VALEDICTORY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 31 August 1927, Page 6

VALEDICTORY

BOWLERS’ FAREWELL TO MR. BARNSDALE.

The members of the Hastings Bowling Club assembled at the Club Tea Rooms yesterday afternoon to say farewell to Br R. A. Barnsdale, manager of the Hastings National Bank, who has been promoted to the charge of the branch of the bank at Gisborne, whither he and Mrs. Barnsdale proceed in the course of a lew days. Mr. J. Bewley, president of the club, presided, and in a brief speech congratulated the guest on his welldeserved promotion, saying that in his five years’ residence amongst them, he had established himself as an honoured friend, both as a man and as a bowler. There was no whiter man than Mr. Barnsdale, he said, who always played the game as a bowler and as a gentleman. In the game of bowls he came to Eastings as a novice, but his calm temperament, his cheerfulness and his courage in playing an uphill struggle, had won many a game and had placed him in the front rank of their players. They- had assembled to bid him adieu on his (the speaker’s) own liehalf and on behalf of the club, and he said the Gisborne Club would gain a splendid bowler and a good sportsman on his joining'their membership. In all sincerity they wished Mr and Mrs Barnsdale every good luck and prosperity in their future. He also availed himself of the opportunity to welcome Mr Peat, Mr Barnsdale s successor.

Mr. McLeod (manager of the Union Bank) and Mr Hogg (manager of the Dank of Australasia) spoke of their happy relations with Mr Barnsdale, both in business and on the green, whilst Mr. Parkinson alluded to his invaluable service in the club managment. Mr W. J. White wished Mr and Airs Barnsdale every happiness, saying that the departure oi Airs Barnsdale would also be a loss to the community. He was certain that it was his good wife who developed Mr Barnsdale into the good man ue was to-day (laughter). Messrs, itsson, C. Gardiner, and S. J, McKee addressed the gathering m a similar strain-

The president then presented Mr. Barnsdale with a handsome leather bowls’ case, suitably inscribed, wishing Air Barnsdale and his wile every good fortune, a wish which was endorsed by the bowlers with musical honours.

Mr Barnsdale thanked his fellow bowlers for their kindly expressions towards himself and his wife, as well as for their useful gift. He acknowledged the many kindnesses he had received from them, saying that they personified the wonderful good fellowship of bowling, a spirit of comradeship that every member should propagate. He assured Mr Peat that, when his turn came to leave Hastings, he would leave it with the genuine regret that he felt.

Mr Peat briefly acknowledged the president’s welcome.