PRESENTATION TO MR W. B. HARLOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 10

PRESENTATION TO MR W. B. HARLOW.

A number of gentlemen met in Mr J.P. Maitland's office on Ti iday afternoon for tho purpose of making a presentation to Mr W. B. Harlow, of the land department, prior to his retirement from the civil service.

Mr MAli/LAND, in making the presentation, said although it wa3 not easy for him to extract any pleasnre from a matter in connection with whic he telt very much regret — Mr Harlow's severance from his department— a severance caused by no fault of hiß own, but through the unfortunate policy of retrenchment which the Government found necessary to carry out,— at the same time he found a considerable amount of satisfaction In having been aakt d to convey to Mr Harlow expression of the regret felt by his fellow officers and others with whom he had had official dealings at his leaving the Land department, and to wish him well for the future. He might cay for himself that the relations which had subsisted between himself as head of the department and Mr Harlow had always ben very pleasant, and he found it a very painful-duty when he had to inform Mr Harlow of the decision of tho Government with regard to his appointment. All ho had no\v to say was this t That although Mr Harlow might consider that the sudden and unexpected loss of bis appointment was a great misfortune, he hoped that it might happen to him as it had often happened to others— that what seemed to ba nothing but a great loss and a disappointment might turn out to be his gain. — (Hear, hear.) It was not easy for Mr Harlow to see this at present, b:it he would urge upon him to look hopefully to the future, and he was sure that all bis friends wished that the sun might shine upon him in the future, and that both he and his family would find thab instead of his prospecfo being damaged by his departure from tho civil service, they would be improved.— (Hear, hear.) He concluded by rending a letter signed by a number of Mr Harlow's fellovr officer*, expressing regret at his departure from the depaitment, and one to the same effect from a number of gentlemen who had had official dealings with him. He then handed to Mr Harlow a handsome silver cake basket bearing the following inscription :: — •• Presented to YVm.; B. Harlow ou his retirement from the civil si rvice by hia fellow officers in the Land and Survey department, and by a few friends officially connected with him. Duneain, June 30. 1888."

Mr Hablow, in returning thanks for the presentation, said it was a source of happiness to him that he had been over 14 years in the department, and had never had a word of discord \vi!h a brother officer or the head of the department ; and also that iv the discharge of his duties he had won the resp'ct of all those with whom he hal come in contact. — (Hear, hear.)

Mr W. Rob&rfcson, who has arrived at Westport from New So'i^h Walesto examine theNgakawau ooal works on Pjehalf of a syndicate who intend to purchase, his completed bis examination, and is understood Ho be favourably impressed with the property. iThe success of these negotiations means a &reat expansion of the local coal trade.