PRESENTATION.

Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 3220, 27 December 1875, Page 3

PRESENTATION.

On Thursday last a highly interesting and succe«sf ul social gathering came off at the schoolroom, Fernside, consisting of a tea ami public meeting, got up to bid good-bye to Mj and Mrs JlanneTring and; family, who are about to leave the district for England. At about 5 p.m. tea corainencetl, 1 when fully 230 sat down to an spread, gratuitously provided by Mesdauiee WoorHeyi: Prestney, Blake, Fenuell, VVrean, and Harrison. Tea over, a public meeting was opened by Singing a wfll-known hymn.iafter which the Re? J. W. Habeas engatwl in. prayer. Mr Douald Mclntyre was called to.preside. The chairman; ia feeling terms, referred to the loss they were :bout to °nstain by losing Mr and' Mrs Mannering; expatiated oa the good they had done in the district ducjag the past years - in connection with the Sunday ■ Tectares, Sunday-evening preaching, &c, and hoped that they all would have the sincere pleasure of Eeeitjg them again return- to the district; Siibseqnently, the Eeva Canon DtraTfy. Habeas, and Bulli and Messrs Tvrientymap; Newtonj and Mannering,' g&ve" addresses, kiierspetßed with sing ing. Mra Habena

sang two solos beautifully, and Mr Twentyman, jun, presided at the barmoainm. . The most interesting part of the evening's programme was the presentation, con«is|irig of an illuminated address in a handsome frame, signed and presented by Miss A. Chapman, Miss C. Woodley, and Hasten Gow and S. Prestney, on behalf of 107 Sunday school children. The address was executed by Mr James Goodman. " : X Then the chairman called upon Mr Meredith, who was deputed by the parents" and residents to make a presentation to Mr and Mrs, aud Miss •Mannering. Mr Meredithstepped to the front, and in a neat address explained how the whole affair had been gotr np, observing that for. him to expatiate on the good qualities and work of their esteemed friends Mr and Mrs Mannering wonld be Jas distasteful to them as it would be superfluous to the residents of the district, and that their lives and work constituted an epistle read and known to all; then addressing Mrs Mannering ( in suitable terms, presented her with a beautiful work-box, replete with every necessary. Then addressing Mr Mannering, he presented him with a handsome portable dressing case suitable for a sea voyage, and then turning to Miss Mannering handed to her a very handsome lady's gold locket and chain, Mr Mannering replied- in feeling terms. He thanked the children of the Sundayschool ; he sincerely thanked the parents for their valuable present; he was thankful tor them, not because of their intrinsic valne. but more particularly for the unfeigned gratitude and sincere love which they represented. He would show them to his friends in England, and if God spared him he wonld wish more than ever to come back to reside amongst them again. The meeting then separated.