COPY OF ADDRESS PRESENTED TO W. G. REES ON HIS DEPARTURE FROM QUEENSTOWN IN 1867.

Lake County Mail, Issue 20, 8 October 1947, Page 2

COPY OF ADDRESS PRESENTED TO W. G. REES ON HIS DEPARTURE FROM QUEENSTOWN IN 1867.

To William Gilbert Rees, Esq., Dear Sir, It is with feelings of the deepest regret we learn you are so *soon to leave the Wakatipu district. To you belongs the honour of having been its first colonist, and to your energy it is mainly due that a country closed in its natural grandeur is now yielding its treasures of wool and corn and gold. The interest you have at all times shown in the welfare of the district cannot be too highly estimated, and the services rendered by your charity and kindness too warmly appreciated • by us. Desirous that you should not depart from amongst us without bearing with you some token of the esteem and respect with which you are regarded by those amongst whom you have so long resided, we pray you accept this purse of sovereigns with which we hope you will purchase something that will remind you, wherever you may be, you have with you the kindest wishes of many friends. Trusting that the blessing of good health, happiness and prosperity may ever attend you, with our best wishes for Mrs Rees and your family. —Signed by 91 residents and settlers. The coffee pot presented to Mr Rees bears this legend; “Coffee pot presented to William Gilbert Rets, Msp., J.P., as a mark of the esteem of his friends and well-wishers in the Wakatipu district. Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, April, 18G7.”