HOKITIKA NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1940, Page 12

HOKITIKA NOTES

[OUB OWN COBBEBPONDENT.]

HOKITIKA, June 13.

Mr and Mrs W. Braddon left this morning for Whakatane, where they will reside. Last evening in the Town Hall Mr Braddon was met by the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) and a number 'of citizens. Mr Perry, referring to Mr teraddon’s 74 years of residence in Hokitika, said Mr Braddon had been a good citizen. He had been connected with the public life of the community, and his work had always been well and unobstrusively done. He will be much missed, as also will Mrs Braddon, who had also been a good worker in the interests of the town. Mr A. R. Elcock (Deputy-Mayor and chairman of the Hokitika Fire Board), Messrs D. J. Evans, W. E. Richards, J. J. Mclntosh (superintendent, Hokitika Volunteer Fire" Brigade), R. Wild, A. C. Arm ( - strong (secretary of Acclimatisation Society), S. J. Preston (member Fire Board), all paid tribute to Mr Braddon’s good citizenship and expressed regret at his departure, All wished Mr and Mrs Braddon many years of happiness in their new home. The Mayor presented Mr Braddon with a travelling rug, as a token of esteem and love from the citizens of Hokitika, and handed him an “envelope” for Mrs Braddon. Mr Braddon thanked the Mayor and citizens for their kind expressions to himself and-Mrs Braddon, and for the gifts. Mr Braddon told several amusing incidents of early days of Hokitika, before many of the streets were formed, and when Cass Square was yet forest. He concluded by saying that, his life had been so happy here that the return might prove too great to resist. A kindergarten sponsored by the

Hokitika Aero Club was opened yesterday afternoon by the Mayor, Mr G. A. Perry. The president of the club, Mr Harold Lawn, said that owing to the war and its restrictions the club had been unable to carry on its usual activities, and in order to hold the club together and at the same time use its efforts in something useful to the community, had decided to help the children.

Mr R. Wild, member of the Canterbury Education Board, stressed the utility of the' scheme and wished it success. ..The Mayor next declared the kindergaften open. Rev. D." D. Thorpe expressed the appreciation of the public at the action of the club, and the splendid work put into the organisa,tion by the club’s secretary.

’ There was a gbod attendance of the public, and at the conclusion of the ceremony these were given afternoon tea by a ladies’ committee. The ' kindergarten is situated in Bealey Street, in the All Saints tennis courts, where the pavilion has been renovated and re-modelled into an open-air school. Mrs R. G. Miller, who has had considerable experience in- this work, has agreed to act as principal.