THE CITY'S THANKS.

Evening Star, Issue 11668, 1 October 1901, Page 8

THE CITY'S THANKS.

HIS WIFE. There was a largo gathering of citizens s in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, the V: occasion being the presentation of a silver tea and coffee service and silver salver to Mrs Chisholm, wife of Mr Robert Chisholm, ex-Mayor of the City. His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. L. Denniston) presided, and amongst, those present were the Rev. J. Chisholm,. Captain Barclay, Crs Carroll, Park, T. *»,'■ • M’Donald. Christie, Scott, .Messrs .T. Vw ) r E, Tbcomin, J. F. M. Fraser, J. H:-. dth. A. W. Wathen, G. Esther,. T. ~SA-» r ., J.- Duthie, G. M. Burlinson, T. t o’>* ‘ T . M. Cohen. R. T. Wheeler, ana J. Hudorison. Mcsdaraes G. L. Denniston, Howard Jack■on, T. S. Graham, C. A. Lowe, Mias Chisx holm, and Miss Robin were also present. Apologies were received for the absence of the Rev. W. Cnrzon-Siggcrs, Messrs George Fenwick, Crs Braithwaite, Maitland, and Crust, as well as of Mr F. 0. Bridgman (U.S. Consul). The Mayor said it was not often that one had the opportunity twice in one week of being the mouthpiece of his fellow-citizens in making handsome presentations, hut such was his lot. It was Mrs Chisholm’s turn that afternoon, and he was pleased to see that the fellow-citizens of her husband bad resolved that he should not retire from the mayoral chair without a substantial recognition of h ; s arduous duties diming his sixteen months of ofliec. Accordingly a movement was begun, with the result that the very handsome service of plate now before them had been purchased, and a painter of repute had been asked to paint the portrait of Mr Chisholm, which would be presented and hung in the hall where they were assembled, where it was to be hoped it would remain for generations to come. No one knew better .than he (the mayor) that the la;sirs of Mr Chishoim during his sixteen months of office were of the most arduous kind. Mr Chishobn was exceedingly unfortunate in one way, hut fortunate iir another, in having during those sixteen months a great number of important functions to attend to which involved a large •'.mount of work, and he was sure Mr Chisholm’s fellow-citizens were all convinced that no person could have worked harder or done more justice to the City than he hod done. He worked early and' late, and spared neither time nor energy in devoting himself to the service of the City upon these occasions. He (Mr Denniston) could not mist his memory just then to recall all the events that occurred, but he recollected tins departure of the Fourth Contingent, the relief of Ladysmith, Mafeking, and Kimberley. the occupation of Pretoria, the nicktncboly duties that devolved upon the mayor in the death of their late gracious Queen, the duties he bad undertaken in connection with the coronation of His Majesty, and the return of the various contingents. 1 hire were ail very pressing occasions, and uuring-all these functions Mr Chisholm had spared neither rime nor energy. His fellowcitizens had therefore resolved to make this presentation, and he (the mayor) had only to express the hope and conviction that the handsome present to Mrs Chisholm would be enjoyed m the Chisholm household during the lifetime of Mr and Mrs Chisholm, a.nd be banded down to their children and their children’s children as an estimate of what their fa-thej- and progenitor had done for the City. He had much pleasure in handing Mrs Chisholm the handsome silver salver and tea and coffee service now before her.—(Applause.) Perhaps some other citizen would like to say a few words.— (Cries of " Robin ” and " Cohen.”) Mr J. Robin said that he did not like speaking in public at any time, but if there was any time when he would care to express his feelings it was upon this occasion. He had simply to reiterate what the mayor had said and what was being said on every hand both in the family and social circle about the manner in which Mr Chisholm had discharged his duties. It looked something like the intervention of Divine Providence that Mr Chishoim was mavor at the time. He had energy and ability, was a good speaker, and he would not be offended if it were added that, as be had said of himself, he was the champion patriot of Dunedin. It was right and very appropriate indeed that a man of Mr Chisholm’s ability, energy, and devotion to his country and town should have been in the mayoral chair at the time he was there. Personally, he (Mr Robin) had reason to be very grateful to Mr Chisholm for the kindness he had always shown to himself and the members of his family, and ho trusted that he and Mrs Chisholm would be long spared to look upon that handsome service, and would also upon occasions come down and look at the portrait hung in the Town Hall as a. memorial of the estimation in which his fellow-citizens held their late mayor during his term of office.—(Applause.) Mr Hosking, being then called upon, said that, Ins name having been mentioned, it would be discourteous it he did not also rise to express his approbation of the terms in which the mayor had alluded to the subject before them, and to convey both to Mr and Mr# Chisholm his appreciation of the services that Mr Chisholm had rendered during his period of office, and the great pleasure lie (Mr Hosking) had in being one of the citizens who had joined in making this presentation.—(Applause.) .Mr M. Cohen, also invited to speak, said he could merely endorse the remarks of the previous speakers as to the activity and resourcefulness of Mr Chisholm during a most eventful period iu the City’s history. 1 hose who had addressed the company had paid such worthy tribute to Mr Chisholm that there was neally nothing left for him (Mr Cohen) to say; but he could not forbear from recalling a memorable gathering in Dunedin during those dark days of December, 1899. On that occasion Mr Chisholm displayed energy, promptness of action, and a spirit of lofty patriotism that did him the highest credit as Dunedin's chief magistrate, and was the means of giving the keynote to our patriotic movement, on which the people of Dunedin could always look back with feelings of pride and satisfaction. During those busy days and nights Mrs Chisholm had to do very much without the society of her husband, and it was to recompense her for the many hours stolon from the family circle through the pressing claims of citizenship that the people of Dunedin had now given her these tangible reminders that they were not ungrateful for the sacrifices she had made. (Applause.) Mr Chisholm said; Mr Mayor, ladies, and gentlemen.—lt is an extremely difficult thing on an occasion of this kind for one to speak for one’s self, and it becomes much more difficult when one has to speak for another. You will believe me when I say (bat on this occasion I feel that no words of mine can a-deqnatcly express how deeply and how highly we appreciate the very great kindness of the citizens of Dunedin. Some one has said that ’’ small gifts find tongues,” and J can assure yon’ that if small gifts find tongues this unbounded kindness on the part of the citizens of Dunedin chokes the very utterances with which one would like to give expression to one’s feelings on an occasion of this kind. Mrs Chisholm is even more modest and more retiring than ber husband—(laughter)—hut I venture to think it would have been fortunate, at all events under the circumstances on this occasion, if Mrs Chisholm had been able to speak for herself. Someone—l don’t remember who—has certainly to some extent come to my relief, and put into words an apology both for myself and Mrs Chisholm. It is in the following lines: A cask when full is always found To give, if any, hut little sound. Deep pools noiseless are; and this we know. That chiding streams betray small depths below. So when Mrs Chisholm or myself speechless are,

