FAREWELL SOCIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1920, Page 2

FAREWELL SOCIAL

TO MR. AND MRS. KENNEDY!

AT PALMERSTON NORTH,

At the Empire Hall, Palmerston North, recently a farewell social, promoted by the Parishioners of the Catholic Church, was tendered to Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Kennedy and family, who are leaving Palmerston shortly for Wellington, where Mr. Kennedy, has accepted the position of secretary to the Wellington Gas Company. For the past 22 years he has been very closely associated with the affairs of the Catholic Church, as well as having interested himself in matters of general community welfare.

, Councillor E. L. Broad, as chairman of the Borough Gas Committee, spoke in highest praise of Mr. Kennedy’s abilities as manager of the gas department. While in Sydney recently several prominent business men there, with whom Mr. Kennedy had had dealings," passed high encomiums upon him; one had said that Mr Kennedy was too good a man to stay in Palmerston North. ,Cr., Broad said lie was not too good a man for there, as it was hoped to make Palmerston North the ‘‘hub of the universe.” The Catholics, the community, Borough Council and the ratepayers deeply regretted losing Mr. Kennedy, but they were fortunate in getting his brother, Mr Frank Kennedy, who fo> i several years past, has held a high position in gas circles in Canada and the United States, to fulfil the position. In making presentations to Mr. and Mrs Kennedy, Father McManus said it was with mixed feelings that they farewelled such valued members of the community. It was regrettable that for the present, at all events, their guests were to break their associations with Palmerston. For very many years Mr. Kennedy had done yeoman service for St. Patrick’s Church, and had given the very best of his services and talents to the community of Palmerston North. Referring to Mr. Kennedy’s endeavours in connection with the establishment of a new church there, Father McManus said it was pleasing to know that his efforts would shortly bear fruit. Palmerston was losing a wortlfy citizen and St. Patrick’s a representative which at present it could ill-afford to lose. Every work he had taken in hand was carried out with energy and success. Father McManus presented Mr, Kennedy with a gold watch, and Mrs. Kennedy with a handsome solid silver tea service.

Mr F. J. Oakley, on behalf of the Parish Committee, also spoke in felicitous terms of Mr Kennedy’s work on the committee, of which he was secretary.

Mr Kennedy returned thanks and expressed regret at leaving Palmerston North. Referring to the proposed new church, he said that they loved and venerated the old building for its many years of service. It had been a landmark of Palmerston North. But the town had grown to such an extent that the church now too small, and he hoped it would not be long before they had an edifice worthy of the Catholics of the

town. Mr M. J. Kennedy is leaving early this menth on an extended trip to Australia. He will return to Palmerston North for a few days, and will then be farewelled by the Borough Council and citizens of the

town. Messrs Matthew and Prank Kennedy are sons of the local Gas Manager, Air J. Kennedy.