FAREWELL SOCIAL TO MR P.A. PHILIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 85, 12 April 1899, Page 3

FAREWELL SOCIAL TO MR P.A. PHILIPS.

A farewell social to Mr P. A. Philips, J.P., late Town Clerk for the City of Auckland, was given last evening by the corporation officials at the Cafe Francaise, Queen-street, of which Mr E. V.' Jones is proprietor. The interior of the cafe was nicely decorated for the occasion with buntirg, ' and the table v*as artistically laid out. The invitations were confined to the officials of -the Council and press representatives, about thirty, sitting down to a tempting supper. Mr A. F. Gorrie, acting Town Clerk,, occupied the chair, with the guest.of the evening, Mr Philips, on his right. Mr'E. S. V. Mowbray occupied the vice-chair.

After supper the toast of 'The Queen,' proposed by the chairman, and 'The Governor,' proposed by the vice-chairman, were duly proposed and honoured.

I Mr, Gorrie proposed 'Our Guest,' J which was the signal for much, enthusiasm. He said the fact that so many officials had met together that evening to take leave of Mr Philips, was surely an indication of the very general, esteem in which he Was held, and it must have been gratifying to him' to know of that sense of loss which they felt on his retirement. If I anything could tend to lessen the regret which he must feel on severing those ties which, for upwards of a quarter of a century, had bound him to municipal Auckland, they trusted that the occasion of their leave-tak-ing might at least be to him an ever pleasant recollection. Although there were many there who had longer been associated with Mr Philips in the service of the corporation, it had fallen to the speaker's lot of late years to come more directly under his official eye, and he would, Mr Gorrie knew, by reason of that association, excuse him from unduly referring to his many excellent qualities as chief executive officer of the Council. As he said before, their presence there testified their' esteem, and he might add but endorsed that resolution of the Council recording its appreciation of Mr Philips' services to the city. It was many years —longer far than Mr Gorrie could remember—since Mr Philips first took interest in public matters. Auckland then, althoTig-h the capital' of the colony, was 'little more than a military village. Had every one been of Mr Philips' way of thinking it would, the speaker was sure, have remained the capital, and certainly have been as progressive as the present empire city. Those were days of provincial government, and the town was ruled by a Board of Commisioners, of both of which he was a member. In all measures of the. day he took an active interest, and they all -knew that he was the last chairman of Commissioners, and the first Mayor of the city. He need not refer to the fact that it was his energetic grasp of measures affecting the city which ultimately led to Ins acceptance of the position of town clerk. If they look at the endowments, which lie had a large share in procuring, at the library, which as a Mechanics' Institute he. helped to establish, and various other matters of public utility and recreation, it would be owned that he, their guest, deserved well of the city. It was useless for him (Mr Gorrie) to attempt to enumerate or detail, suffice it.to say: 'Contrast Auckland of provincial- times with the city of to-day.' " With that respect due to Mr Philips, as the fhst Mayor of the city, and as the father of civic government in The colony, the chairman begged his acceptance of a token of their goodwill and best wishes for his future, and with it their request that he would be pleased to purchase a soqvenir such as would remind him of the gatheriug that- evening. (Applause.)

Mr Gorrie then handed to Mr Philips a purse containing 25 sovereigns. Messrs John Hughes, Jas. Carlaw, Jas. Loveil, T. C. Turner, and R. -J. Glover also spoke words of praise of Mr Philips, and what he had done m his capacity of town clerk for the benefit of the city.

Mr Philips was accorded an ovation when he rose to reply. He said he must admit that he had some feeling of pride in standing up that evening, and receiving the kind commendation and wishes of them all. He had been associated with the. city for many years, and, -of .course, he felt very much the cutting of the ties between them. Mr Philips expressed his sense of gratitude and thankfulness to his entertainers, especially for the kind mark of esteem that they had. been kind enough to present him with that evening,, because it evidenced that the good feelings they expressed really existed. He should always remember their goodwill. As had been said by one of the speakers, if he (Mr Philips) had studied his own interests more, and those of the city less, he might not have been standing in the position be did that night. He had always endeavoured to conduct the city affairs as he would conduct his own business, and probably had made some enemi-is, but he would like to say that he had tried to do his duty fearlessly without fear or favour. Municipal officers should not be placed in such a posi-. tion as to compel them to be servile, to be mere sycophants, but should be so placed that they could fearlessly do their duty. There was a tendency in the democratic wave that seemed to be sweeping over the .colony to make people subservient. They would see in the course of time whether a policy of retrenchment was really for the .best interest of the city, but the question often arose whether it was not better to pay a man a fair wage for. the talents 'he possessed. He would not enter into such matters then, however, but there was one tiling he would like- to say, and that was that municipal officers should, as others were doing, endeavour to unite and obtain the rights and privileges that were accorded to others. They knew that there were a number of gentlemen walking about with pensions who had not done half what some officials of the Council had done. He was' not speaking of himself. Why municipal officers, should be treated as they were was an enigma to him. At the conclusion great applause followed, and 'For he's a jolly good fellow' was heartily sung.

The following other toasts were honoured:—'The Mayor and City Council,' proposed by Mr T. Ussher; 'The Officials,' proposed by Mr Philips, and responded to by Mr Gorrie and others;' 'The Ladies,' proposed by Mr T. C. Turner, and responded to by Mr FarneU; 'The Press,' proposed by Mr J. Carlaw, and responded to by Messrs G. M. Main and A. Jackson; 'The Host,' proposed

by Mr Mowbray, and responded to by Mr Jones.

Mr Philips in proposing the toast :of 'The Officials' said he could affirm unhesitatingly that the city had reason to be proud of its officials. Speaking of the city finances he said the history of the whole difficulty was this. In 1883 the City Coimci} had a Bill passed through .Parliament to enable the raising of a £200,000 loan, when Ponsonby, Karangahape, and Grafton Wards were admitted to the city, and in that Bill provision was made for the payment of interest and a sinking fund. Certain people in Parliament opposed that clause, and these charges became a charge on the city of Auckland. The whole of the difficulties and troubles had arisen from that, and that alone. If Jiey charged their revenues with the interest. and ' sinking funds of loans, they could not have those revenues to expend for the city. The officials did their duty without fear or favour, it was once said by Mr O'Hara, one of the best auditors of the Cololl3', 'Well, Mr Philips, all I can say is that Ilie City Council of Auckland deserves to be jolly well robbed; you have greater revenues here, and your salaries are 20 to 25 per cent, below those of any other city in the colony.' It was thought to remedy matters, by further reducing them!

Superintendent Hughes here ejaculated that if he had known 20 years ago how corporation, officials were going to be treated they would not have found 'Jack Hughes' in Auckland. (Great laughter.)

A string band discoursed music during supper, and at intervals songs were rendered by Messrs J. Loveil, J. Townley, E. S. V. Mowbray, Jones, Warren, J. Carlaw; Messrs J. Robertson and J. Knight gave recitations. Mr W. J. England accompanied the vocalists.

On :t.he whole the gathering was a complete success, and reflected great credit on the organisers. The fist of subscribing officials to the testimonial wei*e: —Messrs A. F. Gorrie, W. E. Bennett, T., C. Turner, John Knight, J. Warren, J. Carlaw, A. Gibson, Arthur Tilly, E. Hickling, W. Hampton, L. Calder, Wm. Anderson, E. S. V. Mowbray, Thos. Ussher, A. A. Wrigg, Jas. Loveil, J. Townley, J. Robertson, W. Redgate, John Hughes, 11. J. Glover, J. H. Gregory, W- Goldis.

Mr W. E. Bennett, City Treasurer,. was not able to be present on account of indisposition.