HOMEWARD BOUND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LX, Issue 9346, 17 April 1909, Page 5

HOMEWARD BOUND.

MR AND MRS DELLER , S

DEPA RTUBE.

A DISTINCTIVE WAIRARAPA

FUNCTION

SOCIAL AND PRESENTATION

AT CARTERTON

A VERY SUCCESSFUL AFFAIR.

INTERESTING SPEECELES

{Special Reporter.)

An old and esteemed resident of tho

Wairarapa district, Mr G. W. Deller, who, during many years has been associated with all progressive movements in the interests of local life aud prosperity, is leaving shortly on a holiday trip to tho Old Country, iv which he will bo accompanied by Mrs Deller.

Ou Wednesday ovening, the Oartertou Glee Ciub aud St. Mark's Choir, of both of which Mr Deller was a member, visited liis residence aud presented him and Mrs Dclior with a portmanteau, suitably inscribed. A pleasant evening followed, iv which music

aud dancing , held a prominent part. On Thursday afternoou, the ladies of Oartertou entertained Mrs Deller at St. Mark's Sunday School-room, aud presented her with a suitable memento of the occasion

A smoke concert ou an elaborate scale was held last evening, in the pavilion of the Wairarapa P. aud A. Society, as a mark of honour to Mr Deller from tiie Pastoral Society and tho Taratahi-Oarterton Racing Club, he having held responsible positions ou both bodies. The gathering was a very large one, numbering something like oue hundred and fifty persons from all over the Wairarapa, Mastertou and East Coast districts, testifying to tho general popularity in which Mr Deller is held. The chair was occupied b3 r Mr H. R. Bunuy, President of the Wairarapa aud East Coast P. and A. Society, who had ou his right the guest of the evening, aud Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.P., aud on iiis left Mr \V. Howard Boot!) ami Mr E. Eagle, juor. The Cbamuau read apologies from Messrs A. G. Pi liner, D. MeMaster, Dyer, James Stevens, W. Moore, J. Moucrielr", 11. Judd and I). l-Uic-hauau unci Dr Johnston.

After tho toast of ''The King" had been loyally honoured, Mr J. B. Moodie proposed that of the TaratahiCartertou Kaciug Club. He said the toast was an appropriate one, because 11io guest of the evening was a sport to the backbone. The Club was a most worthy institution, holding a good reputation throughout the North Island. The stewards were men of good repute, and tho speaker was pleased to have such a toast encrusted to him. The chairman thanked the company heartily for the manner in which they had received the. toast. He said it was the endeavour of the Club to keep racing as pure as it cuuld be kept,

and to have horses run as they should lie run.

The toast of the Wairarapa and East: Coast P. and A. Society was proposed by Mr W. H. Beethain," who said that lie had been a member nf the Society since its commencement. It had been in existence a good many years, and had done a great deal of work. A good many had believed in the movement to affiliate with the Masterton Association and have one good show, hut, unfortunately for them, they were iv a minority. The Wairarapa Society hud done, a great deal of good in the district. Tho Mastertou Association had been formed not as it should have been form tvt —it had had politics at the bottom. The. Wairarapa Society had been inaugurated by a majority of the people in tho Valley, and at its commencement was an itineran , . Society, holding shows at Mastertou, I'Yatherstou and Tauberenikiin. It was eventually decided to have one Society, the show to bo hold in the Wairarapa districi. Until a large, majority were iv favour of amalgamation the Society must go on in its present stare. He hoped that there would lie no friction "in the. meantime, and that tho members would endeavour to work together.

Mr W. C. Buchanan, iv responding, paid a tribute to the proposer of the toast, stating chat during iiis residence in Wairarapa Mr Beetham had shown his broad-mindedness by remaining a member of the parent Society. He was none the less, however, a member of the Masrertou Association. Mr Buchanan characterised the toast as important enough to engago any other assembly representing the most important interests of the whole population of New Zealand, whether living in tiie country or in the towns. The educauou question occupied a prominent place in New Zealand, and cost £800,000 per annum. The educational iutcresrs of the country were of the greatest importance, but the A. and P. interests, which were also very important, did not cost the Dominion anything like the amount that amount that education cost. The speaker saw around him those who had spent much in furthering the interests of the Wairarapa Society. The educational bonelits of the Society were evident in Carterton.

