FAREWELL SOCIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18026, 22 May 1930, Page 2

FAREWELL SOCIAL.

OFFICIAL HONOURED. / A HAPPY EVENING. \s- a mart of the grean esteem in which he is held, Mr R. Laurie, who has just retired from the Railway Depart- ; . ’ ment’s services on superannuation " after forty years’ service, the last four m and a-half years of which he had been ' stationmaster. at Te Awamutu, was tendered a complimentary farewell social. The function was arranged by the local and district railwaymen and '7 carriers and taxi-men. Mr A. J. Sinclair presided,' and the Town Hall supper- ; room was well filled. Among those “7 present were several prominent public "H. , men. The proceedings were most en- ,, thusiastic. . . , . In proposing the principal toast y,:' Mr. Sinclair briefly Sketched Mr. N- Laurie’s oareer as a railway official L.-y. sinoe joining in 1890, and then referred ■j more particularly to his four and a-half years as stationmaster in Te Awamutu. Mr. Laurie had won golden encomiums roa as a railway officer and as a townsman, ;His unbounded courtesy, enthusiasm sr • loyally and energy had taken him into - : several activities such as Chamber of snae Commerce, bowling swimming, r Masonry and Orphans’ Club, in all of U which he had taken a keen and useful part. ( fir The presentation of gifts to Mr, Mrs £?. and MisS Laurie was the, occasion for it a round of cheering and the singing of ;tiw “ They are Jolly Good Fellows.” n.-'P"' On rising to reply Mr. Laurie was tU again accorded an ovation. He said it iuftj was extremely hard to express his h'" appreciation of the honour done him - and his family. The evidences of goodwill and friendship would abide with him and his family for the rest of their m jives. His task as stationmaster had ; been made easier through having had a remarkably fine staff, and the townspeople and settlors with whom he came ; in contact had always encouraged'him, id The ’ following toasts were among 3 those honoured: —-“.The King”; “The 3 Railway Department," by Mr E. Prendeville and replied to by Messrs W. Spence (senior member of y the local railway staff) and A. Scott r (of the guards’ club,-at Frankton); ■' ~ “ Local Bodies,” Mr E. W. White and Messrs S. C. Macky, D. T. B. McArthur 3 and G. Spiniey; “ Our Guest,” Mr A. J. Sinclair and Mr R. Laurie; ■ “ Sports Bodies,” Mr W. Mackenzie and Mr J, J A. Hawkins; “ The Carriers and Taxi Drivers,” Mr T.. Grant and Mr G. Wilson; “The Press,” Mr C. A. Finch; “The Chairman,” Mr Laurie and Mr Sinclair. ,An excellent musical and elocutionary programme was rendered as fol•v lows: —Messrs G. Dalton and J. Cocker, instrumental duet; Mr E: White, songs, “ The Red-haired Bo’sun ” and “Farewell, My Love”; Dr. K. N. Hiskens, clarionet solo; Mr Johnson (Ohaupo), recitations, “ A Presentation to the Vicar” and “ Psittacoc,v cis”; Mr A. J. Sinclair, storiettes; Mr ' P. Balfour, songs; Dr. Hiskens and 1 Messrs Cocker and' Dalton, instrumental trio; Mr Ei J. Ramsbottom, 'selections on the bones. - Mr J. Dalton ‘ayed most of the accompaniments.