VALEDICTORY.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15255, 17 December 1919, Page 7

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL TQ MR. H. J>,

WILLIAMS.

(From Our . Takaka Correspondent.)

TheA Oddfellows' Hall, Takaka, was well filled last Thursday eveningj the occasion being a farewell social tendered to Mr.ana.Mrs. H. D. Williams by the members of the Church of the Epiphany. The stage had been very daintily decorated and arranged by ladies of the* congregation, and the seats in the hall groupdd in .social fashion.

The chair was taken by the Rev. F. J* Daynes,* vicar of the parish, who briefly stated the object of the gathering, and then a short but very enjoyable concert programme was provided, including a pianoforte duet by Mrs. G. Woodward and Mr. Williams, songs by Mrs.-Gillespie, Mrs. .Williams, and songs also by Messrs. S. H. Poole, V. W. Sadd, .andJ. T. Moore. The chairman then thanked Mr. Williams for his, long and faithful .services as volunteer organist to the church for the last 20 odd years, during'the whole of which- period he had hardly ever missed a service. Mr Daynes said that during his six years of service hero Mr. Williams and himself had worked most harmoniously together, and Mr. Williams's place in the church was going to be a hard one to fill. On behalf of the members of the church Mr. Daynes then handed Mr. Williams a handsome present, consisting of .a silver cake dish, hot water jug. and entree' dish, suitably engraved, as a slight token of long and valuable services, capably and cheerfully rendered. The audience rose and sang "For he's a jolly good fellow," with ringing cheers for Mr. AVilliams.

In a very amusing and happily worded speech the recipient thanked Mr. Daynes for his kind remarks and the congregation for their very handsome present. * Mr. J. B, Sadd then stepped forward, and on behalf of the Men's Social Committee , of the Retiirned Soldiers' Club, presented Mr. Williams with a leather attache case, suitably engraved, at the same time thanking him for the many times he had turned up to the club socials and rendered valuable help with the concert programmes, and in playing for the dances free. Mr. Williams was quite taken aback by this latter presentation-, which was a surprise one. He thanked Mr. Sadd for his kind remarks, and the donors for their useful gilt, which ho said was quite unlooked for, as all he had done 'for the' c:lu4 was purely voluntary as a tribute to the soldiers. A. very dainty supper wa< then handed' round by the ladies of the church, after which'the singing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a i close. The dancing element among the audience, however, woxild not be denied, and they there and then re-engaged the haH*for the rest of the- night, and put Mr. Williams at the piano and away they danced into teh next day. Such an opportunity to get Mr \\hiiams's splendid danco music was not to be lost. Mr. Williams has purchased a residence ih Nelson, where ho shortly moves, to continue his vocation of professional musician. As a player of dance music Mr. Williams is absolutely "on his own," and I predict he will speedily yon for himself a name in that connection in Nelson.