VALEDICTORY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 81, 2 July 1928, Page 5

VALEDICTORY

MR AND MRS PATTINSON.

To, show their esteem and respect, many settlers representing the surrounding district, gathered in the Bird Road School to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs John Pattinson, who are retiring to live in New Plymouth. On behalf of those assembled, Mr Jas. Reid asked the guests of the evening to accept a s a token of the Mipect and goodwill, a silver to i service. The speaker referred to the stirring qualities of Mr and Mrs Pattinson as neighbours, friends and settlers, and that as they had been in the district for so many years, they deserved a well-earned rest from their labours. Mr Morris, also spoke eulogistically of Mr Pattinson’® useful term as chairman and member of the local school committee.

In his reply, Mr Pattinson said he had) been on the road for 'ihiHji-six years, and Mrs Pattinson for fortyone years. With his mate, Mr H. Huckstep, he had spent seven years. in the Pukenpjthu Valley bushfelling. Those were the good old days when tar-sealed roads, and motor cars were things of the future, and one had to hump his swag.) over mud road® and winding bush tracks. He could relate many experiences of what the pioneers of the road went through. Hearing of the “huge fortune” to he made by farming he took over his father’s farm after the latter’s death in 1907. He wa s leaving it to his sons, the unique position now’being that three generations of the same family will have worked the same farm. He regretted very much leaving the district, but <as New Plymouth wa s not so very far away they would not sever their connection completely. Ihiriug the time while on the road they had' made many friends, and had always been, willing to give a helping hand. On Behalf of his wife and himself, he thanked all very heartily for their expressions of goodwill and prosperity, and for the handsome present. Mr Pattinson cam ha reckoned as one of the pioneers of the Bird IloJul, and with his departure, will be only two others of the original settlers yeft, the Ellis and the Hann families.