SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24347, 11 July 1940, Page 12

SOUTH OTAGO

BALCLUTHA Personal Great success attended the farewell social to Lieutenant-colonel F. Waite, D. 5.0.. in the Masonic Hall on Monday night. The function was arranged by the local branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and representatives of the Balclutha Patriotic Committee and the South Otago Hospital Board were also present. Mr H. H. Holgate presided, and the Balclutha Brass Band, under the baton of the conductor (Mr Wells J, played a number of selections and provided incidental music for the songs. Lieuten-ant-colonel Waite will leave shortly fot his new post as overseas commissioner for the National Patriotic Funds Board of New Zealand, and his main duty will be to see that New Zealand units in the navy, army and Air Force are contacted and supplied with the food parcels and little Comforts so appreciated by the solder on duty abroad. The chairman announced that the guest of the evening had also been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, having previously been on the reserve of officers with the rank of major. The chairman, in the course of the proceedings, presented to Mr Waite on behalf of the local and district Returned Soldiers' Association, a serviceable travelling bag and a soldier's shaving mirror and Mr I. A. Miller (chairman of the Patriotic Committee) called on Mr J. R. Copland, Deputy Mayor, to present Lieutenant-colonel Waite with a pair of gold sleeve links from the citizens as a slight mark of the esteem in which he i:= held Mi Alex Renton spoke on behalf of the Hospital Board, and several other speakers joined in a general eulogy of Lieutenant-colonel Waite, than whom it was said, no better man could have been found in New Zealand for the. job Lieutenant-colonel Waite made a lengthy and very feeling reply, stating that the send-off he was receiving was in keeping with the evidences of goodwill that had been showered upon him ever since he had come to live amongst them. He had so many good friends in Balclutha that, if spared, he would like nothing better than to come back and finish his days among them Lieutenant-colonel Waite concluded his farewell speech amidst loud applause, and he was accorded musical honours and cheers. A tribute was also paid to Mrs Waite. Lieutenantcolonel Waite left on Tuesday mornine for the north. Rugby Sub-union Mr U. Walker presided over a meeting of the South Otago Rugby Football Subunion on Tuesday night. A discussion took place about late defaulting and it was decided that in future clubs notify the opposing clubs and also the secretary before 11 a.m. on the day of the match of their intention to default It was decided to write to the Otago Rugby Union requesting that a match be arranged either with a senior club team or an Otago team and a South Otago representative team Nominations were received from the clubs for the Cup competitions and it was decided that one round be played. The draw for Saturday 'was arranged as follows:_Senior Grade: Clutha v. Tahakopa at Tahakop* (Mr D. Inglis); Toko v. Clinton, at Balclutha (Mr C. G. Clark); Crescent, a bye. Second Grade: Crescent v Catlins, at Owaka (Mr H. Jackman); Union v Clutha, at Balclutha, at 1.30 p.m. (Mr T Hansen); Star v Clinton at Clinton (Mr T Fox); Toko a bye. Third Grade: Crescent v. Toko, at Milton, Flett's Ground (Mr W. Dee); Clutha v. Star, at Stirling (Mr T. Tsukigawa). , , , , It was agreed that Star, which played First Grade in the Banner Competition be allowed to play Second Grade for the Cup Competition only. Farewell to Inspector Traffic Inspectoi A. B. Archer, who has been transferred to Christchurch, after a residence of about two years at Balclutha, was accorded a farewell at the Courthouse on Tuesday night by local and district inspectors, police, and solicitors, and presented with a fountah pen and an Eversharp pencil as tokens of esteem. Mr k. R Grigor made the presentation and spoke highly of Mr Archer's ability and fairness as an inspector. Mr Archer will leave to-morrow for his new post.