Presentation.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 14 December 1894, Page 2

Presentation.

TO H. M. WOODWABD, ESQ.

About thirty settlers and business people met at Middleton's Hotel on Tuesday last for the purpose of presenting a testimonial and purse of sovereigns to Mr Woodward, who has been agent for the Bank of New Zealand at Manaia for the past teu years, and who also has had charge of the Opunake branch of that institution for the past six years. Mr G. W. Bogers, Chairman of the Town Board, was called upon to preside, and said that when it became known that Mr Woodward was about to be removed there was very great regret felt by all the business people and settlers who had the pleasure of knowing him, either in his business or social capacity. There was at once a spontaneous desire expressed to tender him an acknowledgment of tbe esteem in which they held the testimonial and purse of sovereigns which had been placed in his hands to present were the outcome of the goodwill and kindly feeling of the residents of Opunake township and district. He was sure Mjj Woodward would value the feeling of appreciation which prompted the parting souvenir inore than its intrinsic worth. He then read the following address : To H. M. Woodward, Esq., Agent Bank of New Zealand. Dear Sm,—lt is-with very great regret .that we have heard of your removal from this distiict, and we take this opportunity of testifying t» the very high esteem in • which we, in common with all others with whom you have come in contact, hold you, for your high business qualities and straightforward conduct in all business relations which wo have had with you during the ten years you have held tbe position as agent at Manaia, and whilst you have had Opunake under your charge. We feel fully assured that your care and zeal for the welfare of the institution which you have represented with so much credit, -and

the esteem in which you were per%>n.tily held here; has been the means of holding the business of the Bank tpgtther daring a very trying period. We hope you wiil accept the accompanying purse- of sovereigns as a souvenir of our and assure you of out heartiest and best withes for vour future health and prosp-iity. —Geo. W. Eogers, W. D. Scott, M. J. . Brennan, A. O'Donnell, C. F. McGregor, Donald McGregor, William Pettigrew, John Kennedy, Michael Callendar, Edward C. Eaikes, T. . Kuowles, Walter W. Middleton, Eua Moetahuna, J. M- Hickey, John Stevenson, E. O'Sullivan, S. Forsyth, Charles McHardy, W. Campbell Eaikes, A. H. Moore, Jas. W. Eogers, H. J. Newman, M. Carroll, J. Mitchell, J. Twomey. . The Chairman then called on the P£T company to charge- their glasses and drink Mr Woodward's health on "&z," accompanied with musical honors.

Mr Woodward, in reply, said he hardly knew how to thank them for the honor they had done him. He had always endeavored, to the best of his ability, to study the interests of both the institution which he represented and its clients. It had always been a pleasing duty to him conducting the business of the Bank at Opunake, as he never found any difficulty in getting on with the people, and he should always remember his connection with them with a great deal of pleasure, This demonstration of their goodwill towards him took him by surprise, and he could assure them that their kindly wishes were fully reciprocated. Wherever his lot might he cast he would always retain a warm feeling for the people of Opunake and district. He valued their expressions of kindness and goodwill more than any other thing, and he would purchase some souvenir with the purse of sovereigns with which they had presented him, which would tend, if such reminder were necessary, to keep in remembrance the many pleasant hours spent in Opunake. Mr Woodward then requested the company to charge their glasses, as he wished to propose a toast. When he first took charge of the Opunake agency the place was in a state of great depression. Two-thirds of the dwellings and business places were unoccupied, and it looked as if its glory had departed for ever. But there were men in it who had a backbone in them and they stack manfully to their guqs, and had lost no opportunity, publicly and otherwise, in pushing it ahead, until to-day there was not an empty building in the township, and the district generally was in a flourishing state. He - had every confidence in the future of Opunake, and he hoped some day. to see them all again when Opunake would have risen to its natural position of importance and prosperity. He would ask them all to drink to the " Prosperity of Opunake Town and District," coupled with the name 3 of Messrs G. W. Eogers (Chairman Town Board), and Forsyth (Chairman Hawera County Council). Mr Forsyth said the district of Opunake was bound to progress as the country around it became settled, and great strides had been made in that direction since Mr Woodward first came to the district. He regretted that gentleman's departure, and hoped that his severance from the district meant promotion for him. It was always a pleasure to do business him, as he was a man who, by his business tact and personal courtesy, had, he felt sure, obtained the entire confidence of every client of the institution in the district. \ Mr G. W. Eogers, though regretting Mr Woodward's departure, hoped the change was for his personal benefit, and trusted that they might be fortunate enough to get a man in his place who would take the same lively interest in the advancement of the district as Mr Woodward had done. Opunake had had a hard struggle against very adverse circumstances, but he had every confidence in its future, and although they had had a long wait, their reward was now coming, and prosperity was at last beginning to shine on the place. He could personally speak of many acts of kindness on Mr Woodward's part, in which his judgment had proved beneficial to the BaDk and those whom he favored. Mr J. Stevenson said he had much

pleasure, as a thirty-years' resident in the district, in testifying to the uniform courtesy and business tact of Mr Woodward. He was a man whom you could approach and repose every confidence in. As manager, he was intimately acquainted with the district r-' and the people, and so long as you had the security there was no trouble in getting him to " plank up the dollars." He for one was very sorry to see him leaving the district. Mr D. McGregor said lie had ' always foundfMr Woodward a thorough business man, who had a particularly pleasant way of saying unpleasant things, and he would be very much missed from Opunake, where he had become so well known and respected. Opunake was going ahead, as anyone could see, aid the reason of it was that the people in it were united, and when it came to anything which was for the good of the district, they were to be found all pulling together. This unity was the most certain road to success. " Mr Nolan said that although he was not a residenfcof Opunake, his interests were bound up in the district. He had known Mr Woodward almost since he was a baby in long clothes, and the less he said about that stage of their acquaintanceship the better, but since Mr Woodward had been in the service of the Bank he was sure it had not a more zealous officer. He (Mr Nolan) had had a long business connection with the Bank, and they must all. recognise that it was their national institution', with which the welfare of the colony was intimately

allied, and its success meant success to the colony. The Bank had passed through troublesome times, but the nationpl spirit infused in it had carried itiiffoVigh its troubles which.no doubt, every man of them were pleased to see. He w«s also a shareholder in the and as such regretted Mr Woodward's removal from the district where his intimate knowledge was of especial value to the institution. He was satisfied that wherever Mr Woodward might be located the people with whom he would have to deal would find him as they had found him—an honest, straightforward, and genuine man. A convivial evening was spent, and the singing of "Aula Lang Syne" brought the proceedings to a close.