BANQUET TO MR DAVID THOMAS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10986, 8 June 1901, Page 9

BANQUET TO MR DAVID THOMAS.

—•» One of the largest and , most representative gatherings which ihas assembled dn Ashburton far >miamy'years* took pfece at Grange's Commercial Hotel* Ashburton, last evenincr.jfche occasion being- tihe tenderiiKj'of a complimentary banquet to 'Mr David Thomas, auctioneer and merchant, who, toother with Mrs Thomas, Mies Them as, andrfMr Dcuglae Thoxasm,, the eldest son, are leaving on t£o 18th inst. in the Gothic on a well-earned holiday trip to the Old Country. His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. H. Collins, occupied the chair, and . amongst the Large number present were Dr. Trevor, Rev. R. A. Woodthorps, Messrs C. J. Harper (chairman of the County Gounc a), H. ard A. Friedknder;, Andrew and John Orr, F. Wavmouth, J. Snodgrass, T. Stone, T. E.\ Upton, Geo. Coleman, G. D. Hordie, P. H. Cox, ri. H. Fooks, G. A. M. Buckley, J. C. N. Gxigg. J. Oow, C. Ddberty, E. Uates, T. Gibson, W. Huston, G. Robertson, H. F. NicoH, J. S. Termant, J. Hampton, S. Brown, J. Bonifant, C. Jeomings, A. Field, J. Newman, Whitaker, J. Heseltiiie, F. CurtL% R. Ottrtie, R. RestaJl, J. Wilson, Woode, C. Reid, and many others. Apologies were received for the unavoidable absence of Messrs E. G. Wright, L. Matson, Geo. Jameson, G. Batty, Alfred Harrison, H. C. Turner, Thos. Taylor, Andrew McFarlane, Henry Davis, The toast of the evening, that of the guest, was placed in the hands of one of his oldest fcießds, Dr. Trevor, who, in an exceedingly happy speech, referred to Mr Tiiomas's long residence in the district, to hie strictly honourable conduct as a bu«iness Bjan, his unbounded generosity and large-heartedness, his loyalty as a friend, and his exceeding usefulness as a public man j generally. The "toast was received in the most hearty manner. The Rev. ilr Woodthorpe, Messrs Harper, Cox, H. Frkuiander, Tennant, and - others cordially endorsed Dr. Trevor's remarks, and joined with him in wishang Mr and Mrs Thomas and their two 1 eldest children bon voyage. , Mr Themas very feelingly responded, and 'in doing so gave" some very interesting reminiscences of his experience since ne first ! drove a tnse of sheep down to the Spait«n' (now DraytOTi) station, as far back as ' the year 1866. During the course of the evening he was 1 made tha recipient of a couple of very valu- \ able travelling rugs. , A very pleasant time was spent, and Mr Thomas and tiae members of his family wiBL take with them to England the heartiest good wishee of a> very large number of frienth throughout the whole of the Ash- [ burton district.