WAIPUKURAU PARISH NOTES

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 29, Issue 1, 1 March 1938, Page 2

WAIPUKURAU PARISH NOTES

St. Mary's Parish Hall was very tastexully arranged for the farewell social to the Rev. Canon E. D, Rice, Mrs Rice, Miss Rice and Mr Vincent Rice last evening. Seats were placed informally around small tables decorated with hydrangeas and the seating capacity was taxed to its utmost. Every religious denomination was represented and many of those present had come from great distances. Apologies were received from the Yen. Archdeacon McLean, the Rev. Father McDermott, the Rev. Mr Keen, Dr. C. Raymond, Mrs McWilliam, Mrs J. W. McNutt, Mrs Harding and Mr and Mrs A. C. Holms. In opening the evening Mr H. P. Hole, people's warden, said it was very pleasing to see such a representative gathering and so very many present. It showed the high esteem m which the guests of the evening, were held. Mr Hole read the following message from Dean Brocklehurst on behalf of the clergy at present m "Retreat" at Te Aute and unable to attend. "To Canon and Mrs Ricer We all join m our admiration for your courage, perseverance and faith and trust that you will be spared for many years and will still be able to carry on some work for the church." Grateful Thanks. "It is my privilege as people's warden," said Mr Hole, "to express on your behalf our very grateful thanks to Canon and Mrs Rice for their splendid services to this parish for the last 13 years. They have both given of their very best and during the last six years worked under great disabilities. Our Vicar has been a special comfort and help to all those m sorrow and sickness, especially those at the sanatorium and hospital. We should have been much happier if he had not been compelled to re—

tire owing to ill-health, but we sincerely trust and pray that after a complete rest, he will be restored and able to enjoy his well-earned retirement. We shall also lose Mary and Vincent. Mary has done very valuable work for the Sunday School and has been a tower of strength m the choir. We feel sure that Vincent will follow m his father's footsteps and be a worthy son of a worthy father." Mr W. G. Bryce, vicar's warden, said he had great pleasure indeed m endorsing the remarks of Mr Hole. As warden and lay reader he had been closely associated with Canon and Mrs Rice. They carry our very best wishes with them when they leave us and we do appreciate very much the work they have done." The Rev. W. R. Hutchinson, the Rev. A. M. Niblock and others also spoke and after the presentation of a cheque and other gifts, Canon Rice said the meeting that night was overwhelming. As Mr Niblock had said, it was rather a time of agony when one had to give up one's job, but the sympathy extended to them helped tremendously. "I have been m Waipukurau 13 years," proceeded the Canon, and I have loved Waipukurau and the work, especially the work at the sanatorium and the hospital. I think the work at these two institutions has been productive of more good than any other service I have been able to accomplish. "I would like to say how much I have been helped by the members of the church. I have never been let down. Whenever I have asked for help I have had it. "The one thought I have m the back of my mind as I leave you is that I want the Kingdom of God to advance m Waipukurau. I want to feel that the fact that there is a change of vicar will not m any way retard the work and progress of the Kingdom of God, and I ask you from the bottom of my heart to help the new vicar for all you are worth," said Canon Rice feelingly m conclusion. Mr Hole then asked the gathering to pass a vote of thanks' to those who had so kindly entertained them. After this was done supper was served and individuals took the oppor-

tunity of saying farewell to the guests of the evening.