PRESENTATION TO MR. M. NICCOL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 116, 17 May 1902, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO MR. M. NICCOL.

Last evening^ Mr M. Niccol, who has retired from the Mayoralty of Devonport, and is leaving the district for Wellington, after 38 years' residence, was presented with a purse of sovereigns, in recognition of his services to the district. Mr Alison, Mayor of Devonport, in making the presentation, said Mr Niccol had teen one of the most public-spirited men in the district, and had been connected with the local government for 25 years. He was chairman of the Road Board before the formation of the borough, and it was mainly through his efforts that the borough was instituted. He presented the purse of sovereigns in recognition of the long unremitting and invaluable serTica<) Mr Niccol had rendered the borough.

' Mr J. C. Macky, ex-Mayor of the bor«ugh, also eulogised Mr Niccol's services.

In responding, Mr Niccol said he could honestly say that Devonport was principally indebted to him for its numerous reserves. He did his share in connection with the water works and drainage, though he was not Mayor when these were carried through, and he could fairly claim that whenever an opportunity occurred he had been willing to work in the interests of Devonport; He would never be quite happy till he was representing the people of Devonport in Parliament. In Wellington, however, he found they were determined, to regard him as an Auckland man, even among the brotherhood, and it might be, if he was not treated as he thought he ought to be treated, that he would be back in Devonport again soon.

The Mayor read a telegram from the Royal Humane Society, that Mrs Niccol, ■wife of Mr M. Niccol, had been awarded a silver medal and vellum certificate (framed) for saving life, and the proceedings closed.

On the purse presented to Mr Niccol was the inscription: "M. Niccol, Esq. May 16, 1902. From residents of Devonport."