CIVIC INTERESTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 79, 2 April 1912, Page 3

CIVIC INTERESTS.

THE CALL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE DINNER TO MR. H. C. TEWSLEY. GATHERING OF BUSINESS MEN. Mr. H. iC. Tewsley, retiring chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, who is leaving Wellington, was entertained at dinner at the Grand Hotel last evening. Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., presided, and associated with him were : Messrs. Callender (general manager Bank New Zealand), James M'Lellan (Lyeaght and Co.), R. Fletcher (chairman Harbour Board), C. B. Russell (British Empire Trading Company), and B. M. Litchfield (auditor Bank Now Zealand). "THE GUEST OF THE EVENING." Sir Joseph Ward, in proposing "The Guest of the Evening," touched upon Mr. Tewsley's association with, a Dig commercial institution extending over a period of 39 years. Mr. Teweley had risen from a minor position in that firm to jone of the hignest post 6 it had to offer, becoming part of the commercial life of the community. Mr. Tewsley had very friends from end to end of New Zealand. He (Sir Joseph Ward) could carry his mind back to long before he had met Mr. Teweley in Wellington, and he was regarded in those early days as a, man of integrity and high character. That they in Wellington, the seat of Government, knew him to be. It was a matter for serious regret thatv. Wellington would lose tho valuable services that Mr. Teweley had rendered to commerce as chairman of the chamber, and in other mercantile directions. Mr. Tewsley was returning to Auckland, but it was to bo hoped that he would find in VVellington attractions that would outweigh those of the . queen city of the north, and that ho would once again dwell among them. Mr. Tewsley was a -liany-isided man, and had taken part in the social als well as the commercial affairs of the city of Wellington. He had filled the position of president of the Chamber of Commerce with distinction, and he had brought to bear a ripened judgment with his coadjutors upon, the delibera tions of the Harbour Board. Sir Joseph then referred jto the valuable, Excellent work done for commerce by Mr. Tewsley through tho Warehousemen's Association, the Commercial Travellers' Club, and other institutions connected with ,the business life of the city. * He was also associated with tho musical life ol' the city tlirough the Musical Union, of which he was vice-president, and thu Orphans' Club, in which he held a very high position. It was a good thing to have a little music sometimes, aud he himself made it a golden rule to have some when he felt the need of it. (Laughter.) It was, theii, to their greatest regret that Mr. Tewsley was leaving them to go back to the place of his earlier dayt. Mr. Tewsley's health, coupled with that of Mrs. Tewsley, was drunk with iervour. , • The Orphans' Club then came in and serenaded the' guest of the evening. MR. TEWSLEY'S 'REPLY. In responding Mr. Tewsley thanked his hosts, and in particular Sir Joseph whose presence there that evening was (he considered) the highest compliment that could be paid 'to him— a comparatively humble citizen. It was a strange thing for him to find himself after over thirty -eight years "out of collar," like some old mill horse that had been running round and *ound In the same groove all the time. It was a source of great pleasure and comfort to him that he had made so many solid, sound, friends -in. Wellington. He had always endeavoured to do what he felt to be just and right in dealing with every man with whom he had come into contact in business and socially. Wellington business men, as he knew them, were clever men, and they needed to be." They were, he felt bound to say, working on broad and sound lines. He made a strong appeal to the business men to take a deeper interest in the commercial life of the city through the Chamber of Commerce. It was, he felt, a pity that none of the representatives of leading commercial houses were not more closely associated with' the wbrk of the Chamber. He could speak from experince when he made a strong appeal for the support for the next president of the Chamber of Commerce, whoever he might be. Mr. Tewsley referred to the part played, and to be played, in the Imperial Councils by commerce. In regard to his work m warehousemen's interests, Mr. Tewsley said it had been a difficult matter to steer the warehousemen's Association to the position it now occupied; but the relationships in the wholesale trade had been greatly strengthened by the association. Men in businesses, such as he was in, might be said to give too much time to public affairs. He did not think so; for, djrectly' and indirectly, business houses derived very great benefits from the association of their representatives with public affairs, and, seeing that wan so, and it could be, proved, as those present very well knew, he did not think they should judge the comparatively small amount of time that would require to be sacrificed to the general } public good, especially, as he had said, these firms did, and would, benefit very largely by the public work of the men who rppresented them. He himself would al-

ways look back with the very greatest pleasure on huj public life in Wellington, and the very many friende, in businese and privately, that he had made in the city. OTHER TOASTS. "Commerce" was proposed by Sir Joseph Ward, who referred to the importance that its interests had assumed in the discussion on tho Declaration of London. Mr. J. G. Harknees responded, and pointed out that commerce had done very much -more for the world than most people imagined or were prepared to admit. Mr. Teweley proposed "The City of Wellington," to which Mr. G. Shirtcliffe ( responded, at _ the same time- regretting that the highest gift that the city had to bestow —its Mayoralty — was not exciting keener competition among tho best men. in the city. "The Harbour Board" was proposed by Mr. Harcourt, and responded to by Mr. Fletcher, who took the opportunity of thanking Sir Joseph Ward for his powerful and invaluable aid in Parliament in getting the recent Wellington Harbour Bpard Act on to the _ Statute Book, thereby greatly benefiting the city and the port in a manner which the citizens had not yet had timo to fully realise and appreciate. "Auld Lang Syne, concluded an eminently successful , compliment ,paid by the business men of Wellington to ono who occupied euch. ,a position among them.