REDWOOD’S VALLEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 December 1940, Page 9

REDWOOD’S VALLEY

PRESENTATIONS TO SCLDIERS The Redwood’s Valley hall was pack- j ed to overflowing when a public func- j tion was held for the purpose of entertaining and making presentations to Private G. Maisey of Redwood’s Valley I and Private E. Cottrell of Appleby, i On this occasion the soldiers’ enter-; tainment committees of the two areas combined in the organisation of the function and the residents of both dis- j tricts turned out in full force. Vocal items and some community singing formed the first portion of the programme. Songs were contributed i by Mesdames Dryden and McKendry, j Mr C. W. Campbell, and the Redwood’s j Valley school children, encores being : demanded by an appreciative audience. Quite a "hit" of the evening was Master Kevin Satherley’s rendering of! "Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major," j and as an encore, "Wish Me Luck." | the audience joining in the chorus in both numbers. Recitations were pre- i sented by Shirley Thomas. Norma Tear, and Murray Thomas, pupils of Appleby school. Mr H. J. Campbell, chairman of the local soldiers' entertainment committee. thanked the people of the district for attending in such large numbers to pay tribute to the two guests who were home on leave. Perhaps there would not be much fun in the job they were undertaking, he said, but knowing the qualities of the two men he was confident that they would derive as much pleasure as was possible from their adventure. Mr Campbell called on the Redwood’s Valleyschool children to make a presentation to Private Maisey. Betty Arbuckle. in a neat little f speech, extended the children’s best wishes to Private Maisey. They were proud, she said, to be associated with i the function because “Gib” Maisey was! the first old boy of their school to go on active service. Shirley Evans then presented Private Maisey with a copy of the New Testament autographed by every pupil of the school. Mr C. M. Robinson apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr M. Rogers.! chairman of the Appleby Soldiers’ En- 1 tertainment Committee. Speaking on behalf of the Appleby people Mr i Robinson mentioned the high esteem in which Private Cottrell and his parents! were held throughout the district. As a token of the Appleby residents Mr j Robinson asked Private Cottrell to i accept the gift of a handsome engraved wallet. He also extended the district’s I best wishes to Private Maisey. Speaking for the Redwood’s Valley people, Mr J. L. Brown stressed the urgent necessity for one and all to back New Zealand’s war effort to the 1 full capacity. The best that they could do was little compared with what the j soldiers overseas would be called upon i to do. Referring to Private Maisey Mr i Brown mentioned the guest’s lifelong; association with Redwood’s Valley and I his popularity with the people. The i speaker also referred to Private | Maisey’s ability as a marksman, recalling that the latter had won several j honours last year as a member of the Waimea Defence Rifle Club, including the club championship. Mr Brown ' then presented Private Maisey with a wristlet watch as a token of the affection of the Redwood’s Valley people. He also expressed the good wishes of the district to Private Cottrell. Further presentations were made to j both men, by Mrs J. L. Brown for the Redwood’s Valley branch of the Women’s National Reserve, by Mrs P. J. Challies. for the Appleby branch of the same organisation, and by Mr Biggar on behalf of the chairman of 1 Appleby Riding Patriotic Fund Committee. Mr George Brown also spoke for the Returned Soldiers’ Association. On rising to return thanks each man received a rousing ovation. Both exI Pressed their sincere thanks to the 'speakers for their kind messages and jto the people for their generous gifts. 1 Private Maisey contributed one or two “camp” stories to the amusement of the audience. Upon resuming their seats the men were accorded musical honWhile supper was being served a limerick competition was held and it created much hilarity. The winner was Mrs Roach, who he. *.d over the prize of cigarettes to the soldiers. Dancing was indulged in for the remainder of the evening and was continued until the early hours. During an interval Mr T. Searell rendered two musical monolgues in his usual breezy style. Music for the dancing was supI Plied by Mrs Roach and Messrs Biggar, IH. Slatter and Searell. j Among the visitors to the functions i were Lieut. Washbourn and Sgt. Baird, of Nelson, and Private Allan Brown, of I Mahana.