ST JOHN’S PARISH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12556, 18 July 1901, Page 2

ST JOHN’S PARISH.

FAREWELL TO THE REY H. C. M.

WATSON,

A thoroughly representative gathering assembled yesterday afternoon in, the school* room of St John the Baptist Church, Latimer. Square, in response to invitations issued, to bid good-byw to the Rev H. C. M. and Mrs Watson and family, on tho occasion of their leaving the parish for a time, in the hope that a long sea trip and: complete‘rest -would' restore the,- -vicA-r to health' he having been more or less invalided during the past six monjths. In the unavoidable absence of ;fhe Bishop, who wrote’frdin Timaru, expressing his" regret that, owing to illness himself, he was unable to leave there, the. Yen Archdeacon Cholmondeley presided, and expressed the regret that the parishioners _ had , all expressed to him, and the feeling generally expressed 1 in the community, -at Mr Watson’s enforced retirement from active duty for tho present. His work-in the parish eince 1873 spoke for itself, as his labours had been for the general weal of the people. Mr Watson would- carry the best wishes of all, and their heartfelt prayers for recovery to health, which it- was hoped a long sea trip, and complete rest would ’ensure. He read letters expressing regret at Mr Watson’s departure from Sir R. Stout, Air and Mrs Ooverdalc, Mr F. C. Gerard and Mr R. Leaver, the latter, one

of the oldest of the parishioners o t •S| John’s. As an Archdeacon of the diocese* he personally should, feel Mr Watson’s eb» eence, and could duly pray for his early recovery and return amongst them. Dr Thacker said"it had Been entrusted to him ‘to ask'the Yen Archdeacon to present Mr Watson with a purse containing 139 sovereigns, which had been volrmtarily and freely subscribed by friends, t» asehifc Mr Watson in the search for health. - As one of his medical advisers, he knew* of ■ nothing that would conduce towards hi* recovery- more than a long rest and seat voyage, failing wvwcu, on arrival in Eng* land, the home of medical science, 'booould secure the best advice obtainable. In any case, Mrs Watson, required a holiday, HI her labours in the parish had been un-< ceasing, and her attention to her husband during the past few 4 months had been an additional. tax on her strength. 1 : The, Chairman having acknowledged! the present on behalf of Mr and Mrs Wat* son, read a letter from the former, who was too ill to be present, acknowledging the gift, and expressing the hope that th« proposed change would .be beneficaal tot them both,' also stating that satisfactory arrangements had been made for carrying on the work; of the parish. Ho also do* sired to testify to the good and eympathor tic work done recently by the Rev B. T« Matthews. < :

A present of a very large and handbom* Gladstone bag, with appropriate iracrip* ' tion, was then made on behalf of the Sun* day-school teachers, who forwarded anioSletter of sympathy with it. Afternoon tea and music followed, ctrir* ing whidi Mrs Watson took the oppartu* nity of saying good-bye to the large nume* her. of friends who attended'.