“If a Monument You Seek Look About You”

Franklin Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 14 September 1938, Page 5

“If a Monument You Seek Look About You”

TRIBUTE TO MR HOSKING

VALEDICTORY FUNCTION

DEPARTURE FOR AUSTRALIA

“As a member of the legal profession he is a pattern of etiquette. . . . When it comes to transactions and argument he is scrupulously fair. ... He is like the rimu and rata trees, they tower above the other trees. ... He has played his part and has rendered noble service to the community. ... He has made his mark in Pukekohe and has brought glamour to the town. . . . The town cannot afford to lose men of his-calibre. . . Such foresight and sound judgment is possessed by very few men A man.of the highest integrity who made sacrifices for his fellow men . . . .” These are a few of the many tributes paid to Mr F. A. Hosking at a public farewell function tendered him in the Masonic hall, :Pykekohe, last evening. 1 •

IVIr Hosking, who has practised his .•profession in Pukekohe for 18 years, has solji his business, -and takes his departure', for- Australia tomorrow. “My future movements are indefinite,’’ he told his friends last evening. His Worship the Mayor, Mr John

Routly, presided over a fairly large

hut very representative gathering. “We * have assembled to say goodbye to Mr Hosking who has practised /is profes-

sion in Pukekohe for nearly 20 years,”

said His Worship. Mr.Hosking, he continued, had made -himself prominent in the midst of this little community in many respects. >He was a T champion in many forrfis of sport and had kept up his end of the stick in other undertakings. Mr Routly lik-<>-'ened Mr Hosking to two species of trees, the * rimu and the rata, which towered above other trees in the forest. “In our midst he towered above .his neighbours. . . . We are very sorry indeed to lose him, but in his wanderings and future undertakings we wish him the best of health, happiness and prosperity,” concluded the .Mayor.

“Has Proved His Ability”

-Mr J. N. Massey, speaking on behalf of the Franklin County Council and the Franklm Racing Club, expressed regret that the district was losing, for a-time.at least, a friend and a pro-

minent citizen.-, “As chairman of the Franklin Cbuttfy Council I have met

Sir Hosking on .many occasions and it j«vas my privilege, to see some of the wwvork Sir Hosking undertook. While many think that members of the legal profession get away' with the plunder, . I can assure you that Sir Hosking is one of < those who rendered a lot of professional service for which he has mot been paid. He has played his part and has rendered a noble service to the comynunitv. I hav£ been closely associated with Sir Hosking in the Racing Club and the, political arena,” continued. Sir Slassey. “The general public is not aware of the invaluable- services rendered by Sir Hosking to the racing club, t .He followed two great presidents, Sir W. Claud Slotion, and the late Sir Dynes Fulton, hut lie has shown and proved 'his ability in guiding the destinies of the club, and in bringing it to the position of being one of the most important clubs outside the metropolitan areas. Sir Hosking, too, was largely instrumental in the club obtaining its second totalisator permit.” Sir Slassey, in conclusion, expressed the hope • that at no distant date all would have the pleasure of--meeting Sir Hosking again, and that, he would enjoy good health and prosperity in the future. Alleviation of Distress Mr .L. C. Logan, representing the Franklin Returned Soldiers’ Association, apologised for the absence of the president, Mr S. D. Rice. He%said that Sir Hosking was one of the foundation members of the association, a vice-president for several years anil one of the association’s honorary solicitors since its inception. .He had rendered wonderful service in assisting to alleviate distress among the returned men, all of whom regretted his departure. “We hope we are not saying goodbye but only au revoir. The returned men of the district join with me in extending best wishes to Mr Hosking for future health, happiness and prosperity,” concluded Mr Logan.

Representing the Pukekohe Bowling Club and the Franklin Men’s* Club, Mr H. Burrows thanked Mr Hosking for what he had done for bowling in New Zealand and for the Men’s Club of which he was the prime mover for its constitution. “Mr Hosking has made his mark in Pukekohe and be has brought glamour to the town. There are not many of us who possess Mr Hosking’s, outstanding, ability tod sound judgment, and few of Tis could have accomplished what he has. lie has been prominent in many walks of life in Pukekohe for 18 years, and I am satisfied the town will be the poorer for his departure. We wish him every happiness and prosperity and hope that it will not be long before fee is back in Auckland and perhaps in Pukekohe,” he concluded. Mr M. R. Grierson, as the representative of the legal profession and

