MINISTER AND POSTMASTER.

Evening Star, Issue 14634, 2 August 1911, Page 4

MINISTER AND POSTMASTER.

A WELCOME AND A FAREWELL. The Volunteer Hall, Green Island, was gay wiih bunting lasf. night upon the occasion of a welcome social given the district's distinguished member, the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie (Acting PostmasterGeneral), in commemoration of the opening of the new post office and the turning on of the water supply. It was an occasion compact of regrets as .well as rejoicings, for" it served also as the citizens' avc atque vale to Mr John Campbell, who, for 48 years, lias combined the duties of postmaster with those of his private business, and who no.v, at the age. of 72 years, retires from an onerous post, bearing ias tho. demeanor and applause of the big gathering of ladies and' gentlemen testified) the affectionate respect of every person with whom -he has come in contact.

The -Mayor (Mr J. Lindsay) presided, and amongst others on the stage with him and the two principal guests were the Rev. Mr Kilpatrick,' Mr John Blair, Mr Waiter Blackie. and Mr Geddes iex-mayor). Mr Lindsay, in - his introductory _ remarks, said that it had seemed a little while ago that they were going to lose Mr Mackenzie again in the redistribution of boundaries. Brit' they hoped now that the Minister would never leave (hem unless it was to go Home, as High Commissioner for the Botniniou. (Applause. I Mr Geddes tan ex- ; mayor) remarked that, the original plans of the post ofueo opened that d.iv had been for a wooden budding, and it was solelv due to their member (Mr Mackenzie) that they _ had obtained the up-to-date brick building. Mr Walter Blackie said that the last time he was invited to Green Island it was to help to celebrate the installation of the electric light; now it was in celebration of the new post, office and the turning on of the water, and noon he hoped that it would be to acclaim the opening of ihe car service from Ounedm. Mr Blackie concluded by reference to the work of the Hon. Mr Mackenzie, and expressed the opinion that it would be a bold missioner who would abolish the laical seat.

Then .followed the -main feature of the social programme—the -presentations to Mr Campbell. These consisted of an ilhimiiiaied address expressing, the district's appreciation of the recipient, in Ids oilicial capacity and us a man, too; and a purs? containing close on 100 sovereigns. The Alavor. . who made the presentation, remarked upon the genial and kindly nature of Mr Campbell.-which had endeared him to every soul in the district, whatever his creed. * "How have We done without a post office so long?" be asked. "Because we were so well-satisfied with Mr Campbell (though not with the place from which he dispensed the letters) that we have allowed tilings to go on for 49 years without insisting upon a post ofiice." The plaudits showed the audience's entire agreement' with this expression of their feeling toward., Mr Campbell : and it war, particularly emphatic when lhe Mayor added: "The Covernment ought to make him a very handsome allowance." ?>'lr Campbell was cheered heartily upon rising to reply. He expressed his deep sense of the obligation under which he rested by the kindly action taken by the citizens to show their appreciation of his services, which, he could assure them, had been given to the full measure of his ability on every occasion. It was quite true, he added, that his remuneration from the (iovcrni.'ient had been on a scale too small for the work done. Mr Campbell gave an interesting summary of the history''of the borough since lie came to it. and expressed the intense pride he had always felt in its progress, and his neverfailing confidence in its future, when the natural resources were properly exploited. Ho added, in conclusion : " I am very proud of the good feeling that seems to prevail for me hi. this large audience. I thank you for the kind words spoken., for the contributions you have made, and I hope that God's blessing will be upon you and this district." fLourl applause.) Mr .Mackenzie presented next, to Miss !'"!!« Cumpbei! a purse ..if sovereigns, to be conveyed to Sirs Campbell,, wiio wat> unable tlnough illness to be present,. In making the presentation, the Minister «iid ■thai'if was. deeply gratifying to know that the community had had tho benefit for so mapy-years of tb» swvices of a man such

as Mr Campbell, who had doriofo nrnch £OC|d ; :>nrl the tctb-ate paid so spontaneously by the distill* did not evei-siato on the cue iia-iid his v:*iiwble services, or on tlie other hand tbtir ap-prcckitiou of those services, lie was jtasonaOv very . ;dad to he present to >cdn" in 'hie constituents' expression of regard.' and it was a pity that. Mr- Campbell dk l . not' conn? within the scope of the Huperamwntiou Act;, indeed, i,e saw no reason why he should not. The work done by country postmasters was valuable in the highest decree, and if it was within the speaker's power to do anything (hat would eventually acknowledge the (jovertuuetit's gratitude to. Mr Campbell, it would be most willingly done. (Lend appbi-i-e ) Mr Campbell, replying dor bis wife. expressed his sense of what she had been in his life, and the hope that .die would scon recover.

Many other "catienifn joined to pay tribute to Mr Campbell's <luva; fer, and also to the work done by Mr Mackenzie. Mr John .Blair (one of the few older friends of the late postmaster) and Mr Wra. Thomson were amount there. •Finally, Mr Mackenzie paid tho heartiest tribue to Mr Campbell, and congratulated him upon the successful termination of his duties. Speakigtr of his own association with Green Island, lie said that it wa-s associated with hi* happiest memories. There he bad attended school at the age of . seven years, wail-ling over the hills from Forburv through almost trackless bush. This/he believed, had bud the, foundation of his love for Natuie, and j-iven him tho facultv of ck;se observation. It had been s:nd that if he left the consLitnencv it. should bo as .blurb Commissioner. Well, he was prepared to do any work tliat w>; for the «ood of New Zealand. It was 24 years -since he was elected to Parliament, and he had never served a better lot of men and women. He would regret exceedingly if any part of ]vr electorate were lost when the upheaval tocjk place. It. Iras certain chat one seat would go from that part of'Otai'o, or would be so cut up as to bo hardly recognisable. Per, he could assure them that if they should he taken oil his electorate he would <=ti'd do anvthin;; that it was povsiine to do for them, either individually or collectively. (Applause.* T'-'e Mendel Band piaved selection? during tho serial, and were well tendered bv Mrs (.ha*. Samson, jun.. Mvss Loudon.'and others. Lijrhl rr.trosnmontfi were provided, and dtiiing the interval an informal social- enabled the Mini.-ter to minglo with his constituent!-..