PRESENTATION TO SIR J. G. WARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4407, 13 July 1901, Page 6

PRESENTATION TO SIR J. G. WARD.

THE RAILWAY OFFICIALS AND THEIR CHIEF. AN ADDRESS AND A SILVER CRADLE. At the Parliamentary Buildings last evening the Premier, on behalf of the Second Division of the Railway Employees, presented Sir Joseph Ward with an illuminated address and a silver cradle. The address was expr.essive of appreciation of Sir Joseph as head of the railway service, and the cradle is intended to commemorate the birth of “Awarua Pat. Ward” during the (Ann A office of his father as Minister for Railways. Th e presentation was made in tt -vescnce of Mrs Ward, Mrs Seddon, iii - Seddon, th 0 members of the Cabinet and several personal friends. In making the presentation, the Pre. mier said that he could only echo the hopes of the railway servants that Sir Joseph’s son would prove a worthy son, and follow in the footsteps of his father. The beautiful present accompanying the address would remind Lady Ward of the toilers in the Railway Department. In replying, Sir Joseph Ward said it was a matter of very great satisfaction t 0 him to hear th e felicitous words of the Premier in making the presentation, and for the kindly words in which he had alluded to Lady Ward and himself. Nothing in his official capacity as Minister for Railways could have been tarried out without the hearty co-opera-tion of his colleagues. What had been done had only been their duty co a large number c$ men carrying on an important work throughout the colony. The testimonial he regarded as a mark of the good wishes of the railway employees, not only towards himself, but towards his colleagues. He desired through the Premier to thank them very much indeed. Tho testimonial ho would ever treasure among the many he had received as tangible evidence of the goodwill of men throughout the colony whom he respected. Ho appreciated the kindly spirit which prompted that action. Ho wished particularly to express not only his own gratification, but'the warmest thanks of his wife for the gift which accompanied the testimonial. Tho testimonial is of a most original and artistic character, and was greatly admired. At the head of the address is a finely-executed water-colour painting of a mountain scene, with a train in ih o foreground. At the foot of the address on the left-hand side a book is shown, the open pages of which contain the names of the heads of the Timaru, Dunedin, Wellington, Newmarket, Christchurch, Greymouth, Petone and Wanganui Maintenance j Departments and the foremen of tho workshops of Hillside, Newmarket and Addington. The lettering has been executed in Roman text. A fine effect is produced by raising in relief the border of the address and the capital letters of the text. The work was executed by Mr G. V. Venning, of Timaru. The silver cradle is also a fine piece of work. Under the cradle two silver rails rest on greenstone sleepers, and the cradle itself, beautifully- chased, hangs from a greenstone cross-piece i esting on silver supports. Th e whole is on a piece of mottled totara. On tho side of the cradle is inscribed: “To com)memorate the birth of a son, Awarua Pat., during the term of her husband’s office as Minister for Railways.”