SERVICE TO COMMUNITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25802, 24 March 1945, Page 5

SERVICE TO COMMUNITY

MR D BORRIE’S FINE RECORD

Upon his retirement from participation in the public affairs of Ihe Papakaio district after many years of service to the community, Mr David Borrie has received many tributes of appreciation from both town and country people. He and Mrs Borrie were the guests of honour at a social evening held in the Papakaio Hall on Thursday night, when the popularity of this highly esteemed couple was shown by tiie large attendance. Mr Johnson Mayfield, who presided at the function, read messages of appreciation and goodwill from the Mayor and Mayoress of Oamaru (Mr J. C. Kirkness and Miss Betty Kirkness), Mr James Kingan (president of the North Otago Farmers’ Union), and Mr E. S. Brewster, and presented Mr Borrie with an illuminated address and a case of pipes from the residents. The address placed on record the deep appreciation of the residents of Papakaio and the surrounding district, of the devoted service Mr Borrie had rendered in the township and district for many years, and stated that largely as a result of his personal efforts, strict integrity and keen sense of duty, the district had made rapid progress. The spontaneous desire expressed by all sections of the community to subscribe to the address was eloquent testimony of the general appreciation he had earned for his work. It was but a small recognition of the efficient manner in which lie' had always served the community. The address was signed by John Henderson (Lower Waitaki Presbyterian Church Committee). W. Doig (Papakaio Cemetery Trust), E. J. Irvine (Papakaio School Committee)', J. H. Nimmo (Papakaio Public Library). E. H. Aubrey (Papakaio Ploughing Match Society), A. C. Hurst (Papakaio Patriotic Society), Johnson Mayfield (Papakaio Welfare Society). D. M. Whyte (Papakaio Red Cross Society), William Anderson (Star of Papakaio Lodge), J. S. Whyte (Papakaio Hall Trust), G. M. Lewis (Papakaio Young Farmers’ Club), and D. G. Borrie (Papakaio Rifle Club). Mr A. R. Tait (Deputy Mayor of Oamaru), on behalf of the citizens, brought a message of goodwill and congratulations to the guests. Mr Borrie, said Mr Tait, had set a high example for others to follow. Mr W. Malcolm (president of the North Otago Primary Production Council) joined in paying richly deserved tributes to Mr and Mrs Borrie. Papakaio has set a standard for coufltry centres. Mr Malcolm recounted his personal associations with the Borrie family, and said the same high qualities of strength of purpose and endurance and courage, which gained Mr Borrie the decoration of the M.M. in the last war, had enabled him to give such fin? service to the community over such a long period of years. Mr James Rodman (chairman of the Waitaki County Council) said there was no family better known or more highly respected in North Otago than the Borrie family. Mr Borrie was a worthy son of a worthy father. He had been associated with the activities of the district for 50 years, and it was very fitting that tributes should be paid to Mr and Mrs Borrie. Mrs W. Doig presented Mrs Borrie with a beautiful bouquet as a token from the women of the district. It was a privilege, said Mrs Doig, to express appreciation of the work Mrs Borrie had done for the community. Mr Borrie made a suitable reply, and appealed to the young men to take an active part in the committee working for the welfare of the district. He had enjoyed his work, but now had to retire from these activities. Mrs Borrie, he added, could not do enough for the men overseas.

The programme consisted of dancing, and musical and elocutionary items, which were contributed by Miss Mary Aubrey, Messrs B. Henden, J. Macmillan, F. Horman, J. Mayfield, and S. W. Armstrong.