PRESENTATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12006, 1 April 1901, Page 3

PRESENTATIONS.

Mr Chaa, Whclan, postmaster at Tapanui, who has "been transferred to Rccfton, was accorded a ;farowcll social arid presentation on Friday evening. The Central Hall was elaborately decorated for tho ocpasion, and the gathering was the largest seen, at any function of tho kind ever hold in Tapanui. The building was qjiito incapable Of accommodating tho numbers that assembled, and many old friends of Mr and 1 Mrs Whclan came long distances to be present.' For the first part of the programme musical items were provided by Mrs Branigan and Miss Cullon nnd.Mr Fred Cullon, and songs by Mrs Chas, Todd, and Messrs Branigan, Frank Whclan, B. E. Hyde. E. B. Wcthey, T. h. Hall, J,' : K. Mcnzies, C. Whclan, whilst the local piper; (Mr Alex. Duncan) 'played a couple of selections. The.Mayor (Mr T. J. Q.uayle), in presenting Mr -jhYhehui with a substantial purse, as A mark of the esteem in which he was hold t>y tho community .generally as a citizen, and a token of the appreciation of his services during his long stay of 25 years in Tapanui, rofcrrcd'ih very complimentary terms to the recipient's many good qualities, and on behalf of the subscribers wished Mr and Mrs Whclan and family locg life and prosperity in their new sphere. Mr Whclan, he said, had been connected with every society and club that had for its object the benefit of tho people and district, and had given his talents, money, and time ungrudgingly at all times. In his official capacity, the 1 young men now holding responsible .positions in different parts of the colony. And .who haji been trained in tho local, office, were'sufficient testimony to the postmaster, and were d creditto Mr Whclan and the department. The purse was handed over amid rounds of

applause and 3ie singing of " He's a jolly good fellow," followed by cheers for Mr and Mrs Whelan. Mr Whelan, ih his reply, warmly thanked the friends who had treated him so ltindly, and the mayor ionthc many kind things he had said. Iu ft happy foecch he enumerated many incidents of the " goal old days" of tho sawmilling and t.-acod the growth of tho diotrict during the p«t ■ quarter of a century. Twenty-five years agp Tapanm and "Dunrdbin w&e the-Wy riost offices, but to-day every portion was provided with a. postal service, and almo3t all p'rato were catnected by telephone. Tho increase in postal VOjrfc was also of ■ special interest to local people, and altogether Mr Whelan gave a graphic oct-punt of the progress of the district., Several of the vocalists again, rendered items, and at the «u----clusion of the prolamine most or ihoso presert. were treated to nfteshments, the supper room being also tastefully arranged.and the catering was in the able hands of Mr Quayle. The hall was cleared for dinoitt ond a few hours w re thus spent pleasantly to violin music supplied by Mr Fred Cullon, other friends assisting: at the piano. The gathering was w unmiaMcd u e s »nd Mr and carry with them tho good wishes of a gteat many friends for their future succt-js. At tho Hillside Workshopiym Friday afterVf . ' t Tntlv nn<l A. iterant were prenoou Messrs J. Joli} a«i n. *•*, ... '~ rented will, handsome presents fem their fellow emplovcos on the occasion of their appiMchinPg marriages. In making the prions, which consisted of a dinner mlUttd Imp to each of the above Mr A. D. Hillier mte in terms of praise of the good feeling th»» existed and said their fellow shopmates could i not let such popular men join the noble army of Benedicts without suitably recognising the event. He (Mr Hillier) h«?ed their■. future would bo long and prosperous,, and that the pre°ents would remind them of the esteem.in which they were held by their fellow workmen. Messrs Jolly and Farrant thanked those present for their handsomo gifts, and said tttc.f would remind them of the happy times they hadspent together. Th'ey then invited all pw««n' to a social ovening at the Kensington Hotel, where Mr Jolly was presented with a travcUmj bag from Messrs A. Hobson, Loudon, Goodman, and Loner. Orchestral selections. were< given ' by the Hillsido Band; songs by Messrs A. Hobi son, J. Drnmm, Joll, Wilkins, West, Gallovay, D. Hobson, and Head; a cornet solo by Mr Phillips; recitations by Messrs Farrant; Lewis, ! and ' L'eylahd; and a- stop-danco by Mr J. M'Kcchnie, iun. The health of Mr Jolty was proposed bvMr Braid and that, of Mr Farrant by Mr Dawsett. The evening was brought to a close by drinking the health of the proprietor (Mr Cox), who'had everything so well arranged that all present declared it one of the jolliost evenings they had ever spent. The member* of tho Pirates Football Club mot Mr W. Farquharsou, well known in football circles as a former member of that club Md as a representative Otago player, at the Crown Hotel on Saturday evening for the purpose of malting a presentation to him on the occasion of his marriage. Mr J. H. Hosking, president of the club, occupied the chair, and in a few happy sentences presented Mr Farquharsou on behalf of the members with a siircr hot water kettle. ■ . Mr 11. T. Duthic, who has just severed Jus connection from Messrs Ross and Glendininjrs in order to manage the Invercargill branch of the New Zealand Express Company's business, was made tho guest on Saturday of ft party of Dnncdin gentlemen, who "drove him to Outrani, stopping nn route at Mosgicl in order to sec the start and finish ot the Mossey-Harris boys >oad race. Dinner was partaken ot at the Outran Hotel, after which Mr C. F. Russell, on behalf of those present and a few absent friends, handed io Mr Duthic a gold sovereign cast, with his monogram neatly engraved, also a case of razors and a pair of house comforts. In making tho presentation, Mr Russell made some anprooriate remarks, which were heartily endorsed bv Messrs Alec. Wright, Hope Fleming, and Godfrcv Magnus. Mr Duthic. who was visibly touched, suitably acknowledged the gifts. After a few musical items, finishing with " Auld lang syne," the company started for home, dronping Mr Duthic at his father's residence, All'anton. Here good-byes were snoken, ond after the partv responded with vini to three cheers for Mr Duthic. called for by Canfain Brown, they drove back to town. Mr Duthic leaves by to-day's express for Invercargill in order to take up his rew duties. .