PRESENTATION TO MR. W. J. COURTNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1900, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO MR. W. J. COURTNEY.

A number of friends and supporters of Mr W. J. Courtney, and the Mayor and City Councillors, assembled at the Council Chambers last night to made a presentation to Mr Courtney on his retirement from the City Council for the Ponsonby Ward. Mr Goldie presided. He . said their duty that evening- was in. one sense a very pleasing one, but in another sense a somewhat painful one. In the first place, tihey were about to present to their esteemed friend, e_> Councillor Courtney, an . illuminated address, expressive of their esteem and appreciation for the very valuable services he had rendered to the citizens of Auckland during the time he had represented them as a coun» cillor of the Ponsonby Ward. He did not for a moment intend to say thatduring the time Mr Courtney had filled the position he had never made a mistake, but he believed that in every case when Mr Courtney advanced his opinion, it had been given in accordance with his honest convictions. He congratulated Mr Courtney upon the work he had accomplished while a member of the Council, and handed him the address.

The address, which was handsomely illuminated and framed, read as follows: —"W. J. Courtney, Esq., member of the Auckland City Council. Dear dir,—On the eve of your retirement from your office as.a councillor of this city, we, the undersigned citizens of Auckland, desire to.place on record our appreciation of the valuable services you have rendered to the community at large, and to the Ponsonby district in particular, during the long period you have held that office. We have pleasure in recognising that your sole object as a member of the Council has always been the welfare of the city, and that the citizens owe much to your energy and perseverance in the discharge of your municipal duties. We regret exceedingly that the state of your health necessitates your rdifiremen't 'from your seat in the Council, and we sincerely trust that the well-earned rest you will now secure may speedily restore you to your former vigour. With best wishes, we remain, your faithful friends.—(Signed) D. Goldie (Mayor), Alfred Kidd, James Stichbury, J.P., on behalf of the Council; Arthur Daw, Albert J. Allom, J.P., S. D. Hanna, Thomas Mitchell, on behalf of the other subscribers. September 11. 1900."

Mr Arthur Daw said that Ponsonby owed a lot to Mr Courtney.

In reply, Mr Courtney- said He hardly knew how to thank them all for the kind token of esteem which he had received. He hoped that though he was out of the Council he would never lose his interest in Ponsonby or the city.

A numbetr of the company then adjourned to the Central Hotel, where light refreshments were served, and Mr Courtney's health was drunk in champagne. Songs were given, and the proceedings terminated at ten o'clock with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."