FAREWELL TO MR JAMES ASHCROFT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9763, 13 June 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

FAREWELL TO MR JAMES ASHCROFT.

A large number of gentlemen assembled at the Grand Hotel on the 22nd ult. for the purpose of saying farewell to Mr James Ashcroft prior to his departure to Wellington. Among those present were: The Hons. W. Dowoie Stewart and W. M. Bolt (H.L.C's.), Hon. T. Fergus (M.H.R.). the Yen. Archdeacons Edwards and Fenton, Canon Howell, Messrs H. S. Fish (H.H.R), R. Wilson, G. L. Dsnniston, A. Maxwell, Thornton, J. A. Park, A. Lee Smith, J. F. Woodhouse, J. F. M. Fraser, S. Solomon, G. Esther, T. K. Harty, G Joachim, H. Webb, J. Richardson, D'Arcy Haggitt, C. Gordon, L. Dixon, W. A. Sim, C. P. M. Butterworth, Thomas Moodie, R. H. Postlethwaite, Jas. Watson, J. Rvley, E. C. Reynolds. T. Brown, G. Fenwick, W. Ibbotson, Andrew Todd, and Dr Fitchett. Apologies for non-attendance were read from Mr James Allen (M.H.R.). Mr Keith Ramsay, and Sir John Reid (of the firm of John Reid and Sons). The latter wrote:—

Dear Mr ABhcroft,—l am sorry I cannot be present at your "send off" on Monday, consequently take this means of expressing my^ regret that you are called upon to leave us. My firm having unfortunately had frequent occasion^ to come in contact with you in your official capacity, have invariably found you to be inflexibly just, courteous, and obliging; and further, we believe that in every case you made the very utmost obtainable out of the estates. With very good wishes for your futura career,—Yours, &c, John Reid.

The Hon. Thomas Fergus said they were assembled there for the purpose of bidding farewell to an old friend—to a man who had been associated with the commercial and literary history of this colony for a very considerable time. Mr Ashcrofthad been 30 years a resident of Ofcago, and 19 of those years had been spent in Dunedin. He was perfectly fre9 to admit that during those 19 years Mr Ashcroft had made some few enemies—in fact, the position in which he was placed for many years had made that to a considerable extent necessary; but at the same time the large assemblage that he saw there that afternoon was also a proof that he had made many friends. Mr Ashcroft had taken an active interest in every measure which had for its object the raising of the people socially and morally. He had contributed to the magazines and newspapers, and in his capacity of editor he had done very much to advance the best interests of the people of Otago and Dunedin in particular.— (Hear, hear.) They were all sorry indeed to lose him, and his amiable wife, and they trusted that where he was going as many true and loyal friends would rally round him as he was leaving behind. That was not a meeting called by any special party, or by any section iv the community; but was representative of all sbade3 of polities and religion, and of the people of Dunedin.—(Hear, hear.) He would not take up their time longer by eulogising Mr Ashcroft—it would be like painting the lily— but he had to ask that gentleman, on behalf of his wife, to accept a purse of sovereigns as a token of the esteem in which she and he were held, and to purchase some memento of her loDg service in Dunedin.—(Applause.) Mr Ashcroft thanked those present for their kindly expressions of good-will towards himself and Mrs Ashcroft.' They all knew that it was not by his own wish that he was leaving Dunedin. He had endeavoured to get over the difficulty which was raised when it was first spoken of, and the matter had been before the Government on several occasions. He offered to retire upon the usual terms but the Government could not see their way to let him do that. At last the fiat went forth, and he had simply to do what the Government in their wisdom called upon him to do. He proceeded to refer to his long residence in ths colonies, and stated that he had been very closely identified with New Zealand for rather over 30 years. During that time he had gained a great deal of experience—some of it rather costly. But he did not regret coming to this colony—indeed, he thought his coming here was one of the best step 3he had taken in his life. He was glad that they appreciated the difficulties of the office he had filled for the last nine years. He was sure that those who were acquainted with the official assignee's office would admit that the assignee had a great many questions to adjudicate upon, and that it was impossible to please everybody, but he had always found that in the end people had come round to the opinion that he was right. He did not know if he had any enemies in Dunedin; but he had always taken a juat and fair course, and had never had any other object than to do justice to all. He could not help feeling some gratification that his career among them had resulted in their having stsch kindly feelings towards him. He went on to say that bankruptcy was a very difficult question, and from the knowledge he had acquired of the system in Australia, and from the experience he had gained as official assignee in DuDedin, he believed that we had now as perfect a bankruptcy law as we were likely to hay better than they had in the other colonies. He wag glad to say that bankruptcy had declined very considerably during the past year, not only here, but in other parts of the colony. He wished that it would die out altogether, and that Othello's occupation would be gone. He should gladly retire if only he could bury the last bankrupt, but he did not think it would be left for him to do that very desirable thing. He hoped they would bear with him when he said that they were themselves to blame for the great number of bankruptcies. The system of credit in Dunedin and all over the colony was on a very unsatisfactory basis. He referred to the system of retail credit. He made a calculation some time ago of the losses by book debts during nine years, and he found that they averaged no less than £600,000 a year throughout the colony. Now if anybody got up and proposed that there should be a poor rate to yield £600,000 a year, he would be regarded as out of his senses; and yet they submitted to what was practically a concealed poor rate year after year. He would therefore ask the merchants to band themselves together and endeavour to produce a better state of retail credit. In concluding, Mr Ashcroft again heartily thanked those present for the kind expressions they had given utterance to with regard to him, and bade them all farewell. He only hoped that he would have the opportunity of meeting them at some future time, and when they came to Wellington he would be glad to see them. He should never forget the many kind friends he left behind him in Otago.—(Applause.) Mr G. L. Denniston proposed the health of Mrs Ashcroft and family, and the toast having been responded to by Mr A. H. AsucnOFT, the company dispersed.