PRESENTATION TO SIR S. BIGNOLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3256, 13 July 1872, Page 2 (Supplement)

PRESENTATION TO SIR S. BIGNOLD.

: The Directors and other gentlemen then adjourned to Sir Samuel's drawingroom, for the purpose of being present at one of the moat gratifying presentations that has ever been made during the life of the venerable knight. Looking to the jubilee of the Society, and. also to the octogenarianship of Sir &*muol, it was thought by the Agents of this great institution that this would be a fitting occasion on which to express their personal esteem to the honoured and worthy Secretary, •and their appreciation of the value of hi* faithful and efficient services during so many years. The present consisted of an oil portrait and a magnificent service of plate. Mr Ventnor, of this city, executed the portrait from a photograph, and, not having the advantage of a sitting, it does his artistic skill much credit, although it does not altogether reflect the animated appearance peculiar to the venerable knight. Of the service of plate — four magnificent silver fruit stands— no description can be too full of praise, as in design and workmanship they bear the impress of exquisite taste and consummate skill. Ifoch stand is about two feet high, with a brilliant cut glass dish resting upon a vine stem, with bunches of grapes, in frosted silver, pendant from the network which encircles it. At the base are some beautifully wrought figures, respectively representing Justice, Commerce,, Agriculture, Science, and the four quarters of the1 Globe. A tri-leafed marble stand supports each dish, and there are shields bearing the arms and the monogram of Sir Samuel, with others containing inscriptions similar to that appended to the portrait, namely : —" Presented to Sir Samuel Bignold by the Agents of the Norwich Union Fire and' Life, Offices, as a mark of their respect and esteem, on his attaining the age of eighty years, more than fifty o£ which have been spent as their secretary.—]3th October, 1871."/. A number of personal friends, both ladies and gentlemen, were present,in the drawing-room, including the Mayor (R. Chamberlin, Esq)> and Mr and Mrs E. K. Harvey, ana in, addition to agents from leading towns—Liverpool, Bristol, Dublin, &c. —there were Messrs E. Steward (president of the Fire Office), Gr, Durrant (vice'president), G, E. Simpson, D. Dajrymple, M.P., W. R. Clarke,-1. B. Coaks, H. S, Patteson, J. Everitt, W. C. Hotson, G. Forrester, C. E. Tuck, E, C. Bailey, and the Rev. J. Bailey. There; were also present many ladies,..among whom may be cite 4 Mrs E. Steward, Mrs G. Durrant, MrsW. 0, Hotson, Mrs Tuck, Mrs Bickersteth, the Misses Bignold, Miss Bickersteth, Mrs Charles Bignold, and Mrs John Houghton,—Mr W. H. Andersson, the Liverpool * agent, was. abont to make the presentation^, the testimonial, when Sir Samubl desired to say a word or two in reference to the testimonial. He said that this presjntation was a great surprise to him, inasmuch as when ho heard what it was proposed should be done to his honour, he wrote to Mr Andersson stating tliat, at his advanced ago, he did not desire any testimonial of the kind. Mr Andersson replied that the agents had already heartily taken up tho movement, and that it could not well: be stopped. To this he (Sir Samuel) replied that ho desired the amount subscribed should be given to • a charitable purpose, he himself hoping to be allowed to add to it the sum of 100 guineas. But this proposal was unheeded, on the gronnd, as it was stated, that the agents desired to show to him some personal mark of their esteem and regard. Therefore he had no alternative but to yield. As the thing had been done, ho could not but express his pleasure, his great gratification, that tho testimonial had been raised in the jubilee year of the office—a year remarkable for tho prosperity which had attended the Institution. But in speaking pf the jubilee he ccmld not forget iha.l many of his earlier associates had passed i away. Among these he might mention Colonel Harvey, Mr J. S. Patterson, and Mr W. Simpson, but worthy successorß had been" left, and were preBOiit that day. Sir Samuel then said that it would be satisfactory to all to learn that the Society was one not more to be distinffiiuslwl for its greatness, titan for its hottest working in every department of its affairs. The agency department could bear comparison with that of any other office; and he boldly said that then u<<w no other office so correct in it* transactions, and v;hir.h slumed such prompt t( clearings " under the head of agency accounts ■as ihe Norwich Union Insurance Office. He needed only to point to the splendid results of }ast year to prove what great discrimination must have been exercised by the various agents in whom tho Directors had to place their trust, and to whom such a result as the dividend of that day, which could not have been expected fifty years ago, was to be attributed.