FAREWELL AT OTEKAIKE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue 13047, 10 January 1917, Page 2

FAREWELL AT OTEKAIKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

On Wedne.-day evening, the 3rd iiist-.. the settlers at Otekaike tendered a sendoff to Messrs J. and H. C-ree, who have joined the ils& Reinforcements. There being no public hall at- Otekaike, ana' the district school being too small for functions of the kind, and -a large number of settlers having arranged- to be present, the large hall at- the Special •School was kindly lent for the occasion ■Tjv the Principal of the institution. The Cree family are old settlers in the district. and a» such have, in the courseof years. accumulated "troops of friends," eo nearly 200 people were assembled from Otekaike. itself, from Kurow. Duntroon, and even from tar-oft Tokarahi. The floor being the best in tho Waitiiki \ alley, the first part c-f. evening was naturally devoted to dancing, after which came supper, ana. then the presentation: each of the brothers being i>resented with -a foun-tain-pen and a safety-razor. Mr Benstead, who made the- presentation, after remarking that the district. had already contributed a largenumber of its young men to the war, congratulated the Messrs C-ree oil haying volunteered for active service 'while s-o many others are hanging back. He passed severe strictures on those w1 u) patriotism, can only be aroused by compulsory legislation, and was particularly severe on many of those who hat!, appealed from tho ballot. He also re-! ferred to the proposed' peace terniM ivhich have emanated from Germany, stating that in view of the enormous lots of life and property which the Kaiser had visited upon Europe, any -uc.i proposals must come from the Allu Finally lie expressed a hone that- tlu brothers would pass through the war | With credit, and return safely to their friends. Mr James Cree replied for his broUier and himself. The formal part of the proceed in being concluded, dancing was resumed and the company separated at- about 2 a.m. Tin* music was- supplied byMe-s;> Austin (niano) and Richardson (violinV and Mr Irving (Otiakel acted as M.C. The brothel's Cree left- lor the Nona • on Saturday. 6th inst.