SERVICES RECOGNISED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 397, 11 August 1921, Page 5

SERVICES RECOGNISED.

AIR A. M. ONGLEY ENTERTAINED

AT FEILDING

Air A. M. Ongley, of Palmerston North, a former Mayor of Fcilding, was the guest at a smoko social at Feilding last night, held under tho auspices of tho Civic Club., Air J. S. Tingey (Mayor) presided. The chairman oxplamed that tho object of tho gathering was to do honour to one olV.their most worthy ex-citizens. Mr Ongley had recently severed his connection with the Feilding lirm of solicitors, and the . Civic Club had thereupon decided to tender bin? this recognition of his public activities. He had, during his residence in Feilding, given excellent and faithful

service to the town. For eight years he had been u member of the Borough Conn- , oil, six of them as Mayor. His position as ’ chief citizen of Feilding had not lieen a sinecure, but Air Ongley soon had tho bush ness going smoothly. The outbreak of the war had given him many now anxieties,, and his work as chairman of the Patriotic • Society had been very arduous and had taken up very much of his time. The. 'influenza epidemic followed the war, and 'asm worjeer during that .scourge Air Ongley >had literally worn himself out. Reference 'was also made by tho Mayor to Air Ongley’s successes on tho field of sport, as footballer, cricketer, tennis player, and golfer. In (conclusion, tho Mayor offered (ho thanks jot the people of Feilding to Mr Ongley -for ‘his very valuable services to tho town. ■i Mr J. R. Perry (president of tho Civic

.Club) said they had great pleasure in doing 'honour to a good public citizen. Mr Ongley .was’ well deserving of some recognition of his services. Air Perry had been a member of the Borough Council during Air Ongley’s term as Mayor, and it had always been a great pleasure to attend (ho council meetings and take part in tho business. Air Ongley ns Afayor was fair to all, and his opinions on various public matters were always honest and stated fairly. Mr Porry also' mentioned that Airs Ongley was deserving of tlm fullest thanks, gratitude and recognition of the people of Feilding for the help and support she had always given her husband, thus enabling him to be so

Successful in his public career. Would Mr Ongley kindly convey to Mrs Ongloy their Appreciation of her good help? c Mr C. R. Taylor made some humorous references to the days when ho was in the ‘public service with Mr Ongley in the Magistrate’s. Court in Palmerston North, receiving very small salaries, but having 'great ambitions. As a legal practitioner, he had had many keen contests with Mr Ongley, and always enjoyed them. Commendatory speeches were also made by Mr S. M. Hobbs (president of the Chamber of Commerce*), Mr W. H. McLean for the cricketers, Mr T. Collins for the footballers, and Mr G. Fitzpatrick. Mr Ongley, in reply, thanked tho gathering very sincerely for the fine things said, apd only wished ho could convince himself lie deserved them. He assured the chairman that he had not loft Feilding and had pot severed his connection with tho town, and he hoped it would be many a long year before he did so. Anyone who had lived in Feilding would lake a long time to forget it, because one had only to go away to fully recognise the unity of the people, and tiie happy family the people were. If a man undertook any public work in Feilding, he had nine helpers to one critic, whereas in some other places ho knew it was nine critics to one helper. Anything he had undertaken had been a source ot great pleasure to him, .because the people appreciated what was being done. Jn all the institutions ho had been connected with in Feilding, there had been a row (laughter), but it had been a good row, Which cleared the atmosphere, and there wiis no sting left afterwards. (Hoar, hear.) He had had very happy times m sjwrt in Feilding. Perhaps he, had gone in on the rising. tide, and that was why sport hud done so well daring his residence there. Ho had commenced his business career at Feilding, his married hie started there, and there he had made his first home, tie wbuld retain his connection with the various Feilding institutions to which no had belonged. He thanked the people for their kind references to Mrs Ongley, to ''horn he would be very pleased to convey them. He thanked them all for their expressions of appreciation, and would always do hi. bed for Feilding when opportunities came .VUlrtirU-l a present for Mrs Ongley, with tho good wishes ol thou Feilding friends.