PRESENTATION TO MESSES IRVINE AND STEVENSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2241, 11 February 1897, Page 55

PRESENTATION TO M ESSES IRVINE AND STEVENSON.

A social gathering was h*ld at He>srs Irvine . and Stevenson's preserving vrorki in f iileul j street on the 3rd to celebrate tha opening of the j works. The promises were formerly in the j possession of Messrs Keast and M'Carthy, i brewers, bub wore acquired about 12 months i ago by Messrs Irvine and Stevenson, who converted a portion of them into a starch factory, which gave employment to about 20 persons. Lately, however, the firm decided to utilise the I remaining portion of the premises as a jam and J meat preserfing works, and as such they will be j opened in about a week's time. There will teen ba about 100 peteons altogether employed in the works. When all the necessary appliances are in the factory for carrying on jam making and meat preserving it i would, of course, ba impossible to utilise the building for a festive occasion ; and so it was deemed advisable Io have a gathering in celebration or the opening of the works on the 3rd. At this function about 200 persons were present, the great bulk of whom were employees of the firm. The chief amusement of the evening was dancing; but draughts, cards, and other games were indulged in by many ; while a Lumbar of vocil selections were also contributed during the ciursa of the evening. Mr J. Vales supplied the music, Me R Brown catered, »ud Messrs A. Kerr and J. B _>yd acted as M.O's. During an interval in the proceeding* a presentation of two beautifully illuminated addresses vras made — ona to Mr Irvine aud the other to Mr Stevenson. Mr W. Baird, in nuking the presentations, said a very pleasant ta.t^k hid btea allotted to hicn that evening. He had been requested, on b*h*lf of his fellow employees, to pieinnt each of their worl.hy principals, Mr James Irvine and Mr Wuliau.l .Stevenson, with a handsome iilummated address. He thought he expressed the teelh^ of all there that night when he said that this presentation was the outcome of their appreciation of those many kindly qualities of hand and heart which were so wisely and happily used by both gentlamcn. It' ha might brietiy glance at tho firm's history, he would tslce them aw»y bick to the year 1863, when Mr James Irm.e arrived in Dunediu, and well and truly laid tho foundation stone of the present extensive business. Many of those present were only toddling to school then, while all tha younger employees were still iiu fairyland. The business from that time ■ developed into the well-known estftb'ishment of ! 20 years ago, and later, in 1882, Mr William Stevenson joined forces with Mr Irvine. The business after this union was extended through many new channels, and so, one after another, tao various branches of employment have been opened up until now the "St. George" manufactures have acquired * reputation all over the Australasian colonies. They all knew that th« worry aud anxiety of developing r business like that of the firm must cause a heavy drain on the bank of life, but; they were pleased to see that Messrs Irvine and Stevenson were there with them that night, hale and hearty, as they socially opened the latest additions to the firm's premises. He had now much pleasure in presenting Mr Irvine and Mr Steveuson each with an address expressive of the gre-tt respect that the employees a'l l.«ad for them and of every good wish t'ov? their continued prosperity. — (Applause.) He then read che address, which was as follows ; — 3rd February, 1597. J. Irvine, Esq , and Win. Stevenson, E^q. Gentlemen,— We, the undersigned, representing the staff employed by you in the wholesale, retail, and manufacturing departments, have resolved, on this the thirty-third anniversary of the iirm'a existence, to preseac you with, some slight token of our respect for you, with whom uniform kindness to and consideration for your employees have ever been a characteristic of your long business career. We are a.l aware of the energy shown by you in creating, not only 10-al, but an .intercolonial market for your manufacturer It is, therefore, with pardonaD'SS pride that we point to this business, which, founded in 18b".f, has now, under your able management, evolved into a noble unit in the growing fabric of Australasian industry. This memento we ask you to accept as a souvenir of our appreciation of your public spirit as business men and your uprightness of life and conduct Iv conclusion, we trust tint you may both be long spared to enjoy increased prosperity and happiness. The addresses, which were both in the same tfcrms, wero signed by a nutnbsc of the employees, on behalf- of the whole of th«)m. Mr Stevenson, in replying oa behalf of himself and partner, said : I feel sure that Mr Irvine and ray self are very much pleased at this token of goodwill to ourselves. I take it that you wish to convey ia this way your appreciation of us personally as employers and a'.ao ti testify to t'.e good-fellowship which has always existed between us ; moreover, that you recognise that it has been our principal endeavour in opening these factories to find employment for our people. This is now the third or fourth lime that we have met in this way to commemorate a further advance by opening another factory. Those of you who are present tonight and recollect eocae 10 or 12 years ago, when we met in my own house at a dinner given then, may remember how I then expressed the idea that had formed iv my mind of building a factory in St. Andrew street. Well, this ! No. 1 factory was bult and equipped and •• house-warmed "; and a good many of you will remember it as a busy place in its day. Then, after a few years, we met again, when it { was found desirable to purchase the business of Peacock (Limited). Wvll, it was done — ] although I can truly say ib strained our finances to the utmost at the time additional premises were leased — and the whole was known as our No. 2 factory. This was also house warmed ; but it, too, in its turn has been found unsuitable, and the firm have beau on the lookout for a larger and a more permanent site for some time. Eventually we decided on purchasing these premises, which will, we hopo, be large enough for some considerable time. During the last 12| months we have been engaged in fitting up what we trusb you will find to be a comfortable workplace — in fact we hope to make it a model factory with your help. Whether this, in its turn, will be found too small I know not, and I leave the future with confidence in the dispensation or a Higher Power. Of this I am sure, that we have all worked heartily for the success of the St. George works, and I trust that when some of us have gone to that bourne whence no traveller i returns that this enterprise will still be found giving employment to many people. I | can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, if one could draw back in these enterprises, I should Ibe glad. But we are constantly being driven on, and every year seems to bring fresh de- j maeds fur capital. I may take you a little into my confidence by telling you that it now j ; appears that we need a farm to assist the factories. We have now settled on a suitable place, and it is quite probable that the purchase may be concluded shortly. Then there is 1 factory to build at Wcstport, and another projected somewhere in the south for flih-preserv- , ing. So you see that we are not by any means at j 1 the end of our tether, I will iust say that yon

hitve our hearty welcome here to-night, and I hops you will enjoy yourselves as much as {•ossib'.e. When Mr Stevenson had concluded his speech he was greeted with lcid applause. Then the employes sang " for they are jol'y good fellows," aud wound up by giving three cheers for the firm. Mr M'Beath also spoke briefly, and in referring to Messrs Irvine and Stevenson's business abilities, said if we only had such men to represent us in Parliament the country would prosper in the same way as their business had done. He concluded by moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mesdames Irvine and Stevenson for entertaining all present that night The vote was carried with enthusiasm, three cheers being given for the ladies meutioued.