OTAKEHO.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 June 1924, Page 15

OTAKEHO.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNUAL PRIZEGIVING. On Tuesday evening, June 17, the annual prize-giving of the United Sunday Sciiool was held in the Otakeho Hall before a large gathering of parents and friends. The evening was opened by the children singing “If I were a beautiful twinkling star,” followed by numerous items by the children. Songs were rendered by Misses Jean Campbell, Ivy Campbell, Linda Putt, and Master IV illie Maddock; recitations by Misses Beryl Eaves, Betty McCullum, \ iolet Parker, and Masters Gordon Surgenor, Rohert Holland, and Lindsay Nicholls. Items by adults were as follows;. Pianoforte solo, Miss Mara Mackie; songs, Messrs J. Forrester and C. C. Sandford ; and recitations by Miss- W. Holland and Air J. Forrester; followed by the presentation of prizes by Airs Young (Otakeho) to the school children.

Before presenting the prizes Air E. Y ills, the popular superintendent, took the opportunity of thanking the parents and friends for the generous manner in which they subscribed to the appeal made for prizes. After the prize-giving had taken place the chairman, the Rev. C. Roberts, spoke in great praise of the work done by the superintendent and teachers for the. children. He considered the parents very fortunate in having such capable and willing workers in the Sunday School. The chairman then mentioned that that concluded the programme. PRESENTATION TO AIR AND AIRS HOLLAND AND EAAIILY. The chairman (Rev. Air Roberts) stated that Air and Airs Holland and family were leaving the district, and said that there were several representatives of different local bodies present to say a few. words of farewell to them. Mr E. AY ills spoke of the loss sustained to the Sunday School by the departure of Air Holland, as all felt that they were losing a very good friend. Mr E. T. Burke, chairman of the Otakeho Farmers’ Union, then snoke of the good work done by our guest as a member of the Otakeho Farmers’ Union, stating that he had always been to the front in any matters pertaining to the uniou.

Air H. R. AVood, secretary of the Farmers’ Union, endorsed the remarks, of the previous .speaker, and stated that ii all the members of the union liad been as good a member as Air Holland that the Otakeho branch would, have been in a better position to-day. Air H. J. .Eaves, chairman of the School Committee, spoke on similar lines to the previous speakers, also speaking of the boys being very .fortunate in having a man of Air Holland’s calibre to devote so much of his time to educating the children in the higher things of life. iVlr j\\ Brown (Auroa) spoke of the Holland family generally, and expressed the feelings of the Auroa people when he said that they were alf very sorry to he losing such a family from their midst. Air C. C. Sandford spoke of Air Holland’s cheerful disposition, quoting as an example a text he had in his home “Smile and the world smiles with you, kick and you kick alone.” He also spoke about AH Holland’s ability as a speaker in th ; pulpit. Rev. C. Roberts then endorsed all that had been said by the previous speakers, especially mentioning ~the good work done by Air Holland and family for the church, and then called upon Airs Young to present Air and Mrs Holland and family with a complete set of cutlery. Air Holland, on rising to reply, was received with prolonged applause. He sincerely thanked all for the very valuable presents they had received, and stated that what he and the family had done was nothing in comparison to the valuable gifts they had received. Airs Holland also stated that the peopeople had been too good to them, and she had always found them so ever since her arrival in New Zealand.

The guests of the evening, children, and friends were then treated to a sumptuous repast, and after several games had been indulged in by children and parents a happy evening concluded with the singing of YAuld Lang Syne.”