—(Applause.) Sir Samuel concluded by further expressing how deeply indebted he was to his friends for their great kindness to him on all occasions, as also to those ladies and gentlemen then assembled for honouring him uport the presentation which he understood was then about to be made by Mr Andersson, of Liverpool,- whom he trusted would communicate to his brother agents the great appreciation which he felt at the ready action which they had taken in conjunction withTiim, —(Applause,) Mr Andehsson t in making the presentation, said-r-Sir S.. Bignold j Ladies, and Gentlemen ; I cannot better announce to you. how this, friendly meeting haa been brought, about than to relate the; eircq;nlstance. Early in the month of September last I 1 had occasion to turn to one of my'old office books for some information, whenyby eui accident* my. attention rwas drawn to a. memorandum made therein by my late father, many years ago, to this effect, ( <

?On 13th Oct., 1854, Sir S. B. will be 63." In a moment it flashed across my mind that at our annual meeting last January you, Sir Samuel, then told us you had then hold the office of Secretary to this gigantic and prosperous institution for over 50 years, having first taken a stool therein at the age of 15, under your father, the founder of the office. This circumstance, combined with the knowledge that you had now reached the venerable age of 80, haunted me the rost of the day, and in the evening I determined to bring the event under notice- of the agents, which I did in these words :— ** Norwich Union Fire and Life Insurance Office, 27 Castle street, Liverpool, 28th September, 1871. Dear Sir, —Probably you are not aware that on the ! 13th October Sir Samuel Bignold will complete the 80th year of his age, and likewise his 50th year as Secretary of the Norwich Union Offices : an occurrence unparalleled in the annals of the insurance world. The undersigned and one or tsvo others have thought tins a very opportune moment for those who represent the above offices, which have gradually increased to their present high position under his guidance, to mark the event by a suitable testimonial selected by a committee. Should you desire to contribute, a Post-office order in the writer's favour will oblige yours truly, W. H. Andkhssox, ' Hou. Secretary." Their replies, I need 1 not say, were not only most gratifying but ' satisfactory, and in accordance with my i own feelings. The result is, it now devolves upon me, though lhad much wished it had fallen into more able hands, to make this presentation. I beg, therefore, in these few words, in their name and my own, to offer you, Sir Samuel, for your acceptance, the four silver firnit stands and portrait of yourself, now before you, as a token of our respect and esteem, hoping earnestly, with the blessing of the Almighty, that you may yet be spared for many years still to guide us with the same kindly hand, and at last iniiy rest in that place which is the due reward of an honoured life.—(Applause.) Mr I. B. Coaxs, as one of the contributors to the testimonial, desired to ex- : press his admiration of tho present; but no hoped that another portrait would be painted by one of tho best portrait painters living—Mr Sandys—a fellow-citizen. He believed that the fact of a portrait painted by such a man would be more acceptable to Sir Samuel, to his family, and to the citizens j but that was a matter whiqh had been referred to elsowhere by Mr GorelL Of course the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society, as such, could not take up the question of a portrait; still every individual proprietor could participate in the movement. If only Sir Samuel consented to sit to Mr Sandya, ho was Buro thatgoneral support would bo given to the suggestion which he had made. Many would not feel satisfied unless an opportunity were given them of having a portrait of Sir Samuel by Mr Sandys, and they hoped that Sir Samuel would, under Providence, long be spared, so that he might continue to live in the esteem, eonfldonco, and reapeot of hia fellow-citizens.—{Applause.) Mr J. M. Vkxnikg said that ho was instructed to say the family were exceedingly pleased with the portrait of Sir Samuel then befora them, aa they regarded it an unquestionably striking likoness. —(Applause.) Sir Samuel then invited the company to ;an elegant luncheon in the diningroom; after which a few toasts were proposed. Sir Samuel gave " tho Queen," and then "the Prince and Princess of Wales," remarking with respect to tho Prince, that the breast of the nation was now agitated by feelings of /tho warmest thankfulness to Almighty God for sparing the life of the Heir Apparent to tho Throne of this great country.