Loss.to Legal Profession

the Pukekohe Golf Club, told of his

first meeting in Pukekohe with Mr Hosking, who welcomed aim as a business opponent. “I admired him then and I have admired him since both as a business opponent and a friend,” said Mr Grierson. “As a golfer he holds the record for the number of golf balls he sliced over the road into an adjoining property. ... It is a serious loss to the town, and the legal profession, to lose a man of Mr I-losk-ir.g’s calibre. To say au re voir in behalf of the legal profession is a difficult task. ... I was impressed with His Worship the Mayor’s reference to trees, for it is true that Mr Ilosking did tower above others in Pukekohe. He has been a hitching post for the town and especially the legal profession of which he is the senior member. ... In the profession ho is a pattern of etiquette. In business transactions and in legal arguments he has been scrupulously fair, and most important in the legal profession, he is a man of the highest integrity,'” 'said Mr Grierson. “It is stated that there is a flight of capital to Australia, and it appears that there is a flight of capital citizens following,” continued Mr Grierson, who after referring to the trend of events in the political world added, “Apparently Mr Hosking has seen the writing on the wall, is looking ahead, and is getting out while the going is good. The legal profession will miss him for he-has been a distinct monument to the profession.” In conclusion Mr Grierson referred to Mr Hosking’s wide range of activities during his residence in Pukekohe and read a quotation from a celebrated writer, which, interpreted meant, “If a monument you seek look around you.”

Example Worthy of Emulation

Mr R. Diggle was the spokesman for the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce, the business people and automobile association. He said that during the short time he had been in Pukekohe he had seen Mr Hosking’s work and lie would say that he had set a fine example for the younger people to follow.*' He referred to his efforts in assisting to make the lot of his fellow citizens easier. He spoke of his work on behalf of the Returned Soldiers, his general activities in an endeavour to make Pukekohe a better place than he found it, but all the time underlying these efforts was the spirit of helping the other fellow. If the younger generation tried to emulate Mr Hosking they would not go wrong. “We cannot afford to lose such a valuable and versatile citizen from our midst, for men of his stamp are not so easily replaced. He is leaving us but his work will stand asan everlasting monument to him. We wish him well and the best of success wherever he wanders,” concluded Mr Higgle.

' Mr A. E. Whitten, on behalf of the Dominion Bowling Council, and the Auckland Bowling Centre, spoke of Mr Hosking’s great work for the welfare of the bowlers throughout New Zealand. “There is not a more able bowling administrator in the whole of New Zealand than Mr Hosking, and I speak with some knowledge of his work for I have been associated with him for many years. It was indeed fortunate for Auckland when he accepted the position of president of the Bowling Council and I feel sure that the 1938-39-season, and next Dominion tournament will break all previous records. On behalf of all bowlers I wish him a pleasant holiday in Australia, and that when he decides to settle in Auckland - that prosperity will be with him,” he concluded. Presentations by the Mayor At this stage, the Mayor asked Mr Hosking to accept an inscribed gold watch, and a cheque, for a substantial amount, as a token of the esteem in which he is held by his friends in Pukekohe and district.

The gathering rose and sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Mr Hosking, in reply, sai<j that during the 18 years he had been associated with the life of Pukekohe, he had observed that there had been very few occasions on which a departing citizen had been accorded a semi-civic farewell. He said he appreciated this tribute very much and also the fact that His Worship the Mayor, had consented to preside at the function. “I thank you all for your farewell greetings and for your gifts,” said Mr Hosking. He recalled an election campaign when he thought he had more right to sit in the mayoral chair than Mr Routly, and the enjoyment he derived in contesting the Mayoralty. “Although opposed in policy matters and yet still retain friendships is the spirit that appeals to me,” said Mr Hosking. He said he faced the ordeal of having to say farewell with feelings, tinged with sadness yet filled with pleasure. He expressed his deep gratitude to those responsible for the function, which would remain in his memory as a gathering of real genuine friends. “1 have never regretted coming to Pukekohe, but. I am sad at having to leave. What the future holds for me 1 do not know. My movements are indefinite, but wherever I may be I will never forget the tributes paid to me tonight when you all assembled to bid me au revoir publicly. “You have in Pukekohe and district, a wonderful district where there is great scope for expansion. me it has been a privilege, rather than a duty to assist in doing anything that has been for Ihe welfare of the town,” said Mr Hosking, who then paid a tribute 1;; his fellow members of the legal profession. The profession, he said. '

A Happy Family was' a happy family and all legal firms were on good terms. Mr Hosking concluded again thanking all for their tributes and presentations, and quoted the words of an eminent writer, “I hope the good I have been able to do will outlive the evil.” A memorable gathering was terminated by all joining hands and singing “Auld Lang Syne.”