FAREWELL TO MR JAMES BEGG.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 115, 22 September 1876, Page 6

FAREWELL TO MR JAMES BEGG.

On Friday evening at Port Molyneux, a farewell hall was given to Mr James Begg by a number of his friends, in consequence of Ms approaching departure for India. The weather was no more favorable on the present occasion than it lias proved for weeks past, but in spite of rain a goodly company assembled. Mr Begg has several relatives engaged in tea-farming in Assam, and it is with the intention of joining them that he now purposes leaving this district. The most fervent and oft-repeated wishes for Ms health and success were tendered to Mr Begg as the evening slipped away, and altogether' a most enjoyable meeting was the result, the company not dispersing until the beams' of the morning sun, well up in the heavens, warned all and sundry that other work was before them. A decided improvement on the style of former arrangements was to he noted at the present assembly, Formerly, wdien any such event occurred, it seemed to be taken for granted that such commonplace matters as hunger and the like, Avere to be excluded from the category of possibilities. No refreshment was ever sought to be provided, and though Aye believe some savage tribes can manage, "by a great effort, to stow away several days' provisions at once, yet as we have hardly attained such a pitch of civilisation (or the reverse) in this quarter, it too often happened, that as the evening slipped away the imperative demands of hunger gradually overpoAvered Ml ideas of any other pleasure than a good 'breakfast. It certainly Avas an excellent plan to secure an early dismissal, but as that Avas scarcely the object for Avhichthey usually met, it was felt on the present occasion that it was never too late to mend, and that a neAV system should be tried. Consequently, to Mr Dreaver, of the Alexandra Hotel, was deputed the pri Allege of supplying tea and lunch, once at 11 p.m., and again at 2 a.m. Joking apart, the change Avas v^ry much required, as the idea of trying to find pleasure under the former systeir? by fasting from at least 6 p.m. to G next morning, and Avorking hard the whole time " chasing the fleeting hours -with flying feet," seemed rather absurd in theory, and AA r as certainly found in practice.