PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO MR

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 12

PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL TO MR

J. 9. WAKP.

The following circular (says tho Ghristchurch Press) has bjen sent as a service telegram furnished by the secretary to tho Poat Office to all telegraph offices and post offices in the coloDy .— There seems to b«j a general feeling throughout the service that Mr ward, our lute Postmastergeneral, should not be permitted to sever his connection with the Post and Telegraph department without receiviug from us some tangible tokeu of our est°em and respect. It is felt that in losing Mr Ward we are losing one who has done incalculable good to our department, and one ffho has always had the welfare of its officers at heart. A meeting was held in Dnnedin on Friday last, Mr Gray's sanction obtained. It wis decided to establish a "testimonial fund "for the abovementioned purpose. A committee, consisting of Me3srs Walker, Oxley, Talbot, and Young (tele* graph department), Dale, Cowie, Ferens, and Martin (Post Office) \va.s formed. It is requested that all chief post and telegraph offices will form central committees, aid vigorously canvass their districts for subscriptions. By so doing, it is hoped a sum will be realisod that will evince in no uncertain manner our gratitude to, aud our appreciation of, Mr Ward's efforts on our behalf. Already over £40 has been subscribed by our officers in Dunedin, and this will be, no doubt, substantially augmented by subscriptions from country office. It is felt tbat this is a true index of the feeling throughout the service. Officers here are subscribing from threo guineas downwards. Nevertheless sums, however small, will be gratefully received. Tha Dunedin committee have no desire to monopolise arrangements in any way. The place and mode of presentation, and the form it shall take, will be left to all central committees to decide. Mr Gray has expressed his <ympatliy with the movement, and has little doubt thc.ru will be a general response. At the same time ho suggests the movement should be conducted with as little ostentation as possible. Officers will kindly observe this. Please advise ma of any arrangements made. W. Farquhar Young, Secretary to fund, Dunedin.

NuiMO & Blair's " Laxton's Noble " Strawberries are considered by growers the finest and largest ever introduced. Qrow them. At 6s per dozen and 40* ocr 10(k