VALEDICTORY.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 271, 21 May 1907, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

■ The Rev. Father O'Meara, who has been the Feilding Parish Priest for the past eight years, intends leaving Feilding on Thursday next, en route to the Old Country on a six months' holiday tour, and was accorded .a right royal send off by his parishioners at the Presbytery last evening. There were upwards of fifty persons present, including several ladies, and a most enjoyable time was spent by all. Numerous songs and recitations were given, and considerable enthusiasm was shown in the proceedings, which were a complete surprise to the rev gentleman. To Mrs Burnett and Miss Desmond the credit is due for having arranged the surprise. During an interval in the programme Messrs John Wilson (Makino) and James Meehan, of Feilding, presented the rev gentleman with a purse of £100 sovereigns on behalf of the parishioners, and in doing so referred at length to the many good qualities possessed by Father O'Meara. In responding, the rev gentleman thanked them all for the kindness shown him, and especially for allowing him to make the trip, which was being taken mainly on account of a desire he had to once again see his native home and father and mother, both of whom were still At the School in the afternoon of yesterday, the pupils presented the rev gentleman with a handsome travelling rug. Father O'Meara leaves by Thursday's mail en route to Auckland, where he will embark on Saturday next for the Old Country.