KAI IWI NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 30 June 1924, Page 8

KAI IWI NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) On Friday .afternoon a fully representative gathering of Kai Iwi residents met at the school for the purpose, of bidding farewell to Mr and Mrs F W. Smith, who have resided for many years at Kai Iwi, and arc about to leave that district and take up th ?ir residence in Wanganui Mr \V. A. Collins presided, and opened his remarks by stating that Mr Smith had been a great friend to the school children sf Kai Iwi. For many years he had acted as school commissioner, and for m-jny more years, as long as each fruit sca.-.o i lasted, several large cases of choice fruit had found their way from Mr Smith’s orchard to the pupils of tie school. Mr Collins then called ou Miss Maisie Trowcr, a pupil of the schoo , who with a few nicely spoken words, presented Mrs Smith with a pair of solid silver serviette rings, suitably engraved. Master Don Brown, another pupil, after expressing the childm-’s gratitude for Mr Smith’s unfailing kindness to the school children, handed him a very fine silver shaving mug, also suitably engraved, all the above named presents being parting gifts from the school children of Kai Iw<

Mr Smith, in thanking the children for their fine gifts, modestly discla.med any credit for giving the children fruit, as he had only passed on to them some of what had been given to him.

A sumptuous afternoon tea, provided by the ladies, was then handed round, and was much appreciated by all present. Mr Collins then continued lu-s farewelling speech, and spoke very feel' ingly regarding Mr and Mrs Smith’s many high qualities as friends, as neighbours, and as members of the community. He stressed the great benefits a community derives from having xhc privilege of numbering such pcopie among its residents, and how hard it is to fill their place when they go, and he concluded by wishing Mr and Mrs Smith many happy years in their life of retirement in Wanganui. He then presented Mrs Smith with a very fine chiming clock and a heavy silver roset bowl, and to Mr Smith a pair of binoculars of the very highest quality all three articles being engraved with the names of the recipients, followed by “From their Kai Iwi frien is, 27th June, 1924.” In making the pre sentation, Mr Collins remarked that th' gifts were tokens of great esteem and regard from the many friends they had made during their long stay in the dis 1 trict. Mr Smith very feelingly re-1 sponded, and-on behalf of Mrs Sciitn and himself, thanked the Kai Iwi people for their very fine gifts, wh eh would always serve to remind them of many happy years spent in the district, and of the kind friends they had met

there. The singing of ‘‘For They , ir< Jolly Good Fellows” brought to an < n <j a function which was marked by ( j spirit of spontaneous sincerity and c r / diality that was an impressive trihu e I to the popularity of the guests of i <> I afternoon, and x o the very sincere 14$. | gard and esteem they hnVe so d ’serve-1- A ly gained for themselves from all rUc ’ residents of the Kai Iwi district.