PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN CADELL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2712, 27 March 1866, Page 5

PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN CADELL.

An interesting ceremony took place yesterday afternoon at half-past three o'clock at Mr. Steers's, the City Club : being the presentation of an address and valuable testimonial to Captain Cadell, late commandant of the Waikato Steam Transport Service. There were about a dozen gentlemen present, the chair being ably filled by Mr. C. P. Mitchell. The Chaiemajt, in opening the proceedings, said the gentlemen present would be well acquainted with the object of the meeting that day, and he only regretted, from the short notice which he had received, that ho was not himself better prepared to address the meeting on the present occasion. It was about ten years since he first had had the pleasure of becoinin'g acquainted with Captain Cadell, who at that time had struck out what the Victorians had called a new track on the Murray. He had first at that time demonstrated that the Murray was navigable. Since that time he had not had the pleasure of communicating with Captain Cadell ; but he felt sincerely glad to find that that gentleman's conduct on the Waikato had been of such a character as to win the esteem of all the officers connected with the Waikato Steam Transport service, as testified by the handsome presents which he saw before him. It was most gratifying for a man to find that he had won the good feeling of opinion of those with whom he had served, or had been placed over. Captain Cadell had been similarly fortunate in winning the high esteem of the Murray settlers, as the original squatters on the Murray were called ; and. he had been pleased to learn that he had succeeded in winning the esteem of those with whom he had been associated in New Zealand. He therefore trusted, wherever Captain Cadell might wander, or whether he might make New Zealand his home, he would still bo as successful in winning the confidence and esteem of all with irkoni he might come in contact. He had very much pleasure in calling upon Mr. Day to read the address which had been prepared for presentation to Captain Cadell. (Applause.) Mr. Day then read the following address : — To Captain Francis Cadell, Superintendent of steam Trausporfc, Waikato, New Zealand. We, the uudersigned officeta and meu, who have been in the Waikafco Steam Transport service, under your command, and others of your friend 9, desire, ere you leave New Zealand, to preseut you with, tins address and the accompanying testimonial, as a token of o\ir esteem and regard, and also to show our appreciation of the energy and. ability displayed by you during the most active period of the war in the Waikato country. We, who have served under your command, part from yon with feelings of personal regard, and. all unite in wishing you success and prosperity in your future career. Signed by the officers Signed on behalf of your and men of the Steam friends and wellTransport Service* wishers. John Geiffxths, W. B. Williams, Henry E. Day, W. J. Yopng, Joseph Brain. D. J. O'Keepe, Wm. Rattkat. Auckland, New Zealand, March 26, 1866. Captain Cadell, on rising to respond, trusted the gentlemen present would consider it was no mere figure of speech when he told them that he could hardly find adequate words to express his feelings on the occasion. He did feel a deep satisfaction in knowing that his exertions had met with the approval of his fellow-officers, the men, his friends, and especially at the present time, as he had left the service of the Government. He was therefore very glad to receive such a token of their good- will, because many who were present were his old officers and men, and other gentlemen, who had daily ample opportunities of seeing whether he had done his duty or not. The presentation of that day amply testified that his efforts had been favourably judged by them. He feared that owing to the great amount of work that had at one time to be performed by the department, he must have been found a hard task -master ; but he supposed the officers and men who served under him must have kindly ascribed any ebullition of feeling to the right cause — to a little zeal for the service. With regard to the Waikato, he must say that, although it might be suffering under temporary depression at the present moment, yet he was quite sure there was a bright future before it. (Hear, hear.) He could assure the gentlemen, whenever in future years he looked upon the address which he had received, he would always revert with pleasure to his service in the Waikato, and his connection with those with whom he had had the privilege to serve the Government. There were many around him whose commercial enterprise had done much for New Zealand, in opening up the interior of the country ; and he was quite sure they could depend upon him at any future time to give them the full advantage of the professional knowledge his previous experience may have taughthim, to assist them further in developing the resources of the extensive Waikato district. He was thoroughly satisfied that had it not been for commercial enterprise, the army, militia, and inhabitants would have been deprived of many creature comforts which they had enjoyed. He trusted that some of his friends present would cause to be conveyed to his late officers and men who might be serving upon distant stations his hearty thanks for such a graceful token of their esteem ; and he would also thank the gentlemen present for the kindj wishes which they had expressed to him that day. There were some at the meeting whom, he must confess, he could hardly have expected to attend. As an instance, he might mention Captain Rattrny, who had known him since lie was quite a boy ; and he must mention that to see that gentleman present at the meeting was a source of great pleasure to him. He believed it would be admitted that sailors were more in their element in the fortiter in re than when attempting the suaviter in modo, and therefore he trusted they would judge of what he wished to say rather than by what he had said. He would again ask them to accept his heartiest thanks for the honour they had done him in presenting the very handsome testimonial. (Applause.) (The address was very elaborately engrossed on vellum by Mr. Anderson, of this city.) The Chaiemak then, in appropriate terms, presented to Captain Cadell, the following articles which had been purchased from Mr. F. H. Lewisson, jeweller, Queen-street, from the proceeds of the subscriptions to the testimonial fund : — Gold chronometer watch, bearing suitable inscription ; gold albert chain ; diamond ring ; locket, with likeness of her Majesty Queen Victoria, set in diamonds. The locket also contained the likeness of Captain Cadell, which had been executed in a mo9t creditable and faithful manner by Mr. "W. Reid,

Captain Cadell, on receiving the various presents, responded in suitable terms, and was loudly applauded at the conclusion of his remarks. Mr. W. J. Young said, on behalf of the friends of Captain Cadell in town, and other friends in the country, he would take that occasion of expressing the esteem "which was entertained for that gentleman. During the acquaintance which had existed while Captain Cadell had charge of the Waikato Transport Service, they must all have noticed the continued interest which that gentleman had shown in forwarding the interests of all who might be travelling or trading in the Waikato, as well as attending to the Government service. On all occasions Captain Cadell appeared to him to have devoted his whole energy to his duties, and for that very reason he had become highly esteemed by all who had the honour of knowing him, either in or out of Auckland. Captain Cadell again expressed his obligations for the manner which Mr. Young had spoken of his endeavours to acquit himself of his duty to the public to the best of his ability. It was true he had rather a difficult task to perform in the Waikato. He had Been imported into the country to do a special work,, and upon his arrival he had found-affairs somewhat in confusion. He done what he could to arrange matters satisfactorily between the Colonial Government, and private steamers and travellers trading on the river, and was glad therefore that he had met with such sentiments of approval from his friends. He had always tried to pursue a straight course, and what had happened that day only showed that when a man endeavoured to perform his work in an honest straightforward manner, it would meet some day or other a recognition. (Applause.) Captain Rattbay made a few pertinent remarks relative to his acquaintance with the father of Captain Cadell, and also alluded to Captain Cadell's history before hia arrival in New Zealand. Captain Cadell having briefly responded, Mr. Williams proposed the health of the chairman, which having been duly responded to, the interesting proceedings terminated. We may mention that the addres3, gold watch, travelling case, &c, presented to Captain. Cadell, will be on view to-day, at Mr. Lewisson's establishment, Queen-street.