Farewell to Mr R. J. Hastings.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9110, 2 July 1898, Page 4

Farewell to Mr R. J. Hastings.

Mt R. J. Hastings, who is leaving here this (Saturday) afternoon for the goldfields of Australia, was last night entertained at a "farewell social gathering at St. George's Hall, at which about a hundred couples were present. The large and representative nature of the gathering afforded a pleasing testimony of Mr Hastings popularity. A lengthy programme of dances was gone through to excellent music supplied by Mr and Mrs A, Martin, the duties of M.C. being performed by Mr R. McFarland, The dances were interspersed with an excellent programme of songs, and the arrangements as a whole reflected the highest credit on the CommitteeMessrs C. Short, W. Bane, W. Grainger, E. Milnes, and A. Williams. The following contributed to the musical part of the programme :—Miss Edwards, "The Pardon came to Late"; Mr Hardman, " The Good-bye at the door"; Miss Miller, " When you and I were young Maggie "; Mr Edwards, "Norah"; Miss Gill, "The Song of the Steeple" ; and a whistling solo, «' Tha Mocking Bird" by Mr Middleton, who also obliged with a song in respone to an encore. In the course of the evening Mr H. J. Greenslade said he had been requested by the Committee to perform a ceremony of a pleasing character, yet at the same time it was in some respects tinged with regret It was pleasing, inasmuch as it was always gratifying to see a citizen so conduct himself as to merit and receive recognition when circumstances over which he had no control necessitated his departure from the district; but to him (the speaker) it was a matter of regret whenever he saw some of the best of our young men leaving the Thames. For it was to our young men we must look to play an important part in the future of New Zealand a colony which for obvious reasons must become of vastly increased importance in years to come. And while the departure of any young New Zealander was to be regretted, that regret was, to bis mind, further added to when he saw our young men leaving for want of employment, and when he recalled the fact that they were a distinct loan to the country—that they had been educated at tha expense of the colony, —and in many instances were leaving parents who were getting on in. age, and who had doubtless hoped that these sons would be a support to them in their declining yean. That was why he said that the function he had been asked to perform was tinged with feelings of regret. But while many of our Thames "boys" had been obliged to go away in search of employment, it was always cheering to near of their successes, and to learn of the important positions a very large proportion of them had attained to, as a result of their ability, perseverance, and sterling worth, until it was now almost proverbial that a " Thames boy " could hold his own anywhere, in whatever sphere of duty his lot night be cast. And he had no hesitation in saying that their guest of the evening (Mr R. J. Hastings) would assist in maintaining that reputation. Mr Hastings was a Thames boy—he had passed from childhood to manhood in our midst—and fr»m his (the speaker's) own personal knowledge he could say that he would prove a credit to himself and the Thames. He had had a good deal of experience in mining in its variouß phases, which could could not fail to prove useful and valuable to him in Western Australia. Mr Greenslade then proceeded to say that be sincerely trusted good fortune, health, and prosperity would ever attend Mr Hastings, and added that he felt assured that no matter how successful he might be, he would always have a warm spot in his heart ior the Thames, and would look back with feelings of satisfaction and pleasure to the pleasant send-off they had given him that evening and the token of his numerous friends' appreciation and goodwill. Mr Greeiislade then handed Mr Hastings a valuable gold scarf pin, ot greenstone and Thames fold, the work of^Mr A. Cookson, of Irown street, upon whom it reflected every credit. Mr Hastings replied in a neat speech, thanking his entertainers for their kindness and the warm farewell which they had accorded him, and assuring them that the happy years he had passed at the Thames would be feelingly remembered. Dancing was resumed when the applause which greeted the presentation and the recipient had subsided, and was continued till a late luur.