VALDICTORY GATHERING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11715, 24 April 1900, Page 7

VALDICTORY GATHERING.

AU REVOIR TO -MR FERGUS.

At the invitation of the Otago Agricultural and Pastorul Society, a number of gentlemen assembled in the Grand Hotel yesterday afternoon to bid farewell to tho Hon. Thomas Fergus, prior to his departure for Europe. Besides the president of the society (Mr A.. C. Stronach), there were also present—Messrs .1. Moloney (president of the Chamber of .Commerce),. A. Burt, A. C. Beggi J. Reid, G. Roberts, A. Todd, J. F. Woodhouse. A. Thomson, J. T. Mackerras, J. Angus, ■ S'7 M: Gallaway; D. Crawford, ll..Jones, J. B. MacEy-an, J. Loudon, J. MitchclljA. St. G. Rvdcr. J. Lethbridge, AY. Patrick, Keith. Ramsay, T. AY. Kcniptharno,, W. Is. Simpson, A. Slie-o, J. Allen, M.H.R., and J. Hazlett.

The Chairman said they had met that day to say bon voyage to Mr Fergus, a prominent member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society, who was about to take a trip to the Home country. It v.-as only on Saturday morning they learned that the date ol his .departure had been fixed, unci for that reason not manj' Ol their country friends had been able to attend. Ho had received apologies for non-attendance from his AVotship lhe Mayor (Mr.R._ Chisholm), Mr John Roberts, Mr G. P. Farquhar, Mr Crosby Morris, Mr Fred. Stronach, Sir AY.' "fl. Taggart, Mr G. L. Denniston, and Mi- Walter Blackie. He need not mention to that meeting the fact that Mr Fergus had done a great deal for the Agricultural and Pastoral Sooiety. Besides being a member of the committee for soveral years, he had taken a leading part in the erection of the fine Agricultural Hall, which was, he was pleased to say, making satisfactory progress, always with the assistance of their town and country friends, towards the time when it would be handed over free oi debt to the society. During the current mon tli they bad also been able to practically secure the annexe building adjoining the hall, for which they had also to thank Sir' Fergus and two 'other gentlemen, who were with hini in the venture when it' was purchased from the Exhibition authorities. The two gentlemen to whom he referred were Mr Alexander Thomson and Mr J. Haz'.ctt. Mr Fergus's years prevented hnn from being on the list, of those who were known as old identities, but he was one of the worthiest samples of what those old identities regarded as the " now iniquity."— (Laughter.) Mr Fergus, .as was. well known, had also been a member of; Parliament for many years, and in that capacity had done work which had been an advantage to the country and a credit to himself. Previous "to that he had devoted, his energies to railway contracting on a large scale, and in this colony and in others there .were many important works— monuments of progress, as it were—to show the good he had done hore and elsewhere. AVithout a doubt, Mr Fergus had done much good for New Zealand, a lot for Otago, and a great deal for Duuedin.—(Applause.) Mr A. C. .Bc-gg would like to be allowed to. say that Mr Fergus had for many years taken a. leading part in connection with the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and also "in connection with agricultural and'pastoral matters throughout tho province. He was sure everyone present wished that Mr Fergus might have a pleasant and happy holiday, good weather on the voyage, not sniffer lunch from seasickness, a good time in the old country, and perhaps on the Continent, and turn un in Dunedin again eight or ten months hence looking even more smiling and rubicund than he was at present.—(Applause.) He did not know whether Mr Fergus intended to include South Africa in his rambles or not, but if he did he would bring back a lot cf information such as was wanted here in connection' With a market for their produce, and probably : 1-e might see a little of the hard knocks that "weiv bemg dealt there. It was to be honed however, that by that time the war 'would be over. —(Hear, hear.) Personally, and he was sure he spoke for everyone else in the room, he wished Mr Fergus all the best fortune and pleasure on his journey.—(Applause) Mr J. Allen, M.H.R., expressed his pleasure *' bemS ab.e to be present on that occasion, when tney were assembled to bid good-bye, and wish bon voyage, a pleasant timo at Home', aiid a safe return to Mr Fergus. It v.-as not often they sent away from Dunedin citizens with the amount of mental vigour and energy, coupled with the bodily capacity, possessed by Mr Fergus. Duuedin and the province of Ota-ro owed a lot to Mr Fergus, and to men like him for their activity and go-ahead spirit-qualifies wmch had brought Dunedin to the position of the most prominent city in New Zealand In uo direction have his abilities i-i this respect been more greatly evidenced than in his association with the A. and P.-Societv, which ha= led the way in New Zealand, so far as =hows were concerned. The speaker was glad th-t Mr Fergus was about to take a trip to the did country, and he was .quite sure he would come back with his energies increased, rather dian in any way impaired, and that when at Jlome ho would learn more than most othez men who have made such a trip, but who wore endowed with less energy and mental power. The 1 resident of Iho Society then called upon those present to drink to the health and success cf their guest. The toast having been drunk with musical honours, . . '

