli asked Mr and Mrs Rennie to each accept a dressing case as small expressions of lub personal regard for them. On behalf of the Lincoln Ploughing Match Association, Mr John Gilmour handed to Mr Rennie an illuminated address conveying the Association's appreciation of the splendid services he had rendered as one of the originators of the Association and its first secretary. The ao-operatdon of kindred bodies, always so much in evidence, had been secured mainly by his efforts. Messrs R. W. Lochhead and M. F. Ryan, past presidents of the Association, also spoke.^ In responding,'Mr Rennie said that,, having made so many friends in the' district, it was with a touch of regret that his wife and himself.wore going away. They had greatly enjoyed their long stay in the district, and were pleased to have been assured. that they had rendered some small service to the community. Mr Rennie said he was keenly interested in educational matters, and he felt that it would have been ungrateful of him not to have recognised the splerdid work that was being done by the District High School. He regarded the Ploughing Match Association as a very useful body, and trusted it would have a long and useful career. Regarding his incursion into politics, to which reference had been made, he could assure them that he had made some very good friends on both sides, and hacr never regretted his political experiences. Both Mrs Rennie and himself greatly appreciated the kindness shown them that evening. and would always treasure the tokens of regard handed to them.