—(Cheers.) The venerable knight next gave "the health of the Mayor, and prosperity to the good old city of Norwich," noticing, in the course of his observations, the high j position Mr Chamberlin holds in relation to the conjtnercial interests of Norwich.— (Applause.) The Mayor acknowledged the compliment. Gratified as he was to bo present ;as a large insurer j ho had yet more pleasure that on this occasion he was amongst them as Mayor of Norwich, ready as such, as well as an insurer, to mark his eßteem for thoir excellent friend and fellow citizen, Sir Samuel Bignold. He could not forgot that he had the honour of being Sheriff during one year in which Sir Samuel was Mayor—a year full.of pleasurable recollections, mainly owing to the great kindness, courtesy, and friendship ho experienced at tho hands of his hon. colleague. He could also bear testimony to the ready willingness with which Sir Samuel joined in supporting, not only the charitable institutions of the city;, but in giving charitable assistance to individuals, oven though they might be politically opposed to- him and discarded by thoir political friends, '. upon whom they had the first claim. It would he a great loss to the city whon it should please God to remove Sir Samuel from amongst them, but he hoped that day was far distant, and that Sir Samuel would live long, enjoying the same soundness of head and the same warmth of.heart as now distinguished him.—(Cheers.) Sir Sajhoel said that ho had reaohod what he might, very properly call th<3 toast of the day," Prosperity to the Norwich Union Insurance Offices." — (Applauso.) He was glad, on this occasion of the jubilee of this great Fire Office, to see around him so many friends in various stages of life, and he was particularly gratified to couple with the toast the health of hia excellent friend, Mr E. Steward, the honoured President of the Firo Office, who for thirty-live years'had hold a seat; in tljg directorate, —(Applause.) If he yielded to the proposal that had been made to , him of sitting for a portrait by Mr Sandys, he should be glad to have assooiated with him their president, Mr Steward.—(Applause.), Mr E, Steward, in responding,- said that he had worked heart and soul in behalf of the Company, and he trusted that with the assistance of his brother Direotors still further prosperity might attend hia efforte.—^Hear, he/ar t )... •. ", Sir Samctei,,' in propping .. •*' the Agents," referred to the,handsome testimonial wjhich had been.'made'him, and. xmpled with the toast, in appropriate terms, the health of the Liverpool agerit, Mr \V.; H. Andersson.—(Applause.) , Mr Akdekssox responded.; He again referred to the circumstances under whioh ;he testimonial originated, .and said that le should have considered' the agents ranting in duty and'proper 'feeUpg if ;heyhad not made some.recognition of ;he great services. theiif Htabured Secreary had rerideteid to the' offiop.-^Ap-, clause.) " - *--' '• ' '■' ".'-:/ ~' ._*." "' '"' The Mayob then proposed the health of ftr-Bamuel, expressing a wish, heartily1 achoed by all present, that his useful life night for many years be spared to the

great Norwich Insurance institutions, to the city, and to kis family.—(Cheers.) . Sir Samuel acknowledged the toast, remarking: I Assure you if anything dould prolong a life already so elongated as mine is, it would be the kindness which you have all evinced on this occasion, in assembling around my board and displaying so much good, feeling towards me. This has made a deep, imgression upon my heart, and it will be a consolation to me, whether my days be few or still more lengthened, to look back upon the 9th of January, 1872, which brought me those kind friends I have now the pleasure of thanking for drinking this toast. -—(Applause.) Mr Evekitt gave " the Ladies," which terminated these interesting proceedings. The presentation that was made to Sir Samuel Bignold on Tuesday was a fitting corollary to the proceedings which took place in Surrey street on the 13th of October last; and the occasion selected for making it was very appropriately chosen, since it was the jubilee of the great Society, of whosci concorns Sir Samuel has been throughout the " moving spirit," and of whose extraordinary success the statistics laid before the meeting of shareholders, the same day—when a dividend of 18 per cent., the largest over declared, was announced—afford such I convincing proof. Having bo recently | alluded to the inestimable services Sir Samuel has rendered, not only to the great institutions with which his name is more immediately associated, but to the city generally, we need do no more than record our hearty sympathy in every good wish that was expreused on Tuesday towards the worthy knight, by the Mayor and other gentlemen who were gathered round his hospitable board.