WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20768, 1 July 1937, Page 3

WAIMATE

RUGBY

SILVER JUBILEE REV. FATHER GINISTY, S.M. HONOURED Enthusiastic and striking tributes to the appreciation and esteem in which the Rev. Father Ginlsty, S.M., is held by the parishioners of Waimate and by the general public were paid at a function held in St. Patrick’s Social Hall on Tuesday evening to celebrate the silver jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. Mr N. A. Knell presided over an attendance of 500, including representatives of the clergy from other centres, and visitors from Timaru, Makikihi, Morven, Glenavy, Hakataramea and Oamaru. During the evening Father Ginisty was presented with a suitcase and a return ticket to France, his home country. The occasion was one of intense gratification to all —the celebration of the silver jubilee of Father Ginisty’s ordination to the priesthood, said the chairman in his opening remarks. Proceeding to give a brief outline of the career of the guest of honour, Mr Knell said that Father Ginisty was ordained 25 years ago at the Seminary of Missions. It was then decided that his future work should be in New Zealand. To leave his native country and sever his ties with home and friends to come to foreign shores where he was not very familiar with the language as spoken, was a great sacrifice, said Mr Knell, but he did so for God and the people, following in the distinguished footsteps of Bishop Pompallier. who celebrated the first Mass in New Zealand a hundred years ago. He was first stationed in the upper reaches of the Wanganui River and the King Country, where he administered to 80 Maoris and 150 whites. There he laboured with zeal and devotion for seven years, and his popularity was still a by-word in the district. In this locality his work was very arduous. Roads were practically non-existent and long journeys on

horseback were necessary. For three years he worked in the back-country in the vicinity of Wanganui, where he was able to cover his territory on a motor-cycle.

Work Among Maoris

Father Ginisty was particularly zealous in attending to the spiritual and temporal needs of the Maoris, continued Mr Knell. The esteem in which he was held by the Maoris could be gauged by the fact that in 1920 they put in an application that Father Ginisty be appointed the Government representative on the Maori Council of Wanganui. That this was done was an indication of the confidence which both the Maoris and the Government had in him. Father Ginisty had done great and wonderful work for the Maoris in many ways, said Mr Knell, and was the one responsible for obtaining for them the old age pension for the first time. After working in the district for some ten or eleven years, continued Mr Knell, Father Ginisty’s superiors realised that he would have to be transferred to less arduous work, and he was subsequently stationed at Nelson, Timaru and Reefton. The speaker said that he had visited these places and the people well remembered Father Ginisty. He was asked: “What is he doing now?” They evidently thought that wherever

he was he would be starting something. In 1931 Father Ginisty came to Waimate, where he had proved a zealous priest, a good man and a true friend, always willing to help in good times and in bad. He was particularly active in connection with the clubs. He organised the Dramatic Club, which had made possible the transformation of the hall to its present state and had resuscitated the Debating Club. His organising of the Federated Catholic Clubs’ conference in Waimate was a supreme test of his ability as an organiser, and for that effort he was known widely in the South Island and also in the North Island. Because of his qualities, in particular his Napoleonic will to get things done, Father Ginisty had been affectionately nicknamed “The Little Corporal,” said Mr Knell in conclusion.

Parishioners’ Tributes

Mr P. Foley, who conveyed to Father Ginisty the best wishes of parishioners from Morven, said that he belonged to the great line of French priests who had done such great service for New Zealand. Mr L. Paveletich conveyed the congratulations of the Hakataramea parishioners and paid tribute to the missionary zeal which Father Ginisty had shown in the district during the last six years. He mentioned particularly his work among the children. The Rev. Father Herbert, S.M., parish priest, congratulated the committee and the people on the success of the function which, he said, was a spontaneous tribute to the bond of affection which existed between the people and their priest. Other speakers were Mr J. Gregan (Makikihi) and the Rev. Father Fogarty (Geraldine). Mr Knell then presented Father Ginisty with a suitcase and a return ticket to Paris, and expressed a hope that when he returned from his trip, which he was to take in eighteen months time, he would be filled with new vigour to carry on his work. On rising to reply Father Ginisty was greeted with prolonged applause, musical honours, and cheers. He thanked the speakers for their remarks and also all who had assisted in organising the function. He said he was particularly pleased to be associated with Mr Knell, the chairman, for the great assistance he had been to him while Waimate. While he personally had worked in organising the clubs Mr Knell had been the brains behind them and had been largely responsible for their success. He went on to say that his jubilee was to him an occasion of thanksgiving for the Divine blessings which had been showered on him dur-

