OREPUKI NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22749, 27 November 1935, Page 12

OREPUKI NOTES

SOCIAL EVENING. (From Our Correspondent.) A very enjoyable social evening was held in the Oddfellows Hall on Saturday evening .when members of the Railway staff m6t to honour Mr E. Purdue, who is retiring on superannuation, and to bid farewell to Mr E. Lawrie who has been transferred to Christchurch. The following toast list was honoured:— The King, Our Guest (proposed by Mr P. Ford); The Department, The Chairman, (responded to by Messrs A. F. Muir and S. Kidd); Railway Societies, (Mr S. Mumford, responded to by Messrs E. Lawrie); R. 0.1. (Mr C. Fraser); A.S.R.S., and W. Hartle E.F.' C.A. At a suitable interval Mr S. Porter was called upon to make the presentation. Mr Porter said that he was very pleased to be present on the occasion of Mr E. Purdue’s retiring social evening, he had known the guest for over 40 years, and right through his railway career. On behalf of the railway members he asked Mr Purdue to accept a well filled wallet as a token of esteem. On rising to respond the guest was accorded musical honours. Mr Purdue thanked the members for their present and stated that he was sorry that the time had come to leave the service as he had enjoyed his association very much. Messrs G. Pearce, S. Kidd, C. Fraser, E. Lawrie also spoke and wished the guest long years of good health to enjoy his superannuation. Prior to the close of the evening, the chairman, Mr V. Barraclough, called upon Mr Lawrie to accept from his many railway friends a handsome clock as a token of esteem in which he is held. Mr Lawrie, who was also accorded musical honours, suitably replied. During the evening Messrs Carroll, piano, and Belsham, gaitar, rendered many enjoyable items, Mr Belsham also singing many songs, playing his own. accompaniment on his guitar. Railway Ganger Retires. Mr E. (“Ned”) Purdue who has just retired from the New Zealand Railway service after 40 years’ service joined the service in 1896 and spent the first five years of his service on the Ballast train and in the ballast pit at Otautau. In 1901 he transferred into the permanent staff and saw service at Clinton, Bluff, Thornbury and Longwood as member of the Relay Gang. After eighteen months of relay work he transferred to Orepuki as surfaceman, where he was resident for a number of years. On completion of the line from Orepuki to Tuatapere in 1907 he was transferred to Tuatapere as a member of that gang. From Tuatapere he was appointed Ganger at Waiparo, Canterbury, but was only there a few months when he was again transferred, this Hme io Makarewa. He served from 1908 to 1914 at Makarewa. In 1914 Ned was appointed Ganger, Orepuki has resided here ever since. In 1923 when the Orawia extension was commenced Ganger Purdue was lent to the Public Works Department to supervise laying the first two and a half miles of line, he then transferred this job to Mr J. McGaughey and resumed work on his own length. Mr E. Purdue had a good reputation as a footballer being very prominent in 1905. He was also a member of the Orepuki team which was undefeated for 11 years. Mr Purdue intends to retire in Orepuki. Presentation. Members of the Orepuki Athletic and Football Clubs, met for a social hour on Friday evening, Mr R. Pickering, president of the Football Club, in a neat and well chosen speech calling upon Mr Laurie to accept an engraved cigarette case. During his time in O re ~ puki the guest had been an official ana a playing member of the football club, and secretary of the social committee and his departure was regretted. The guest had also taken an active interest in the affairs of the Athletic Club as well as being a competitor at evening sports. Messrs E. D. Bone, R. Lee, C. Purdue, D. Smith and W. Shaw also spoke, one and all wishing the guest good luck and the best of health in his new home at Christchurch.