The Hon. Mr Fergus, who was received with applause responded. He said that at that moment he felt the force of the words" of the old Jgj tiy X- was- "more blessed to give than to. receive," for it would givo infinitely more pleasure to - speed one of them on .a holiday trin than to hid them good-bye. He had received any quantity of indications of the' goodwill that was home towards himself by all sections of ™d c,°"? muu! ty' for he had "ceived telegrams ancl letters from every part of Now Zealaud wishing him health and happiness and a safe and happy trip to the. land of his nativity1^ Y«f Perfwtly certain that overjjiing (hat had been sad had b^en reechoed m their hearts. In „ , , Pleasure that he could, sv, Titli all tgg trom the day le entered public life to the present day lie had never made a permanent enemy i„ the co oiiv-appause)_-„ot even among his mos ° WUer he hid XX^ agriSt3' r? 6 T1 tl,ose wh». lie luc, worked m pohhes had ever been ready to meet on the plane of social friendship They ever remembered that they belonged to the people of New Zealand, and that" theii iii"t duty was to the State, and for the State/and for the benefit thereof. He felt it wi-s a oreat honour that the society had done hini in meeting him there in such large numbers on a busy day to wish him bon voyage He -inpreciated the honour. He was soS^ that for some little t„„e past he had not- been able to give so much time to the affairs of the =ociettis he would have liked to give, but that" he had been of some slight benefit to the institution he thohght he could not but recognise and he was glad to know that such was the case.-(Hear, hear.) He was pleased to know that ho was one of the originators of the Agricultural Hall scheme. When the society found that the winter show was growing too large tor the Garrison Hall it wa.s necessary that some other building should be provided to Xcois pace, with the growth of the society,'and although the hall had not been all they expected it to be it had met a decided want, and had allowed the society to expand their powers for usefulness.-(Applause.) As the chairman had said, ihe society had only recently still further expanded. That step, he linVht say WI come about in this way. When tlie exhibition, was closed, Mr Ha Z lett suggested (o h im lh at the society should buy the lease of the sections on which the annexe stood, but as the society could not see-their way to do so Mr HaVlett himself bought the lease, and in response to his regnest he (Mr Fergus) and Mr Alexander lhomson subsequently stood in with him in the purchase. Then, in reply to the secretary ot. .he society, the ground was offered to the society 12 months ago, and the buildings, also, ior what had practically been the cost of them —(a-pplause)-^on condition lhat they were held by tie Agricultural and Pastoral' Association for their shows. The'society did not, however, see their way to accept the offer, but about a menth ago thoy again opened up the matter, and as a result the buildings had been acquired by the society on the terms originally proposed, and, he was sure, formed a valuable addition to the society's property Twelve nioutus ago the hall was found to be altogether insufficient for the gradual expansion of the winter shows, but with this addition the society had now a large area of ground to'work upon, and he was sure that the energetic committee the society liad elected to conduct their affairs won d not lose their opportunity, and that they would maintain the show in the proud position it occupied at present—the premier show ol i\cw Zealand.—(Applause.) The people of Dunedm, he thought, should give the society more assistance than they had given in the past, but that tliey would rise to the occasion he had not the slightest doubt— (hoarjioar),— and when he returned to New Zealand, after about 12 months' absence, ho hoped it would be to hud that the winter show of next year was to excel all other shows which had been held in the city.—(Applause.) It was now some 30 years since lie landed in New Zealand from Victoria. Shortly after his arrival he joined the public service as a civil servant, and he had since been tp a greater or less extent before the public. He was associated, 28 or 29 years ago, with Mr Simpson on tlie goldfields, when he (Mr Fergus) occupied the position of district engineer. Subsequent to that ho went •rtito the privato walks of life, and then' he united into polities. He was in Parliament for and at the expiry of that time he goe out of it, and he was glad to get out of h — (Laughter.) He came out of it feeling that in it tuoro was no honour or any other gocd.— v ■■'„-!.•" {rom soveral gentlemen, and a \oice. No.") Of course, someone must do tue work. It might have' been' vanity that prompted him to stand for the position, but it was particularly his desire to keep someone out' who, in his opinion, would havo been an indifferent member. He trusted tliat, at the same time, hn also had an idea of doing some little good to his country. That ho had'erred he was free to confess, and at the same time he confessed he' might have done things he ought not to have done, and left undone things he

ought to have done.—(Laughter.), At anyrate, he did not think there was anythiiigfor which he could bo held morally responsible.—(Hear, hear.) He wished also'to say that Mr Thomas Brown and himself had been appointed representatives of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to attend the Congress of Chambers of Commerce from all parts ot tha'Empire, which was to meet iv London in June,next. It was a very influential body. The representatives' were dr.awn from all parts of the Empire, and the subjects for discussion were varied and important. In conclusion, 'Mr Fergus said that although he looked forward v.-ith pleasure to his trip ho believed the happiest clay would be wheu he got inside Otago .Heads again, on the way lo rejoin his children who ivero born here, as thcii: mother had been before them.— (Applause.) Ho thanked the meeting', very heartily for the kindly reception that had been extended fo him.—(Applause).

Before the proceedings lOTnuiatcd tho Hon. Mr Fergus called upon those present to-drink success to the A. and P. Society, and coupled with the toast the .lame oi tbo 'president. lie stated, in doing so, that Mr Stronach had acted as class steward on the committee tor many years, ar_.d had now risen to the highest position ill the society—namely, thai of president.

The toast was duly honoured., and appropriately responded to by Mr Stronach.