PRESENTATION TO THE MAYOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12036, 7 May 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

PRESENTATION TO THE MAYOR

At the Ere brigade station on April 12 the- City Corporation employees presented Mr K. Chisholm, Mayor of Duncdiu, with a token of the esteem in which lie is hold by tl'.em. About CO of the employees attended. Mr J. M'Kcnzie occupied the chair, and was supported on his right by tins guest of tho evening and Crs Haynes and Park, and on tho left by Mr fairbaim (town dork), C'r Christie, Cr Denm'stai, Cr Scott, C'r Crust, and Mr .1. F. Arnold, M.11.K. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Mr A. It. Barclay, M.H.K., and Captain Mitchell. 'I'liß hall was nicely decorated with flags, fen;--, and flowers, the last-mentioned being the very tasteful handiwork of Mr Oaten. The Chairman said they bad met that night to pay a slight tribute of respect to the worthy Mayor of Duncdiu. They wished to show tlio appreciation of the many kindnesses they had received at his hands during his term of office.—(Applause.) Tho position of mayor for the last year had been no sinecure. The duties bad been arduous and had taken up much of his Worship's time, but. nevertheless, Mr Cliisliolm had mado it his business In inquire into tho position of the men employed on tho corporation works. As a result of his investigations, many benefits bad been conferred on the employees. In rcg'.rd to one— the inerons.i in their wages—they had, of course, to thank the council as a whole. lie would specially like, however, to mention in that connection the name of Cr llaynes, chairman of the Works Commit tee.—(Applause.) The speaker then proceeded to make the presentation to the guest of tho evening. Xn doubt, said Mr M'Kenzie, his Worship would bo the recipient of other presentations of more money value than this one. but they, as working men, wero plea-ed to think that the first of the kind had emanated from (hem.— (Applause.) After reading the address, tlio speaker s.iid: We hope, your Worship, you will long be spared to sco tho address hanging on' your walls. We know that yom children with you will be proud to see it, knowing that it is a token of the esteem in which their father was held by tho workin~ inon of the nrporation during his term of office as mayor of the city.—(Applause.) The address, which was beautifully framed, was surmounted by n photo of the Town Hall, while at tlio foot there were two views—one of tho Southern Market Kcscrvo and the oilier of the .new gardens at Woodbaiigli —the border on cither side being a ribbon width of (he Chishplm larlan, Accompanying the address was a walking stick of native wood, with a gold baud, on which was inscribed: "Presented to K. Chisholm, ]■><]~ by the working employees of the Duncdiu City Corporation, 12-4-01"; togcther with a representation of the thistle and the fern. The gifts wero handed to Mr Cliishobn amid enthusiastic cheers. The address rend as follows:— ltobert Cliishobn, Esq., Mayor of the City of I'nincdin, in the Colony of 'Sri: Zealand. Dear Sir,—AVe, the workmen of the City Council of Dnucilin, do hereby desire to express our appreciation of the many privileges experienced by lis ;;t the linnds of your Worship dining your term ol olfice, and our gratitude for the consideration you have on all occasions extended to us. And we desire to show o'jr esteem by presenting you with a slight token of our recognition of the tact and judgment displayed by you in the management of municipal affairs. Wc also, as loyal subjects of hey late lamented Majesty Queen Victoria, and our present wellbeloved Sovereign Kir.;; KiUvr.nl VII, wish to recognise the patriotism which you have shown and tho skill you have exercised in connection with tho raising, despatching, nr.d welcoming the various coniin;;c-:iti on their departure from and return to our city. V.'e feci proud flint, our city lias been the only or." in the colony to privately billet the Imperial troops, and it was mainly due to the wraloriui rrrourcfulness and ability possessed bv vom Worship that matters eventuated so ivcli, tint* enabling Dnnciiin to materially assist in upholding the prestige ci-1 our giuvicn- flag, oi which we all feel proud, and help to maintain those noble traditions which have always been characteristic of our race. In conclusion, we express the hope that you may long be snared to be oi service to this city. Sk'r.ed on behalf of the workmen.