VALEDICTORY.

Grey River Argus, 29 February 1908, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

MR VINCENT BEVILACQUA

A very representative gathering of Greymouth's leading citizens assembled at the Commercial Hotel last evening to bid good-bye to Mr Vincent Bevilacqua, who leaves on Monday on a visit to his native place in Italy. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. The toast of "The King" was duly honored.

The chairman, in proposing the health of "Our Guest," stated thai the gathering, which was a most representative one, fully testified to the esteem •in which Mr Bevilacqua was held in. He had proved himself be a man of sterling qualities, "and all wished him a pleasant visit to his native land and a safe return. It was his pleasing duty to ask Mr Bevilacqua to accept as a slight token of esteem a handsome gold sovereign case, suitably inscribed, which he hoped would serve to remind him of his many friends" in Greymouth.

Messrs Sheedy andKettl P made very complimentary references to the guest. •Mr Bevilacqua on rising to respond was greeted with great applause. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude of the kind treatment he had received, and thanked them all for the kind present. Wherever he journeyed he would ever remember his Greymouth friends. (ApMr Kettle proposed "Local Industries," responded to by Messrs Eissenhardt a nd Parfitt. "The Ladies" was proposed by Mr Ashton and responded to by Messrs Berg, Egden, Johnston and J. McCarthy (jnr). "Host and Hostess" was proposed by Mr Petric, who complimented them on the splendid spread provffled. Mr McCarthy responded in suitable Mr W Joyce proposed 'The Press," Messrs Kerr and Petrie responded. Mr McCarthy proposed the health of Mr Keddic, who had so generously presided at the piano. Mr Keddic acknowledged th c compliment. „ During the evening excellent songs were sung by Mrs McCarthy Messrs Dillon, Egden, Johnston, Ashton, Eissenhardt and Walker. _ A very pleasant evening was brought to a ck>se by the singing of "Auld Lang Synic."