PRESENTATIONS TO MR T. HILL, COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1156, 24 January 1874, Page 4

PRESENTATIONS TO MR T. HILL, COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS.

On the afternoon of the 17th inst. a presentation was made to Mr Thomas H'll, Collector of Customs, on the eve of his departure for Auckland, by the Customs Officers of Dunedin, Port Chalmers, and Oamaru, together with the Light-house Officials at the H^ds and the Nuggets. The articles were got from Mr Young, Princes street, and consisted of a silver biscuit box and teapot, and a finld-glasi. Mr Monson, chief officer at Port Chalmers, bding the oldest officer in the service, in very appropriate terms referred to the kind consideration Mr Hill had always shown for those under his official charge. In reply, Mr Hill expressed his regret at leaving, and said that wherever he might be in future, he would have warm feelings towards Dunedin, and the pleasantest memories of his connection with the staff at this port.

A number of gentlemen, representing the leading mercantile firms in Duaedin, assembled at the Club Hotel, on Monday, for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr T. Hill, Collector of Customs, who is about to be removed to Auckland. Mr G. Turnbull, who was voted to the Chair, introduced the business by stating that they had met to drink the health of Mr Hill before he took his departure, and also to present him with a small memento indicating the high estimation and respect in which he is held by the commercial oommunity, both as an efficient Government officer and a gentleman. When they heard the news that Mr Hill was likely to leave this place there was very wide spread regret among the community, and they all i felt they were about to sustain a great loss. However, he hoped, and he was sure all present would join him in hoping, that wherever Mr Hill's future abode might be, his lines might fall in pleasant places. It was almost useless for him to say anything more, knowing so veil that they had all found Mr Hill to be a zealous and efficient officer in the service of the Government, and at the same time obliging, conciliatory, and accommodating so for as the public were concerned. All of them who had had Custom House work to do, her* and elsewhere, knew that it could be made both tedious and troubleaome, and aljo knew how easy it was for an obliging officer to lighten the toil connected with the unpleasant operation of paying i>ver money to Her Majesty. He was sure Mr Hill had done that in a marked degree, and it waa needless for him to say anything more on that point, as many of those present were as wall acquainted with Mr Hill as he (the Chairman) waa. He would only conclude by saving that if Providence ■'-lould again send Mr Hill this way they wanldall be as happy to see him aa they now were a>rry to part with him.— (Hear heir.) It onW remained for him to present Mr Hill vith a pm-86 containing 100 guineas and a list o! the subscribers to the testimonial. He night say that it was got up very hurriedly ; in fact Friday night was the first time jt was thought ef, and they speedily raißedthe required amount. In faot, they oouldlhave doubled or trebled it, and he saw riany present who grumbled at the subscription being limited to so small an amount.

Efc.bact never had so ewy a collection to make since h6 became acquainted with such operations; This fact showed the high respect entertained for Mr Hill/ and that the public' considered a proper step had: beta token iri gtft'fing tip this testimonial. Various circumstances haa t prevented many from being present on this o6c<fsion, but the lisi of subscribers to the testimonial vf as a ettffi' cient indication of their good will towards Mr HUI. The health of Mr Hill waS the* drunk, with all the honours. In replying, Mr Hill said that he could scarcely find words to express his feelings of gratitude for their treatment of him that evening. Ha only felt conscious of having done his duty towards the Government, and he was gratified that he bad been able to do so in a war least offensive to the public. He had to heartily thank tfaeitt far their testimonial.