FAREWELL TO DR DE RENZI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12162, 28 March 1900, Page 3

FAREWELL TO DR DE RENZI.

A social gathering took glatfe ifl Hobbs’s Assembly Rootas last evening, to |ay_ fare* well to Dr: A. ■ C. Do Renzi, who yml’gb. to South Africa as medical officer, to. the Fifth Contingent. There were' about' 100 people present, ihtludiiig. it fifimbar of ladies. , ■ ■ ■ • .

Mr N. K. Bowden, who was in the chair;■ (said that he was pleased to preside on that occasion, as Dr DC Renzi was an old friend of his. They had liiet- to make a presentation to the doctor oh the Occasion 1 of his departure for South Africa.. _ Mr W, W. Collins said it gave him much pleasure to accede to the request of Dr De Ream's friends to be the medium of conveying to him a slight memento. The pleasure was somewhat alloyed with regret at parting with a gentleman who, during his practice in Christchurch, had made a large number of friends'. A great many' would regret the departure of a doctor who had proved himself to be one of the most brilliant exponents of his profession. He hoped that the doctor would be as successful with those under him in the field as he had been in his private practice. Dr De Renzi came from a fighting stock, his grandfather and an uncle of his having been medical army officers. The (speaker said he hoped they were bidding him only “ bon voyage,” and not “good-bye,” as they would be.glad to see him back again. On behalf of Dt De Renzi’s friends;' Mr Collins' then presented him with a pair of field-glasses, which, he said, he hoped would prove use-' ful. He also presented to Dr De Renzi a Kaiapoi rug, which some of the doctor’s friends thought would be a comfort to him when he was out on the veldt. Mr Collins added that those who made the presentation did not ask Dr De Renzi to accept them on account of their intrinsic value, but as a token of the goodwill and esteem in which he was held by a large circle of warm friends.

Dr Do Renzi, who was received with loud applause, thanked these present for theifpresentations, and Mr Collins for the kind remarks he had made. He wanted to go to South Africa because he thought that he might be of some service there in his medical capacity. He hoped that, at the conclusion of the war, he would have the pleasure of meeting them all again.

Dr De Renzi’s health was then drunk with musical honours and cheers, and the doctor again thanked' tho.se present. Mr T. G. Russell, in proposing the toast of “ The Contingents,” gave a lengthy address on the w r ar and the causes which had led up to it. He maintained that there was no decadence of the British nation, and that its fighting spirit was as strong now as it was 500 years ago. The toast was enthusiastically drunk. t) r Symes said that he was pleased to see so many friends of Dr De Renzi present, and he was glad to be there himself. The doctor was a thoroughly true friend, and the speaker, as a medical man, could bear testimony to his skill as a surgeon. The' success which he had met with in Christchurch had been won honestly. He had done quit© as much for the poor as for the rich, and no one could say that they could not obtain the services of Dr De Renzi because of monetary considerations. The contingent had had good luck in obtaining his services, as it was necessary on the battlefield to have the very best surgical skill. ’ A man who' showed such devotion for his profession as did Dr De Renzi, was always ■ anxious -to add to ‘his experience, and the speaker was sure that the experience Dr De Renzi gained on the battlefield would be for the benefit of his patients when he returned. The speaker wished him a pleasant time and a speedy return. The. proceedings were brought to a close by the Singing of “ Auld Lang Syne.” During the evening songs were sung hy Messrs C. Goggan, A. Youqg, G. Mason and Irving . ’