URENUI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1931, Page 12

URENUI NEWS

FAREWELL TO MR. THOMPSON. “Diggers” from all parts of the district assembled in the Urenui Hall supperroom on Saturday evening to bid farewell to Mr. Jock Thompson. Mr. Geo. Loveridge, president of the R.S.A. branch, was in the chair. He said it was probably the last occasion when they would be together with one of the most popular members of the branch, and he was sure those present would prefer to spend the evening with a free and. easy talk mingled with a few songs. After the loyal toast that of the R.S.A. was proposed by Mr. D. Des Forges and responded to by Mr. E. K. Blundell. The health of Colonel C. H. Weston was proposed by Mr. J.-Thompson and responded to by Mr. A. H. Halcombe. Mr. Thompson said the R.S.A., and in fact all Diggers, would greatly miss the genial Colonel, who had l>een a very staunch friend of all returned soldiers, and on behalf of the Urenui Branch he wished him well. In responding on behalf of Colonel Weston Mr. Halcombe said he was surprised at being granted the honour. He had. known Colonel Weston for many years and. had the greatest admiration for him, but he felt the diggers knew him better. They knew him to be a thorough “white man” who always thought of his men first. He could assure the association that although Colonel Weston had left the district his heart was still in Taranaki, and he had the interests of the R.S.A. at heart. His help and advice could always be relied upon. The R.S.A., he said, was out to help ono another, and they did it without any fuss. The after effects of the war were becoming more manifested to-day than ever, and it was the duty of every citizen to come forward and help every returned man in need.

In proposing the health of the guest of the evening Mr. Loveridge said tlie Urenui branch was losing the services of ono of the most active members on the executive, and it was the hope of his friends that everything would continue to go well with him. On behalf of his fellows in the district he asked him to accept a case of pipes as a memento and a mark of appreciation. Messrs. 'W. Scott and G. Salway each spoke in a similar strain. In responding Mr. Thompson said he was sorry to leave his friends in Urenui, as some of the happiest days of his life were spent in the district. He was not going very far away from Urenui, and he would keep in touch with the doings of the branch, and would return to any of their functions. The health of the entertainers was proposed by Mr. W. Scott and responded to by Mr. Fredric. Songs items were sung by Messrs. Cleland, P. Fredric, D. Lange, J. Fitzgerald, D. Des Forges, J. Johnson and F. G. Healey, recitations by Messrs. D. Lange and A. H. Halcombe and saxophone solos by Mr. Buckley. Mr. Fredric played the accompaniments. GENERAL ITEMS. Mr. C., Barnard, fields editor of the Exporter, was a visitor to “Ngahiwi” last week. Mr. and Mrs. W. Gilliver have returned from a visit to Auckland. Pastures in the district are looking better than ever this season, and from reports from the factories all existing yield records for previous seasons will be beaten. The recent spell of warm weather has had a beneficial effect. Nominations for the pasture competition conducted by the union are coming in freeThe Urenui branch of the Farmers’ Union has arranged for Mr. J. HillMotion to give an illustrated lantern lecture on “Udder Diseases” in the Urenui Hall next Friday evening. Mammitis and other udder complaints have been I very prevalent among the hexfls this 'season.