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A UNIQUE GATHERING, Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13766, 7 August 1918
A UNIQUE GATHERING
From' far and noar came repreeemitaitives of Thaaness 1 on Tuesday night to do lixmour to' Dr. Walshie, who is about to proceed to the fiiont. The\. large gathering at the Masoniio Hall 'm Mackay Sti^eet testified to the esteem in which that gentleman is held throughout . the district, not; only far his taefdioa.] and isuigical iskill, but for his many good qualities. About 70 representative! men sat down to tables spread with light refreshments, Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., being 1 in the cibair, Avith the guest upotoi his i^iglht..
When the wants of tha "inner man" 'had beem satisfied, the chairmain read >apok>ig|ies for absence from Faitlier Ddgnan, Rev. A. J. Beck, Mr E. J. Olendm, Mr T. T. Inglis, Mr Galloway, Mr W. McCullough, and Mr- A. Wilson:, of Paea-oa. Mr Rhodes then proposeid the toast of 'rT!he King!," whidlx waist enthuisiasticaiily honoiuaied. Otihea- taasibs> that, followed were "The Navy and Army," by Mr Rudman, l-tisponded to by Dr., Derrick; and "Old Identities,"' by Ma" E. F. Adams, Ma* Burns., respond-
1 Mr Rhodes them proposed ""Our Guesit." In doing so he trusted: 1 that all tliie .good things would mot be left to Shiimßtlf to say, but that other Thameo residents present would also vodciet their opinions of Dr. Walshe. In the cowrae of a higihly eulogistic speech Mr Rhodes expressed regies that they were losing! the; doctor, if only for a short period. He was goiing| to do what he could to alleviate suffering ait the front, and itihey kniow how he would do: his duty. They knew how much he was esteemed all over the district, and how highly he .was held in honjour, patiento coming from even, as far, a® Hamilton to get the benefit of his. skill. They honoured their gu^t because he felt tihat, mi common; with, the other local doctors, he must go and "do his bit." As a surgeon Dr. Waliahe was anxious to gaiiii imvaluaible experienae obtainable at the front, and .Mr Rhodes trusted he would, return with increased 'knowledge of a. profession mi which he wag already so. well skilled. . The doctor was equally esteemed .as a citizen, and his 'good wife atea shlared this hontoor. They never lost an opportunity of doing good foi" the weifaira of the distinct. Though Dr. Walshe was a man. of strong character he possessed a kind heoirt. He had a atrooig' will, but was a Jium.aaHtarian. He was a miam in every sense oJ tlie wordj . a vnianly imui suoli as our creation." would wish <.<u see. every omet of .us.! (Applause). From his' hsairt Mr Rhodes wished their worthy guest success in eveiy sense, and hoped taw war would .sooai be over; and till at. lue, would return' to Thames and take-up his duities again. Au Revoir, 'but nut Good-bye, waa the Ariish of all present. Iv conclusion Mr Rhodes wished Mrs-' Walshe and family., as gpod a time a s poiskib'le during, the doctoa's absence. He wiohed the guest "God speed and a safe return/" (Chetea"s for Dr. Walshe, .Vnsi WalaLe, aaid family)." 'jnhe Mayoi'v endorsed the remaa'kis of Mr Rhoidieis, but felt he could say a gjreatt deal more ii Dr. Walshe was not present. The hospital under 'his mianaglemient liad become one of the most eooinioanioal aaid efiicaien/t- instiitutiomis in tihe Dominion, and this opinion had been, endorsed by Dr. Valmtine. : Nofthinigj tlhsajt: he (Mi 1 Lowe) could say would add more to^ the eulogy of their guest tiiani the presence there 'that night of siuch a, large and repa-esenitaitive giaithenng. Mr Claxtam (County Ohiaii'main:) aJso expressed his appreciation of theia" gy.est and felti ;nt an honour w be pi'esent. He expressed high aippreciaition of the skill and kind'lin&m always manifested by Dr. Waisihe, and also referred -in higjlily conaplimefnitiary terms to Mrs Walshe. Mr Bax, speaking 1, ais 1 til'© ootmitry representative, -saiid the people oif the country ware losing a mian, they could ill-afford to lose, bout, they were proud that he was gtoing to try and save some o>f our boys at the front. Dr. Walshe had .'been at their oall at all hours of the night, and had never ""turned the 1 country down.'' Tlier'3 was on© occasion when the doctor's caa' ■ broke down that Mr Ba.x tlio'ught Dr. Walshe had Avalked back to Thariiiesi after attendfing to his patient. Dozeias oi people had asked tha speaker to express their best wishes, and the Lope that Dr. Walshe would eoow. come back, and make a. longer stay in Thamesi. thaai in the past. Mr Baix hoped the war would bo over befave the dootoi" got away. (Laugihlber). Rq>rlef3iemtatiiveis from all over the "Valley were present, and they all wished, him a safe trip, and that he would it-turn in 'giood-fonn. (Applause). Mr Hetherington expa^esised his pride at being ass>ocdateid with the toast. He hxmoiurad Dr. Walshie, and owed him a ile«bt of gratitude ha would never be able to repay. Hei felt sure the doctor would carry ou* has d.uties mi his new 'Sphere as well as h"e had done here.
