VALEDICTORY

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1917, Page 4

VALEDICTORY

PRESENTATION TO MR. J. W. SMITH. ' '•;■ (From Our Special Correspondent) HOKITIKA, August 24. „ Last evening representatives of all the country districts and the leading citizens of" Hokitika assembled at the Railway Hotel to bid farewell to a parting guest and friend Mr. J. W. Smith, Inspector of Stock. Mr Smith received word some months ago of hia transfer to Balclutha, but owing to the great difficulty in finding a snb-/ stitute, it was only last week that he received final instructions to proceed to his new districts. Mr. H. M. Coulson, _the DeputyMayor, presided. Seated on his right was Mr. Smith, the guest, and on his left Mr. Walter Scott, the newlyappointed Stock Inspector. The spacious dining tables were beautifully decorated and reflected .jgreat credit on the part of the host and hostess. Apologies were received for the absence of the following: — Messrs G. A. L J erry, W. E. Williams, S. G. Ferguson, J. Adamson, J. Butler and M. Sullivan. The proceedings opened with the toast "The King," which was drunk ivith musical honourSi * The Chairman outlined the history of Mr. Smith's service on the West Coast. He referred to the loss occasioned by Mr. Smith's departure and heart-burnings of the many friends who found it impossible to be present that evening. As a civil servant Mr. Smith had rapidly climbed the ladder of his Department, and his Department evidently considered him too good for the wet West Coast. He then presented Mr. Smith with a wellfilled purse of sovereigns, the gift of his friends in Westland and in doing so, wished Mr. Smith the best of the world's blessings and hoped that at some future date he would find time to pay yet another visit to the West Coast. Mr. Smith had been five years on the Coast and he • considered that nfter such a stay one could be classed as a' real ' ' West Coaster. ' ' Mr. R. A. Harcourt, jun., said that on behalf of the farming eoniinunity he felt safe in saying they were suffering a great loss. Mr. Smith was always ready to give any information a farmer might want about stock or their diseases. He hoped that Mr. Scott would • follow in his predecessor 's footsteps and he assured them that if so he would have the people with him. He wished Mr. Smith good luck, prosperity and promotion in his department. -Mr. W. Jeffries supplemented the remarks of the chairman, jocularly telling of Mr. Smith's and his own experiences 5 in South Westland, inchiding "The Dardanelles" "The Bally hooley Sale," and the buying of a certain mare, "The mother of Soprano." He concluded by wishing Mr. Smith the best of good times in the future. The Chairman then called for the toast "Our Guest." Mr. Smith in a few well-chosen \fords expressed his feelings that evening. He said how deeply he regretted leaving his kind friends. He would never forget them and) would never cease to appreciate their kindness and the beautiful and costly present they had deemed him worthy of. He again thanked them one and all for their kindness. Mr. P. H. Renton proposed the toast "Mr. Walter Scott." Ho said that Mr. Smith had left a hard task ■. for Mis successor to perform but the West Coast people would help him and before long he felt sure that Mr. Scott would be thought as much of as, the departing guest. i Mr. Scott briefly replied, stating that he would do his bf&t to do right and work for the people. He congratulated Mr. Smith on the task he had performed and fully realised the present difficulty of his own undertaking.