VALEDICTORY.

Northern Advocate, 16 December 1916, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

MR J. G. BALL.

•A,' heartily sympathetic send-off was last night accorded Mr J;a-k Ball, win. for the lay-. Join- and ;<-lia":f years ha?

been auctioneer In attachment to i.ru firm of Messrs Wilson and Wilson Whangarci. Mv Dull left to-day to: Hamilton, waere in is to a<H as buyei for the Waikato Freezing Company Testimony to h'd -jopularity was last night afforded b> the furf that repreE.iiiatives of ?.\\ :;v. V» u'ngarei a , ;-., lici.cering firais a-id oatUe-rrsen, with, out distinction of clientele, were present in appreciable muster. There were in attendance Messrs J. A. Finlayson (presiding), Fenton Fraser, J. Lamb, A. C. Symes, F. J. White, C. Wilson, T. Ryan, A* McCardle, A. Finlayson, D. J. Fraser, 'C. Chapman, J. R. S. Richardson, J. Lawrie, C. v Dobson, and H. Sloane, while among the visitors were Messrs Hosking Don Smedley, and an "Advocate" representative. Messages of regrei at inability to attend were receiver from several gentlemen who wishei well to Mr Ball. The toast of tht "Guest" was proposed by the chair man, who coupled the compliment with the presentation of a purse of sovereigns, which he said would have had ten times the bulk but for the short notice of the occasion.

Mr Chapman, though belonging tc an opposition firm, opined that it would take a good man to beat Mi .Ball, who was "white" to the core. Support of that sentiment was forthcoming in turn from Messrs Symes, D. J. ; Fraser, Sloane, Lawrie Richardson, Dobson, Reid, C. Wilson, McCardle and White. In reply Mr Ball said that there was a warm spot in his heart for the North, and he hoped that the "purse" he had received that night would be the finaucial foundation of his permanent set. tlement in the North at a future date. The other toasts (with the proposers and respondees indicated in parenthesis) were as follow: —"The King" (by the chairman, with musical honours) ; "Army and Navy" (Messrs White and dingus Finlayson); "Commercial Interests of the North" (Messrs C. Wilson and Fenton Fraser); "Press" (Mr Richardson and ■■Northern Advocate" representative); "Chairman" (.Messrs Ball and J. A, Finlayson-; "Mrs Ball and Family" (Messrs Chapman and Ball); "Entertainers" (Mr White, and Messrs llosking, Reid, Snicdloy, and Lamb); "New Zealand Boys"—observed in silence — (Mr Sloane and Messrs 'Angus Finlayson and Hosking); "Ladies" (the chairman and Mr J. R. S. Richardson).

Vocal solos were contributed as follow:—"The Powder Monkey," "A Chip of the Old Block," and "The iAd. miral's Broom,'" by Mr Hosking; "Bedouin's Love Story," "Just Like Bein' at Hame," and "Wee Doech an" Doris," by Mr J. Ro : d. Recitations were given by Messrs Lamb and Bevington. Mr Don Smedley was expert in the capacity of pianoforte accompanist. "Auld Lang Syne" terminated at 10.4.". a gathering; marked by joviality and the sincere display of j commercial cameraderie.