VALEDICTORY SOCIAL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11875, 23 April 1904, Page 8

VALEDICTORY SOCIAL.

'♦ A valedictory social was given last night atTWarner's Hotel by the employees of the Canterbury Tramway Company to Mr R. M. Macdonald, the Managing Director, who id leaving on a. trip to England. The chair was occupied by Mr Hartland, secretary to the company, who had with him Mr Macdonald and Messrs W. hay* ward and Wood. The Chairman said that twelve years ago Mr Macdonald came amongst, them in the days of the Canterbury Tramway Company's x trams, which were now about to be electrocuted. Every employee would bear him out that Mr M'acdonald had studied the well-being of those employed by the company, and he felt sure that Mr Macdonald would receive the send-off which they tendered him in the spirit is was meant,"viz., an expression of good-will. They had, year after year, experienced Mr Macdonald's hospitality at the pleasant socials which they had all so much enjoyed, and that night was intended in some slight way a.% a return for his i kindness. He presented Mr Macdonald ! with a Kaiapoi rug, which they hoped would be appreciated by him, a:id wished him a pleasant voyage and v speody return amongst them. They desired to wish Mr Macdonald and his family a pleasant time at Home, and they looked forward to meeting them at no distant date again. Hf trusted that Mr Macdonald would be back in time to meet them once more before the company was finally electrified. (Cheers.) The health of Mr and Mrs Macdonald was given with musical honours. Mr Macdonald, who was received with cheers, thanked them most heartily for the presentation. Their presence assured hhn that he had won their goodwill and esteem. Twelve years they had been together, and he trusted that lie would see them often, as he hoped when the electric tramways were a fact that those who had eerved the C.T. Co. so faithfully, and who knew the requirements of the traffic would secure the best billets under the new regime. When he was in Dunedin he was told that the best motor men on the ekctric tramways w-ere those they mado in Dunedin. With reference to the little annual social he had asked Mr Hartland and Mr Wood to represent him. When they were enjoying themselves ;»t about 10 p.m. lie would remember them, and drink their health in London at breakfast time. When he was going round the Horn he felt certain that he would appreciate their gift, because there was nothing like a warm, Kaiapoi rug in those latitudes, particularly when, as was the case with regard to the present they had made him, it came from warm Christchurch hearts. (Cheers.) All being well, he would be back next December, and as the Tramway Company would still continue to run the tramways for at least a year from then, there would be plenty of time for 'socials and other things. Mr W. Hayward proposed "Success to the Tramway Company." From the time the 'busses concluded running, end he took up the meeting of the trams, he had a-" ways felt kindly towards the trams. Thero was no doubt that the public liked riding in the trams, and they had to recognise that the time was coming when electric cabs, etc., would take the place of the cabs now in use. He hoped that they would all join him in wishing Mr Wood, the traffic manager, with whose name he associated the toast, every success. Mr Wood, in response, said that 'Mr Hayward, before the advent of the- trains, had catered most successfully for the public, and though he had been superseded, people had not forgotten the way in which lie had carried out the service. As to the future, he hoped to see the present employees in positions on the electric trams, the introduction of which would mark a new era in travelling. Mr Macdonald proposed ffie healths of the secretary (Mr J. F. Hartland), and the traffic manager (Mr Wood). He hoped, during his absence, ihey would give them all the assistance they could. Both these gentlemen were excellent friends of the employees. 'Messrs Hartland and Wood responded. Several other toasts were proposed and responded to, and a pleasant evening was spent.