A VETERAN PRINTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16192, 19 March 1913, Page 11

A VETERAN PRINTER.

HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY OF MR G. S. PORTER.

PRESENTATION BY THE CANTERBURY TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

Yesterday afternoon tho president and secretary of the Typographical Union (Messrs W. F. Cooper and A. Burrowes), with Mr A. T. W. Bradwell, one of its oldest members, waited on Mr G. S. Porter at his residence for the purpose of congratulating him on attaining his hundredth birthday. Mr Cooper congratulated Mr Porter on attaining his_ centenary, and, on behalf of the members of the Canterbury Typographical Union, presented him with a purse of sovereigns, subscribed by the Union and tho Christchurch "Press" Company. Mr Bradwell wished his old friend many happy returns of the day.' Mr Burrowes said that Mr Porter had mado himself famous throughout New Zealand by living to an age which no other compositor in the w°rid had attained. He read the following congratulatory letter from the Union: — "Mr G. S. Porter.—Dear Sir,—The Canterbury Typographical Union desires to extend to you its heartiest congratulations on attaining the age of one hundred years. It is a distinction which belongs to very few individuals, but to one engaged in the printing trade it is doubly important, and the Union of which you are a life member is proud of the distinction which you have brought on it. During the period covered by your lifetime the printing industry has evolved from hand printing to its present remarkable position, and composition by hand has been supplanted by type-setting machinery. Though Time has_ bereft you to a certain extent of hearing and sight, we hope that whatever period of. life may bo loft to you may bo mellowed by the knowledge of a life well spent.—We are, yours fraternally, W. F. Cooper (president), C. Reiin (vice-president), A. Burrowes (secretary)." Mr Porter, in reply, said that ho was not adapted to speech-making. He wished to thank the printers of Canterbury for their kind wishes and expressions of goodwill towards himself. H,o said that if a, man lived to one hundred years without ■ transgressing, lie had lived a worthy life. The centenarian received many con-

gratulatory messages and telegrams From all parts of tne dominion, including one from his brethren! in the Wellington Typographical Union.