PRESENTATION TO MISS STEVENSON.

Grey River Argus, Volume LVIL, Issue 10520, 4 October 1902, Page 4

PRESENTATION TO MISS STEVENSON.

(o) (Ross Advocate.) , There was a very large attendance at the lot ra. Hall on Tuesday evening wha.i tho presentation to'Mfes Steven- ; son, the retiring postmist, ess, was ■ r male. His Worship tha Mayor oc- % cu i ie ! the chair in the cute of the

table, Miss Stevenson being seated on his right, and a number of Borough Couno llors also sat round tho taMe. Tho Mayor, addressing Miss Stevenson, said : — "We are here to-: ight as representatives of the poop^e of Ross to express our regard for yourself personally, and to state that they recognised her abilities in her public^.capacity and honored her us a private citizen. The speaker remembered that when Miss Stevenson cama here over ten years ago it was thought that that young lady would never be able to carry <ut the duties of that office, but how well she had tilled the position all present knew. The Mayor then referred to Miss Stevenson in private Ife, and he was sure the exunple she had shown would be a valu tble object h sson to the rising generation. Although he regretted her departure, yet be was glad she was going to fulfil a highland noble duty. It was his duty, and a pleasant one, to then preset Miss Stevenson with a tes:imonial of the high este-m in which she was held, and he handed to her ah illuminated address, which was as follows — TO MISS I It STEVEN SON. Dear Miss Strvenson, — We, tho Mayor and Councilors of the Borough of Ro^s in Council assembled, on behalf of the Burgesses and inhabitants of the District, d sire bo convßy fc£ you oar a»i>ed app; obatJD» and esteem for the energetic, zealous, »nd impa tial manner you have carried out the onerous and responsible duties attached to yonr position us poatmistresd at Ross for the past ten years, and also our appreciation of your private and public conduct as a citizen. We regret your departure from our town, and wish you a long life and every happiness in your new sphere. Given under our hands this Ist day of October, one thousand nine hundred and two. [Here foil owed the signatures of the Mayor and Councillors. 1 After a moment's interval His Worship said he had to make a presentation on behalf of the settlers at The Forks aud Lake Mahinapua. He read a letter accompanying the present, iii which the donors expi'essed sincere regret at the departure of the young lady from the district. The Mayor had also to ask Miss Stevenson to accept a recognition of her services iv another form — namely, a purse of sovereigns. He sai I they thought it would be better than presents, as the recipient could with it obtiiin articles required in her new home, and he was sute she would value them as highly as if they were presented that evening, as showing the high regard and true respect in which she was held by 'the people of Hos*, and he was sure they would never iovgeb hee kindness in Ihe pa.sk and she would ever live in their me.uory. Mr Aifcken said he roie to return \ tlnnks on l ehalf of Miss Stevenson, who he said could hardly be expected to speak on such an occasion. On her beh*lf he thank' d His Worship the M.-iyor for the kind remarks he had made, but he was sure Miss Stevenson never anticipated an occasion of this kind, and he was sure if that young lady was speaking herself she would say she only did her duty. The speaker was certain the recipient would value the presents in her own home, and would consider them treasures as long as sYe lived. Miss Stevenson, he said, desired to thank all for the kind manner in which she had been received, and in conclusion sh-3 asked for the same kind and gener.ius treatment to be uccorded lo her successor, and the speaker said that Miss ' Stevenson would always be glad to see any of her old friends when s ! -;e was settled in her uew home. (I/iud applause.) The Mayor then announced that this brought the ceremony to a close, when all joined in singing "Auld Lang Syne." Mis< Stevenson is a sister in law of the Rev R Stewart of this town, and is to be married next month to the Rev Mr G Budd, of Dunediu.