TRANSFER TO PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume VL, Issue 3131, 7 February 1934, Page 5

TRANSFER TO PLAINS.

POPULAR TE AROHA RESIDENT. FARE WELLED BY R.S.A. Te Aroha ex-service men assembled last Friday evening to bid farewell to Mr Guy Hessell, who has been transferred to succeed Mr J. A. Walker on Hauraki Plains. The evening took the form of a social gathering and supper in the Majestic Tea Rooms. In presenting' Mr Hessell with a handsome afternoon tea service, the president of the Te Aroha Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr G. H. Nicholls, said that the association felt that in losing its treasurer —a post Mr Hessell has held since the branch was revived two years ago—it was losing a very valuable and enthusiastic member. He went on to relate how he had first met Mr Hessell in Sling Camp, England, when he had held the unenviable position of bombing officer. He had also met him in France where he had earned a very high reputation. Five years ago he had come to Te Aroha where he had proved himself as good a citizen as he had been a soldier. He had always been most willing to work on the association’s behalf and what he had done he had done thoroughly. He had also taken much interest in other local organisations and his good wife had made a host of friends. The association in presenting Mr Hessell with a tea service desired to couple the name of Mrs Hessell with his and wished them both all good prospects for the future.

Mr Hessell, who addressed those present as “ brother diggers,” said it was with very mixed feelings he took farewell of his friends in Te Aroha. He had had many happy connections with the association which he would never forget. He asked members to stick together a t the present time more than ever they had done before as their help and co-operation would be badly needed in the next winter, when, he said', there would be hazardous times ahead. Unfortunately the allocations had been cut down and the association could not do all it would like to do. Nevertheless, he charged members not to desert the R.S.A. at the present juncture as it had urgent need of every one of them. He then thanked those present for their gift and promised to convey their good wishes to Mrs Hessell. —Te Aroha News.