“THE FATHER OF ORMOND.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3994, 29 July 1915, Page 7

“THE FATHER OF ORMOND.”

FAREWELL TO MR CON NEENAN

STRIKING TRIBUTE OF PUBLIC ESTEEM. Last evening the residents of Ormond tendered a farewell to 31r Con. N'oenan, who, for upwards of 20 years past, has been mine host of the Ormond Hotel, and, in that capacity, lias won the esteem and goodwill of not only every resident of tho Ormond district, but to hundreds of travellers from other parts of tho Poverty Bay district, who, in the course of tho passing years, have had to call in at liis half-way house. Mr Neenan may lie likened" to Goldsmith’s “Village Preacher” —“A man he was to all the country dear.” 'The testimony of this feeling tendered at the Ormond Ilall last night was one such as falls to the lot of few men to receive during their lifetime. The hall was crowded to its utmost holding capacity, every section of the community being represented, while amongst those present were a large number of prominent. Gisborne business men who bad specially journeyed out to add their meed of praise to Ormond’s popular boniiaee. (Ihe proceedings opened with tho playing of tho “National Anthem” by' To Karaka Brass Baud, 12 strong, under the baton of Mr A. Barkell. Mr W. Tucker, the chairman of the committee which had charge of the arrangements, presided. 31r Alex Parsons said he knew Mr Neenan when the latter had to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Mr Neenan had won tho respect and esteem of every .person in the com-j luunity, and I'iis family also 'were j highly respected. "Each one of them j was a reel 1 hard worker. Ho was guid j to see such a large crowd assemble to ■ farewell one whom they all held in | the greatest respect, and they all wished 31 r Neenan and his family every good that the world could in the future give to them. (Applause.) j Rev. Father Lane, who was received j with warm applause, said he had i known 31 r Neenan for the past 12 j years, and he could honestly say that j all the encomiums which had been | passed upon him were well deserved. j Father Lane went- on to say that j no monument had been erected in j Ormond to 31r Neenan, and none was i necessary, as lie had enshrined him- j self in the hearts of tho people ot j Poverty Bay, and his memory would • endure for ever. What he had said , regarding 3lr Neenan applied also, to his family. With all present, he felt ; glad that the gentleman they had as-; sembled to honor that evening was | r.y-t leaving the district. He wished j 3, r Neenan ami his lamily all the prosperity which the years could give them. (Loud applause.) 3 It* Charles uordon then read a splendid address to 31 r Neenan, which ■was presented to tho guest of the ' evening in handsome illuminated form. The chairman said that it had been his good fortune to know 3lr Neenan for tho past four years, and during ; that time he had travelled over the whole district. While the. people of. Poverty Bay were proverbially kindhearted, not one of them could stand on the same pedestal as 31r Neenan. (Cheers). "What they were going to do without Mr Neenan at the Ormond , Hotel he was sure he did not know. ■ Mr Tucker than-handed the ilium-j mated address to 31 r Neenan, amidst, a scene of remarkable enthusiasm, the audience rising and giving hearty . cheers, and singing “He s a Jolly , Good Fellow.” . i “Three cheers for his family, _ j called a voice from the back of tile : hall. I “Those cheers are well deserved,' ; remarked the chairman. “31 r ; Noonan’s success has been-largely .due i to the loyal help lie has received from j his family.” . 31r G. E. Jones also paid a high tribute to Mr Neenan. He said that- ■ Mr Neenan had made the Ormond j Hotel one of tile best country hotels in New Zealand. Life at the Or-j inond Hotel was not hotel life: it was | home life. In building up this reputation Mr Neemur's family had borne an important part. 31r. Neenan could not go to the front, but he had •loao the next best tiling—be bad seat. I’s sons there. (Loud applause.) 'llicyall hoped that the boys would come ; back with marks of distinction on their arms. (Renewed applause.) i 31 r Jones then called upon 3Lsses ; Mav Ivy, 3!aggie, and Nora Neenan, ami ’presented them with handsome ; wristlet watches. .Each young lad)? ; as she came forward, was .received : with prolonged applause, testily mg to the extreme popularity in which the} ■ were held. • Mr Jones next called upon )lo».s : \y. Neenan and Date Neenan, a.'xl i hiRented them with gold sovereign cases Each received an enthusiast’.: inception, the audience rising and c{ eeri"ng heartily, and singing “For they Are Jolly Good Fellows.' AW Neenan, on rising to respond, was given a remarkable ovation. “Three cheers for the father or Ormond,” called someone at the back, and the cheers were heartily given. Speaking feelingly, Mr Neenan said ho was proud to think that lie and bis family were held to be deserving ot the honor that had been shown them, that night. lie had been a long time in Ormond, and if be had made an o' emy it was while he was talking. Referring to his sons at the front, lie said be hoped they would all retain and thank* them "m person for tho honor done the iamply that night. 31 r Neenan, proceeding,' said it was not good-bye but an revoir, and he would meet them again. Anothc l burst of cheering followed, arid ‘ I'ot He’s a .Jolly Good Fellow” was sung

again. ; Messrs J. E. Benson and J. McLeod ■ also voiced the regret ‘which was felt at Mr Nee-nan’s departure from Die district. . , . . ~ j .Messrs C. A. Fcmvick and A. li. i TJine. on behalf of the Mercantile firms, also paid a high tribute to Air Noonan. Mt. G. K. Miller, on behalf of the Druids’ Lodge, then presented Air Neena.u with an illuminated address from the 'members of the Lodge. He. said Mr Noonan was owe of the oldest members of the Lodge, and. they felt they could not let Him go without expressing their high sense of his’worth. Messrs A. iS. Richards and L. .1 . Moore also spoke on behalf of the Druids’ Lodge, both speaking in high terms of the valuable assistance Air Ncenan had rendered the lodge. Mr Neenan feelingly responded and thon introduced Air .J. F. Pettio. his sucessor at the Ormond Hotel, and bespoke for him a continuance of the favors which had been extended to him.

Mr Pettio received a warm welcome and in response said he would do his best to worthily follow in Mr Noonan’s footsteps. A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman was carried, on the proposition of Mr A. S. Wachsnianu. During tiro evening an enjoyable concert programme was interspersed between the speeches. ’ . To Ivaraka Brass Band was a 'host in itself, and rendered several selections in most pleasing style. Messrs C. E. Hampton, H. A. Armstrong, H. J. Grieve and W. Mitchell scored a gr at hit their quartette ‘’The World Went Very Well Then,” in which they brought down the house with clever topical allusions. The duct, ‘‘Larboard Watch,” was nicely taken by Messrs H. J. Grieve and H. A. Armstrong.’ Songs were sung by Messrs F. Hobbs, S.’ Nelson, W. S. Turner, and recitations were given by Messrs P. G. Andrew, J. F. Pettie and IV. Gibson.

■An excellent supper was handed round, after which the hall was cleared for dancing, which was kept up until an early hour this morning.