VALEDICTORY SOCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17527, 10 July 1917, Page 7

VALEDICTORY SOCIAL.

RANGIORA BOWLING, TENNIS AND CROQUET CLUB.

MR AND MRS CRESSWELL HONOURED.

Last evening the members of the Rapgiora Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club entertained Mr and Mrs T. R. Cresswell, who will leave Rangiora at the end of the week for Wellington. The. weather affected the attendance, but nevertheless there was a good gathering in-tlio club tea-room. Mr T. W. Ambrose, president of the club, who occupied the chair, spoke retnimscently of Mr Cresswell’s prowess on tho'football field, and in other sports -before coming to Rangiora, and said that the same spirit of emulation that he then displayed had. since carried him to victory many times on the bowling green. He had represented 'the club prominently in bowling competitions on many occasions, and his success in the game was evidenced by his name being so many times inscribed on the honours board. He had taken a keen interest in the business affairs of the club and had done his full share in the fostering of its welfare. His appointment to the responsible position of Inspector of Secondary Schools was an honour to the Rangiora High School and to Canterbury College. One and all wished’ him a prosperous future. The Mayor (Mr C. I. Jennings) bore testimony to Mr .Cresswell’s value as a citizen, always ready to help any cause in the interests of the community. Mr Jennings also made appreciative reference to Mrs Cresswell’s sendees in connection- with /patriotic work, chiefly in tho capacity of. a member of the Red Cross branch. He .concluded by wishing the guests and their family good health and much happiness and prosperity in their new home. Mr E. R. Good, who , was chairman

of the High School Board when Mr Cresswell was appointed principal of the school eighteen years ago, made reference to the great success that , had attended the institution under his charge, and voiced the regret felt at his departure by all who had the welfare of the school at heart.

Mr W. E. Barton and Mr W. Efford, jun., president of the bowling section, also spoke of the many good qualities of Mr Cresswell. 1

The president then, on behalf of the club members, presented Mr Cresswell with a well-furnished dressing-case, and Mrs Cresswell with a silver manicure set, saying that the gifts were an earnest of the high esteem in which the recipients were held./

Mr Cresswell, in acknowledgment, expressed his thanks for tho very kindly remarks concerning Mrs Cresswell and himself. The eighteen years he had spent in Rangiora had passed all too quickly. They had been the happieso period of his life, for he had experienced so much kindness. They had spent happy times together as members of the club, and while a little friction might have occurred now and again, it had never gone below the surface and was quickly forgotten. He arid Mrs Cresswell, he was pleased to say, were leaving in perfect harmony with all tho members. He had always'taken a keen interest in all outdoor recreation, believing that sport had its place in life /in helping to keep a man fit and (healthy;- and if carried on in a- reastrai able manner it exercised a beneficial in- / fiuence in the formation of character, iHe could truthfully , say thatJtangiora was one of the pleasantest places to lire in, and he and Mrs Cresswell and family would take away the happiest remembrances of the town. After refreshments had been handed? round by the ladies, cheers were given for the guests, and the gathering concluded with “Auld Lang Syne,” and the National Anthem. .