— J. M'Kcni'.ie, chairman; Win. Crawford, J.-s. Washer, L. Clancy, William Aidrc.v, A. Sutherland; 3. O'Connor, secretary. On rising to reply, his Worship was received with tho heartiest applause. Ho said they would believe he was sincere when be said he felt that night that no words of his could ;>o--'ibly be iulci)im(c to his deep reuse oi their great kiudress in asking him mi that cera;ion to bn tl.o recipient of such handsome tokens of their gratitude and esteem. Tho workmen were really the last from whom ho had expected liny recognition of any efforts bo had inndo on their behalf. Ho admitted he had done his litllo best for the employees, ami Ik would like to add that unless ho had been backed up by the council as a whole the workmen would not have been receiving tlio benefits which be was pleased to say they wero now enjoying — (Applause.) It was certainly a pleasing reflection to him to know that ho had succeeded oven to a small extent in making tho position of tho employees more pleasant and their hearts lighter while engaged in their work. As to the Haltering remarks contained in (he address, he really thought that many of them were undeserving. He had tried in bis ott'ii litmiblo way to do bis duly, and when bo said that be said a good deal, beKuiso if there was a difficult task for any man to do it was to do his duty.-(Hear, hear.) He was given credit in the adlire's for being a patriot. Well, he hoped that, as long as he lived not only would he bn devoted to (he city he hived, 'bill ab'O to bis country.--(Annlitt-c,) It would always bo bis object and bis desire to further in any . way he could the inlrrosts of the city. Ho ' would no! say much about the patriotism of the pa-'t 12 months, It bad been to him the greatest p!"r.uire any man could possibly (•oi'.i'cive. If all the demonstrations and functions bad gone oil' siiecr-=fi'.!ly, ho ventured to think there were many in Dunetlin ! who were entitled to as much, credit as ho ; was in cdiiui'dwii uilli I hem. Cue man could only do n man's wo'k, and ihu spontaneous support received by him on every ik casino when any domonstralion was to (■■line oif was titeh mi cneouiagcinent to him that, be fell he was prepared to strain every 1 nerve to carry out lo a stioee-iffiil issue any scheme there was in hr.nil. Consequently ! they could readily 'Co that when one had tboii-auds at his back, encouraging cue to do [ bis work, it would have been—well, be was going to tiiy, a fool who wnu'd not have, risen to the occasion and made any movement ' a Hici-e--'. It was when nifii with arrangement iind system at their disposal gave their i a-istance that a seemingly difficult work became ra«y, and be would just like to say i thai be had in Cr Park, who was with them 1 that night, bis right-hand supporter—a man who was prepared to sacrifice, any amount of time and energy in assisting to bring a ' movement to a s'.icccs-fnl is,-ue.---(Auulail;e.) Heferring to the billeting tcbeme, be said that if there was any prr-au) who felt relieved and pleased at the succivs it was himself.— (App!au<o.) The opposition to the scheme. ! was strong, but when those who were as'ocialed with him --a few genuine bard 1 workers—saw the oppoilion it only spurred them on to grei'cr efforts, and they were ! determined thai if the scheme could possibly bo mad" a uteres.-) they would miilai a sur--1 ess of il.-(Ap'iihnnc) He again wished to rav that if ever be was pleased in his life willi a presentation be bad received they could lake ibe comfort to Ihcinelvrs thill it mis with the gifts ihey bud a-lced him lo accept that niaht.—(Ap'pliiiiro.) lie thanked them all from the very bottom of bis heart i for tho present-; llic-v hnd been good enough i to give him. His family would appreciate i Iliein us much as be did. lie would hang the adders; in Iho most coiiMiicuous place in i bis Inline, and it would ever be looked on by himself and by hi- family as a nJer.sing i memento of the kind feeling that existed be- ! I ween the corporation workmen and himself during his office as mayor.—(Applause.) A cold collation was served, and a number ■ of toasts proposed and duly honoured, an onjovnble eveniue; terminating shortly before 1 11 o'clock by the singing of "Auld lang i sync''