Know as such, wo say but little, Because we feel so much.

Mr Mavor, allow me to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kind expressions of yourself and others who have spoken here, and to say we extremely appreciate them, and through you beg to tender onr most sincere thanks” to the citizens of Dunedin for the very handsome way in which they have showffi their appreciation •of my little efforts during the sixteen months I had the honor of occupying the position of mayor of this City, and just to say that in the future, as in the past, if my.^eigice&.nau r whatever

in any capacity to the citizens of Dunedin, or if I can do anything to further .the interests of - this fair Gity of ours, or, as Dr Stuart would have caued it, “Mine own romantic City,” I shall be only too pleased and delighted to do so.—(Loud applffuse.) The Mayor said that shortly after' Mr Chisholm’s retirement from the chair the City Council passed a resolution expressive of their appreciation of his work as mayor. It was ordered that this resolution be engrossed and framed and presented to Mr Chisholm. Properly .speaking, this was a City Council function, and the presentation ought to be made at a City Council meeting. He thought, however, they might spare Mr Chisholm’s feelings with regard to a second presentation, and take advantage of the presence of their friends and make the presentation on that occasion. He would ask the town clerk to read the engrossed minute. The town .clerk (Mr Fairbairn) then read -the m:nnte, as follows:—“Cr Carroll moved, and Cr Park seconded-—‘ That this Council desire to place on record their high appreciation of the signally able, energetic, and satisfactory manner in which the many and responsible duties devolving upon the late mayor, Mr Pobcrt Chishobn, during the last, sixteen months, have been performed, and also to thank him for the urbanity, courtesy, and impartiality shown by him to councillors in conducting the business of the Council; and that a copy of this resolution be recorded on the minutes of the Council, and an engrossed and framed copy be signed by the mavor and councillors and presented to Mr .Chisholm.’ The motion was carried unanimously.” Mr Chisholm said : All that I can say in reply to your kind remarks and the extreme kindness of the City Council is that I very greatly appreciate what they have done. I shall regard this token of their esteem and friendship very much indeed, and I can assure yon I shall give it a prominent place on the walls of iny house, and will always look to it as a pleasing of the very many happy days I spent with my fellow-councillors in this chamber.—(Applause.) The company then inspected the gifts. The plate is a handsome example of the silversmith’s art, and the engrossed copy of the Council’s resolution has been verv tastefully designed by Mr R. Hawcridge. '