Dr. Wiaisfoe, •who was thbn called upon to reply, reoeiyed ian oration upon rising. He tlhiaJilkled tibean aU
for their very kind remarks, which caused him to feel somewhat overcome. But he felt that the praise was not so much directed to Minself personally, but to the institution with which he was connected. The confidence enjoyed by the Thames Hospital had been built up years, ago, and he mentioned many who had been connected with Thames Hospital in the past, who had done rniuch to make it what it was to-day. He ref©rred to. has 1 predecessors, Dr. Willianxs and Dr. Auibin, and said that to have had only three resident sur- j geons in 32 years showed that the people were satisfied with the doctor, and the i doctor witih __the people. Whatever he personally had done at the institution was due to the assistance he had from others. There ' was Monsignor O'Reilly, a former cjhairman, respected by th© whole ooinmunity. Another chairman was Mr. Burns, whom they were glad to See present. There was. Mr. Kilgour, and thea^e was the present chairmani, M(r. MteiCormicfls., who, with his Board, was adopting the best policy in Wh'oroiuigfhiliy equipfpang the. hospital. There were also Dootonn Derrick and Lapraik, from, whom- he> had neceived valuaible assisitance. i Then there was Missi'■Stuart; who had worked here as matron for 215 years, and had done work that would, never be forgotten. Iri conclusion, h& thanked them for the high honour they had done Mm, and hoped tiHat he would be spared to dome, back, after doing what he could amongst their brave boys at. tihe. front. (Cheers).
The Mayor tihen. presented to ■ Dr. Walslhe a bea.uitifully Uluiminalted address, ibandsomely "Bound in, book form, and ibearing about lso signatures of residents oif the disitrict. The addreiss was -as follows : —
"To Dennis Bryne "Walsh©, Esq., M.8., 0h.8., F.R.C.S.E., Thames, iNeiw Zealand,' list. .August, 1918.— Dear Sir, —-Upon the eve of your departure for the front on active service, we, residents of the Thames district, ask your acceptance of this address as a penmament record of tihie debt we owe you as a surgeon, and the high esteem in which we hold you as >a man. • DuiiiTig the past ten years you harce, with conspicuous success,occupied tihe post of medical superintendent of the Thaanes Hospital, and have both in your professional and private capacities, gained the confidence and respect of the whole community. While we feel a heaa-twfelt regret at losing you even for a slhiort period, we have recognised that your desire to go to the front would sooner or later have deprived the district of your services, and we wish to assure you that wherever the call of duty may lead you, your friends will follow your career with tihe keenest interest, will ©ver have the kindest memories of you, and will feel that to have foeenr associated with you wiag both: a pleasure and a privilege. We wish you 'God speed and and a gatfe return' to Niew Zealand.' " In, making the presentation, Mr. Lowe said the sentiment® of the address were endorsed by'everyonie in the district. They hiad not forgotten Mrs. Walshe. Wherever a good man was found, they would find there wa& a good wif% ait his right ihand. (Applause.) To show their appreciation of both Dr. and Mrs.: Walshe, he asked their acceptance of a, solid silver teat (service. They knew it would'be valued as an expressioni of the deep debt otf gratitude they oiwed to tihe doctor and Mrs. Walshe. (Applause.)
T!h« salver contained tbe following insariptioin : 'Tresepted by the people of 'Jliainesy New Zealand, to Dr. Walsh© o>ni tflbJ© eve of !has depai-ture to tih© battle front in Firainoe, ' as a souvenir of tih.e.ir respect, regard and afiFeotion, with, best "wislhiee thai his life may long 'be sipared in ' the dairying out of (his effort dm tihe oapse of tamianity. Thfunes', August 6, 19>18."
Da\ Walshe feelingly expressed his tibaniks for 'himself and wife for fohieir valuable gift.
Mr. Damby, in a, short speech} welcomed Dr. Ritchie, who wias taking up Dr. Walshe's duties during his absence, and Dr. Ritchie briefly replied,. '
At interva,ls during 1 tihe evening, songs were excellently rendex*ed by (Mr Victor Baignall, gi'amaphone selections were given under the manipula,tion of Mr. S. (Mien, ■ Mir. Chapman give some of his illimitable venitriloiquial items, aaid Mr. Pratt told "Hoiw Kissing Ouip won. the Cup."
The proceiedingg closed witlh roaising cihieers for Dr. and Mrs. Walsii© and family, thie singing, of tiii© National Anthem, and "Auld Liang
A UNIQUE GATHERING Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13766, 7 August 1918
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