VALEDICTORY.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8087, 26 December 1906, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

PRESENTATION TO MR W. P,

CHEPMELL

iiioii Our Own Correspondent. A large and representative gathering of - TUko ratepayers entertained Mr W. Cnepmell to dinner on Friday evec« last at the N< lingham Castle Hotel, Motrins ville. Ample justice having been done to the good things provided, the company adjourned to the Phuinix Hall, where Mr T. Gavin (Chairman County Council) presided over a meeting which was characterised by great enthusiasm. The usual loyal toasts were drunk with musioal honours, also the roast of "The Army, Navy, and Defence Forces," afteivwhioh the Chairman read letters and telegrams regretting inability to be present from W. H. Harries, M.H.R., F, W. Lang, M.H.R., A. J. Farmer. J. Turnbull (the oldest settler in the district) and R. C. Allen M.A. 1

" The Guest of the Evening" was proposed by the Chairman, who spoke in high terms of praise of Mr Chepmell'a long and devoted service on behalf of the public. He (the speaker) had known Mr Chepmell for a gieat many year* and in many capacities, and had always found him to be " a man and a gent'eman " whose motto was '• no fear and no favour." No better proof of the esteem in which he was regarded, both by the ratepayers and hia fellow members on the Counoil and the Board, could be shown than by the taot that he had been ( human of the County Council for nineteen years out of twenty, nine, whilst on the Waitoa Road Board he had occupied a similar position for twentynine years out of thirty-one. For twenty years he had been a member of the Waikato Hospital Board. To have occupied these positions for so many years was a testimony of his capabilities and the ro§« pect and esteem in which he was Bald by the ratepayers. It was therefore only fitting that now the Waitoa Road Board had ceased to ex st, the settlers-for whom he had done so much, should gather together and do honour to the man who had spent thirty-one yearß of hia life working fur the advancement of the district—oftentimes at great i neon venienoe and pecuniary K-ss to himself. The toast, whioh wa > | loudly applau led, was heartily drunk to J the Binging of " For He's a Jolly Goad Fellow."

Mr Chepmell feelingly replied, and regretted ihat his old friend Mr J, Turnbull was unable to be present owing to illness. He called back to memory tho year 1878, when I urnbull and himself took up land io Scotchman's Valley and tried to make a In)mo there. In those days there were neither ruads nor bridges; 14 miles of swamp to cross to Te Aroha, and a jopm#f to Cambridge meant tno daye. iJe was please i to seq the improvements that had been made, since thi»t time, and thanked them all for the manner in which they had received the toast.

The toast of the " Legal and Medioal Professions" was proposed by Mr F. J, Marshall, and was hu nourously replied to by Mr P. uilchrist (clerk to the County Council) and Dr, Seville. ._ Mr H. J. Cliff >rd and Mr R. Parr then presented Mr Chepmell with a purse of sovereigns, and the former gentleman read an address of appreciation for put services, and the best wishes of the subscribers for Mr and Mrs Cbepmell's future long life and prosperity. Ma Chepmell, in a few words, feelingly acknowledged the gift. The addrees, whioh is to take the form of an illuminated will be handed to Mr Chepmell at a later date. Several other toasts followed, inexoding "Agricultural and Pastoral Industries," " '1 he Working Stall," and " The Ladies," all of which wore duly honoured. During the evening songs were rendered by Messrs J. BjII, J. Fleming, S. Snell, E. Johnson, J. M. Clifford, Pavit, J. Gauley, 0. F. PUling, and Dr. Seville.

Air J. Watts acted as accompanist, an 4 received a hearty vote of thanks for the efficient manner in which he had presided at the piano. *

A vote of thanks to the chairman ought naturally to have brought the meeting to a c'ose, but it was only after the singing of " Auld Lang Syne," and the " chairing" of Mr Chepmell, that the gathering allowed their old friend and representative to bid them " good-night."