The toast of the evening, "Mr G. W. Deller," was next proposed by the Chairman, who said ho had also a pleasant, duty to perform. He then handed to Mr .Duller, on behalf of the P. and A. Society, a valuable gold watch, suitably inscribed, and on behalf of the Kacing Club a gold albert, pendant and sovereign case, also inscribed. The Chairman said that he had heard expressions of gratification from exhibitors from the Palmerston and Hawko's Bay districts for the manner iv which they had been treated by Mr Deller as a steward at the Cartertou Shows. Thoso who exhibited spoke of him as "Good old Dellor." (Applause). The Racing Club had thought it would liko to join with the Pastoral Society in a presentation to Mr Deller, and the speaker was pleased that it did so, because in sporting interests Mr Deller had been very prominent. The Chairman said he hail been associated with Mr Dellor in a number of connections iv Wairarapa, and had always found him thoroughly honest iv his desire to serve the district's interests, and had never known him to go back on his word.

The Chairman announced that with a balance in hand it was proposed to present to Mrs Dellor a taugible expression of the members' appreciation of her good qualities.

The health of Mr and ■ Mrs Deller was then honoured with three times three.

Mr Deller, in replying, assured one and aIJ that no words could express his feelings on seeing so many old friends gathered around him, and at tho reception they had given him on the eve of his departure for the Old Country. Ho could not conceive what he had done to deserve the gifts that had been made to him. (Voice: "Everything you could.") He had been backed by a most energetic body

of men iv the Pastoral Society aud the Racing Olnb. Ho thanked the Chairman for fiis kindly references to the speaker's wife, who was bom iv Carterton ami had lived iv the district most of her life. Pie would be very pleased wheu lie came back to work ouce more among his colleagues as iv the past. He had come to Cartertou wheu it> was a "baby towu," and had. grown with it. No oue felt more proud of the positiou fie held in the town fchau lie did himself. Hβ could uut adequately convey his feelings with regard to tho honour bestowed ou him and the handsome gifts from the two Societies. Tho memory would remain with Him as long as he lived, and anything that lie would do to further the interests ot ihe district he would willingly do. Mr Deller mentioned that there was present;— aud he was pleased to see him, oue of the sailors who hud helped to bring him out to New Zealand —namely, Mr P. Rohaud, of Morrison's Bush. Mr Robaud thereupou narrated some interesting reminiscences of the trip.

Mr J..M. Lightfoot proposed "Kind-

red Societies aud Clubs," and in doing so said that the P. and A. Society

had always done its best in assisting kindred societies or sports, in giving

the ground for the special purposes for which they were useful, especially poultry shows aud football aud hocJiey matches. The guest of the evening was one of the strongest supporters in the district of sports of all kinds. The speaker did not think there was a single sport or society in the district with which Mr Deller was not iv some way connected.

Mr Frank Evans, responding, said that nothing pleased him better than replying to such a toast. Though not an old resident of Wairarapa, the sneaker was bred and born iv tho North Island, aud was proud of it. He hud visited the principal agricultural shows iv the South, aud could say, without a doubt, that he never saw a bettor conducted show than that held at Dartertou last November. Ho was proud to live in a district that could produce such a show. He felt sure that ;ill would wish Mr ami Mrs Deller a happy trip aud hope chat they would come back as Jit and well as they were leaving.

Mr Buchanan, having satisfied himself that there were uo "Tommy Taylors" in the room, proposed the toast of "The Army and Navy." The great question of the hour "was, he said, whether New Zealand was right, in offering a Dreadnought, or two, if necessary, to England. He wouid answer yes, a thousand times yes. Sir Edward Grey, who was looked npon in England as being outside of party, pronounced the Naval situation as being most grave. The speaker considered that Now Zealand should not hf- beliind-haud. Each man, woman and child paid only °s per annum for defence, as against "20s per annum iv -Britain. Our lives have been oast in pleasaut places, and we have nothing like tho poverty that is seen in London

