Paeroa

New Zealand Tablet, 9 November 1916, Page 56

Paeroa

A social and euchre tournament, got up by the members of St. Mary’s Choir, was held in St. Joseph’s Schoolroom on Friday evening of last week for the purpose of bidding good-bye to three Paeroa boys—• Messrs. Kennedy, Pennell, and Styles, who are leaving for the front, and Mr. Martin, who has been transferred to Auckland (says the Ohinemuri Gazette). After a few remarks by the Right Rev. Mgr. Hackett as to the sterling qualities of the Paeroa boys, many of whom he was grieved yet proud to say lost their lives in Gallipoli, France, and Flanders for the noblest cause ever recorded in history, viz., fighting for the rights of small nations, Mr. H. Poland, M.P., briefly addressed the soldiers present, wishing them on behalf of the church choir and the public in general a farewell God-speed and a safe return. He congratulated them on having followed the noble lead of the thousands who had already left hew Zealand, and were fighting for rights and liberties under the British flag in France and other places. lie hoped to see them all return to Paeroa safe and well, after having upheld the glorious reputation made by their fellow-country-men. After a first-class musical programme had been gone through, refreshments, provided by the ladies, were dispensed. After the evening devotions on Sunday, Monsignor Hackett, on behalf of the choir, presented Messrs. Martin and Pennell with suitable parting souvenirs. Mr. Martin was the recipient of a silver-mounted umbrella, and Mr. Pennell was presented with a handsome safety razor and woollen comforter. The Monsignor referred in eulogistic terms to Mr. Martin’s services in the choir and on the social committee, and stated that he had won the esteem of everyone in Paeroa by his exemplary conduct and his obliging manner. Monsignor Hackett also referred to the many excellent qualities possessed by Mr. Pennell, who, he said, would be sure to give a good account of himself on the* battlefield, where there were no less than seven other members of the family in the firing line, another member being well on bis way to the scene of action, while in the course of a day or two the ninth would be leaving the shores of New Zealand to fight for King and Country—a record that would certainly take some beating. Messrs. Martin and Pennell, in a few well-chosen words, thanked Monsignor Hackett for his kind words and the members of the choir for their souvenirs.