PRESENTATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10597, 18 February 1896, Page 8

PRESENTATION.

At a meeting of a number of representative members of friendly societies, comprising tha committee of the Friendly Societies' Grounds, held on Friday evening in the Stuart street Oddfellows' Hall, Mr A. Sligo was presented with s memento of his long service as hon. secretsrj and treasurer to the trust.

Mr W. Woodland, chairman of the com' mittee, in making the presentation, brieflj reviewed the early history and struggles of tn< Grounds Commitee, said that Mr Sligo ha<i baen identified with the institution from il( inception. He was the first hen. secretary and treasurer, and to his efforts to a very large degree the present satisfactory position of the grounds was owing. This presentation, msda on behalf of the various societies interested, was in no way tendered as a recompense to Mi Sligo, but as a slight memento of his association with an institution which he had helped to nreats, and to the success of which hi§ efforts had »o largely contributed. Mr Woodland then presented to Mr Sligo a very handsome gold albert chain and sovereign cose.

Mr Walter Ibbotson, on behalt of tha M.U.1.0.0.F., and as a fellow-worker with Mi Sligo, echoed what had been said by Mr Woodland as to Mr Sligo's exertions on behalf of the Friendly Booieties' Grounds Committee, and said that when urged to take up the duties of secretary and treasurer he had refused on tha ground that the matter was in better hands.

Mr James Macfie, on behalf of the A.O F., and Messrs James Michie and William Reid, on behalf'of the 1.0.0. F., expressed the appreciation of their sooietiea of the work done by Mr Sligo, and their own gratification at being present to do him honour. .

Mr Smgo, in thanking the committee for tha/ presentation, reviewed at some length the work of the various committees, with all of whom ha had been associated. The early history of the grounds, &o all of them were aware, had, throngh unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, been associated with disaster of various kinds, which had disheartened the societies and, he believed, prevented them from taking that interest in the grounds, they would otherwise have done. Tea inception of the scheme was really due to Mr W. S. Geddes, and he personally did not desire to take more credit for the present state of matters than was due to him. The work had been largely a labour of love, and he had done it without any hope or desire of reward, bat grace the societies had deemed it fitting to so hononr him he thanked them most heartily. The Government were about to grant them another lease of the grounds (for this he might say they were considerably indebted to Mr Robin), and he hoped that better auccess would attend them io th» future.