DEPARTING SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15746, 13 November 1916, Page 5

DEPARTING SOLDIERS.

VARIOUS PRESENTATION'S.

A social gathering was held in the Public Hall, Motukarara, last week, to bid au revoir to two soldiers down on final leave. Musical items were given by a number of friends, after which supper was served and dancing engaged in. Private Alfred Wheeler was presented with a ease of pipes and a safetyrazor, while Private. David Burko was mado the recipient of a case of military brushes.

A very successful function took place ill the Druids' Hall, Hornby, on Thursday evening, when presentations were made to five young men who are down on their final loave. The first part or the gathering was in tho form of a. concert, and was presided over by Mr A. C. Bowbyes, president of the local 1 resentation Committee. Items were provided by the Misses Coulter, Stirling >, (2) Head, i>rassington, and Crequer, Mrs Hewitt, Mr Roach. Master S McGrath, and a group of the older schoolgirls. The accompaniments wero played by Miss Coulter. A presentation of a wristlet wateh to each of the following was made bv Mr F. Itoss: Privates T." Burns. O. Evans, R. Evans, N. Davis and G. Webb. Privates McEwan and Nelson were unable to be present, and received their presentations privately. Refreshments, kindly provided by the ladies, %were handed round, and it was announced that a table-centre, given by Mrs i. Soott, Hornby, to the lied Cross Com- . mittee, had realised the sum of £7. The hall was then cleared, and dancing in- | dulled in until the early hours. The Sumner Send-off and Reception Committee farewelled Sergeant F. E. Preston, who is on final leave. Mr A. C. Wilson presided. Opportunity was also taken to welcome the Rev. Mackenzie Gibson, Chaplain to the Forces; and also to say good-bye to him before his return to the front. In presenting Sergeant Preston, on behalf of the rc- • sidonts, with a silver flask, suitably engraved, the chairman the quest's activities in connexion with the C.D.C. movement. On behalf of the members of the tennis and croquet club, tho president (Mr J. M. B. Crawford) presented Sergeant Preston with a set of razors. The recipient suitably responded. During the evening an appropriate toast list was gone through, musical items being given by Messrs ; W. F. Raphael, G. F. Allen, F. Mar- i rie, J. E. Stevens, and J. M. B. Crawford. I

A very pleasant evening was 6pcnt at Mr I'reddy's, Tcmuka. on Thursday evening, when tho members of the Denmark street Method istr Young People's Class met to say farewell to one of their members, Private Keene, who is leaving with the 20th lleinforcoments. A very pleasant evening was spent in the singing of songs and playing games. At a suitable interval tho Rev. J. \V. Griffin spoke of tho duty of young men who were going forth to serve their King and country, and hoped it would not bo long before .tliev would be back again. He then handed Private Keene a handsome pocket wallet on behalf of the Young People's Class. A social was held in the Spotswood Hall as a farewell to Privates Lott, Gibson, Fleming, and Barnes. _ The evening was spent in dancing, interspersed with .songs. The members of the Spotswood-Parnassus Red Cross Committee presented each trooper with ii writing wallet. Mr Murgatroyd, Misses Saunders. TValmsley, and Wilkinson kindly provided the music. At Fernside last week the residents tendered a social to Lance-Corporal K. Ellis and Private W. Milne of the 20th Reinforcements. On behalf of the gathering Mr W. Smith, chairman of the Entertainment Committee, presented each of the guests with a. ooldiers' companion and a fountain pen. A progressive euchre tournament was played, the winners being Miss A. Woods and Mr G. Power. The music for the dance was provided by Mr S. and Miss Fleming extras being played by Misses Brosnan and E. Coates.