AN IRON SYMPOSIUM.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 2

AN IRON SYMPOSIUM.

FAREWELL TO' MR J. P. LUKE.

A gathering of ironmasters and ironmongers Avas held at Godber’s rooms, Lambton quay, last Thursday, for the purpose of saying farewell to Air John P. Luke and Air J. Smitton (manager of John Duthie and Co., Ltd.). Mr John Duthie, who presided, made a presentation to Air Luke, than Avhom no man, lie said, had more right to enjoy a holiday. His life was a strenuous one of continued an plication to business and the duties of citizenship. He had shown an example to young men of what could be done by enterprise in business, and. as regards public life he. (the speaker) felt relieved when Air 'Luke . again resumed his place on the City Council. Mr E. C. E. Alills, in, making a similar presentation to Mr Smitton, said lie had endeared himself to all in the trade, and had always been a most agreeable man in business.

Mr John Duthie said during his twenty-three years’ 'connection Avith business Air Smitton did not seem to) haA 7 o„ thought of a holiday. He had given his whole thought and his wholetime to his business. He (the speaker) had not done much work for some years, but noAV he would go back for a tew months during Air Smitton’s absence. Alir Luke, in responding to his health, said Avlien they started business twentysix years ago—His father and his brothers, William, Samuel, i Charles, and. James, and himself—Wellington was undergoing its keenest depression since, it became a city. But the outlook ay as such that they felt if they were ever going to make a start as a family they should do so at once. A great deal of the credit avas due to those of the firm Avho \A 7 ere noAV dead, and he and Iris brother Charles gave them every credit for it. From this small beginning the undertaking had groAvn until they now employed about 150 hands. As far as the profits of the trade were concerned, it had been one continuous fight from tho beginning, and they were not alone in this respect. He asked for the consideration of ironmaster's towards ms 'son who had served his time m the foundry, and thanked them for coupling Airs Luke’s name with the toast. , Mr Sinittoii, in replying to his toast, recalled incidents of the days when he. began life in Wellington a quarter of a century ago, Avhen the Avater was lapping against the back of the buildings in Willis street.

The other toasts were yMr John Duthie, Mg E. C. E. Mills and Mr G. Winder.