ing his 25 years as a priest. He was. he said, looking forward with keen anticipation to his return to his native country, when he would again meet relatives and friends whom he had not seen since his youth. During the evening the speeches were interspersed with concert items as follows: Chorus by Convent pupils; song, Mr L. O’Donohue; recitation, Miss N. Lennon; reel by pupils of Miss M. Leonard. The evening concluded with supper and dancing. BASKETBALL KNOCK-OUT TOURNAMENT The Waimate Basketball Sub-Asso-ciation’s annual knock-out tournament will take place on Saturday. The first and second grades will be played on the High School courts, but all the school grade games will be played on the Primary School courts. A record number of entries has been received and the tournament promise: to be most interesting. The following is the draw for the first round in the three grades:— First Grade: Waimate v. St. Patrick’s, Morven v. Waimate High School, Hunter v. Timaru High School Old Girls A, Timaru Technical Old Girls v. Timaru High School Old Girls B. Second Grade: St. Patrick’s v. Waihao, Makikihi v. High School A, Pa-.e-ora v. Hook, Waimate High School B v. Waimate. School Grade: Hook-Makikihi v. Waimate Convent, Waimate Primary D v. Morven School, Waimate High School A v. Waimate Primary A, Morven Convent v. Waimate Primary C, Waimate Primary B v. Waimate High School B The following referees are required throughout the afternoon: Misses P. Hickey, A. Malthus, M. Chalmers. I. Young (Timaru), P. Shirley, M. McAleer, D. Marshall, B. Stewart, N. Price, D. Grylls, M. McNeill, Pareora referees and Mrs V. O’Connor. The Association has forwarded to Timaru for the South Canterbury trial game the names of the following representative players: A. Malthus. J. Blunden. N. Price, M. McNeill, R. O’Neill, M. Crowe and V. Hollamby Matches against North Otago first and second grade teams have been arranged for July 10.

OFFICIALS FOR SATURDAY The following are the officials for Saturday’s Rugby matches:— Senior Knock-out: Old Boys v. Southern on No. 2 ground at 3 pm., referee Mr J. L. Menzies; Huimai v. Makikihi, on No. 3 ground at 3 p.m, referee Mr Kennedy. Junior: High School v. Huimai on No. 3 ground at 1.30 p.m., referee Mr J. Flaherty; Southern v. Makikihi on No. 1 ground at 1.30 p.m., referee Mr F. Bailey. Third Grade: Old Boys v. High School A at School ground at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, referee Mr W. Dee; High School v. Primary on Thursday at 3.15 p.m., referee Mr L. Smith. VITAL STATISTICS The vital statistics for the six months ended June 30 are as follows, the figures for the corresponding period in 1936 being given in parentheses: Births 58 (65), deaths 30 (29), marriages 29 (25). PERSONAL Mr C. Asher is visiting Wellington. Mr H. H. Meredith, Arno, is at present in Wellington. Mr S. Ford, of Wellington, arrived in Waimate yesterday. MINIATURE RIFLES At the last shoot of the Waimate Miniature Rifle Club the scores were: A. Dunnill, E. Melton, E. Wilson 79; W. Jack 78; A. Averls, R. Cameron 77; J. Aninich, T. Cochrane 76; G. Sauer 75; A. Taylor, D. Pernil, T. Howe, J. Warren 74: F. Boys, J. Dunlop, L. Kilworth 73; M. Leonard 72; R. Howe, E. 'Tonkin, E. Warren 70. In the shoot off for the senior button, A. Dunnill proved the winner with two consecu- ■ tive bulls. The winner of the club’s seventh trophy was J. Dunlop.

Procter’s, the Opticians, Christchurch. will be making their next professional visit to Waimate on Wednesday and Thursday. 18th and 19th August, when they may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Royal Hotel. Appointments can now be mad/ by ringing the Royal Hotel 'phont 15. ....