and otner big cities. We should not ! hang back when we have what is desi c.ribed us a ''grave position. " Iv the J Boer War, Britain "pa-id the penalty 1 of unprepareduess in leaving thousands of brave men on the battle-field, and haudiug , ove.r three hundred millions of money. She hail suffered heavily enough, but the South African affair would bo as child's play to what, might happen in Europe. What did it matter that England should spend a few millions in putting the Navy jn sound position. As the representative of the district, and a member of the Legislature, the speaker would have no hesitation m seeing that New Zaalaud took a. worthy place iv maintaining the honour dim! prestige of tho British nation. Our treatment of England has been a story of neglect. We have spaut a Jot of money and Jiavo little to show for if Unless tiie Premier rose to the occasion, Mr Buchanan believed that, not only members of the Opposition, b'jt Liberals also, would sco that more encouragement was given to volunteers aucl rifle clubs and to the young fellows generally. Referring to the guest, Mr Buchanan said lie had known Mr JJelier at least :!") years. He was then bullock-driving, which he did theu as we.!! as he had done everything else since, Hβ had ever been ready to pull oil' bis coat to help a friend, and also to face his foes if necessary. Mr JJeller was going to the Old Country on a similar mission to that which took the speaker Homo thirty-live, years ago—namely tiutt of seeing the old home. Mr Buchanan honed that Mr Beller would fiud it as lie, the speaker, had been happy to find his, many years ago. He hoped that tiie departing guest would come back as soun as hf found it convenient to do so—the same jolly good follow that lie had ever been. '

Mr Dollar's health was then enthusi astie-illy honoured.

Caiifain Skcy, iv responding, .stated that Ino thought that it was a great mistake to think that .Now Zealand was merely open to raids. It might be subject to something more serious thau a raid—possibly :iu invasion. The country was a very comfortable one. and one to be coveted by au enemy. Hβ thought that only compulsory service would answer* in the case of auy invasion of the Dominion, although the Volunteers were willing to do their utmost in the defence of their own laud. The speaker hoped that Mr and Mrs Dollar would have the "time of then: lives" on their voyage Homo..

Mr C. Ho id proposed the toast of

"The Ladies , ' iv au original and witty speech, in the course of which he mentioned that Mr Deller was the first man to induce him to take au important, instead of a. passive, part in the a/Fairs of the P. and A. Society.

The toast was responded to by Messrs A. Clarke, J. B. Moodie, G. U. Wolters, A. MePhee, R. G. Kembltt and W. O. Buchauan.

Mr Loasby, Mayor of Greytowu, pro-posed the toast of "The Press."

Mr G. 11. Gayfer paid a high tribute to Mr boiler's prominent characteristics of unselfishness and generosity, which formed the subject of another roast.

The health of the musician aud entertainers was proposed by Mr W. H. Beetham, aud responded to by Mill. A. Bunny.

Iv proposing tlio toast of the chairmau's health, Air .Buchanan referred to Air H. R. Bunny us a "white man of the first water. " It was a great tliiug to bo able to say that one had never heard a hard word said of the gentleman occupying the position of honour, and the speaker said it without fear of contradiction.

Mr Bunny, in responding, expressed his appreciation of Mr Buchanan's remarks, and assured all uresent time all he had done in the Interests of the Wairarapa district had been a great pleasure to him.

The Health of Mr W. Howard Booth, one of the vice-presidents of the society and oue of its prominent advocates, was proposed by Mr G. H. Wolters, and responded "to by Mr Booth.

The next toast was that of "The Visitors," which was proposed by the chairman, and acknowledged by Messrs W. 11. Beetbam (Masterton), H. Morison (Greytowu), H. McMaster, D. B. Oarrick (Lower Valley), and W. McKeuzie (Masterton).

A very demonstrative honour was accorded Mr P. Bobaud, of Morison's ush, who was a associated with Mr Dellei in his'first voyage out to New Zealand.

The last toast was that of "The Old (Jolouists, " ably proposed by the

chairman, and responded to by Mr T. Ray and others. At the commencement of the proceedings a pianoforte solo was played by Mr H. A. Bunuy, and songs were subsequently rendered at intervals by Messrs W. Howard Booth, H. Warner (coniio and encore), J. Lawrence, W. C. Deller (encored), J. B. Moodio (encored), G. W. Deller ("Big tfeu"— encored), W. Denbigh, O. Reid, H. Warner (53), and the Maori version of "For He's a Jolly Good Follow" by Messrs Joseph Oates, C. J. Jury and H. Morisouf Mr H. A. Bunny played the accompaniments. An enjoyable gathering terminated after midnight, with the singing of 'Auld Lang Syne" and general expressions of good wishes towards Mr aud Mrs Deller.