WELCOME HOME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 227, 29 October 1914, Page 4

WELCOME HOME.

ME AND MES JAS. MITCHELL ENTERTAINED. A very happy function took place in the Henrietta Tea Rooms last evening, when the staff of Messrs Beath and Co., Ltd., assembled together to.welcome Mr Jas. Mitchell (Managing Director) and Mrs Mitchell back to Christchurch, after their visit to -> Great Britain, America, and the Continent. Although the weather was extremely unpropitious,, there was a, large attendance, and the genuine pleasure of everyone present in the occasion they were celebrating was a pleasant thing to witness. Mr A. J. Virtue occupied the chair, and apologised for the absence of Mr C. M. Ollivier, chairman of directors, who, much against his will, was obliged to be absent. One or two other apologies were also given. Mr Virtue, after

thanking the staff for making him their mouthpiece, by appointing chairman, then addressed himself to the guests of the evening, welcoming thern home in happily-chosen terms. Later on, Mr 0. Ogilvie, who filled Mr Mitchell 's place while the latter was abroad, supplemented Mr Virtue's remarks with a short speech of his own, expressive of the warm and cordial relations existing between the staff and the manager, and the-keen pleasure it' gave everyone to see T tr Mitchell home again. Mr Woods followed with a few remarks of appreciation concerning the way in which Mr Ogilvie, had carried out his arduous duti and concluded by presenting him, on behalf of the staff,, with a handsome gold albert, suitably inscribed. The albert, it; may be mentioned, just completes a presentation which Mr Mitchell made to Mr Ogilvie on his return, and which took the form of a valuable gold watch, inscribed with his initials. All the heads of. the departments also received memdntoes of Mr Mitchell's visit abroad. ._•

After Mr "Ogilvie had acknowledged the gift, Mr Mitchell replied to the many expressions of kindliness and. goqdwiil directed towi.rds Mrs Mitchell a. d himself, and also made appreciative reference to the way Mr Ogilvie, in con junction with Mr Virtue, had conducted the business of the firm during his ab sence. As Mr A 7 irtue, who always attended the directors' meetings, knew, e s'eleetion of someone to fill his place had been a matter fßv mu".h anxious thought and speculation, but. when the choice fell on Mr Ogilvie, they felt that it had.fallen on the right man, and subsequent events proved tfcrt then judgment was quite correct. He also gave an interesting account of his travels, concluding with the remark that though he had seen many beautiful and wonderful places, the/e was none in which he woull like to live so well as Christchurch. He also made sympathetic reference to the death of Mr Beath, which had occurred during his absence, and. thanked Mrs Beath

and-Mrs Wilkeuden for being present! at ; the welcome arranged in his honour by the staff. A short, programme recitations, songs, and instrumental items was given during the evening, and was much appreciated. Mr White contributed a violin solo, the "Barcarolle'' from the '-'Tales of Hoffman." Miss Jessie Tebay recited, Miss Richardson and Mr W. S. Scott sang> and Miss Goulding played a pianoforte solo. Supper was served at 10 o'clock, and the gathering broke up about half an hour later with the singing of '' God Save the King."