PRESENTATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2400, 1 March 1900, Page 21

PRESENTATIONS.

After evening service on Sunday, a large number of the -parishioners assembled in All Saints' Schoolroom to say good-bye to the Rev. "W. G-. Davidson, who is giving up the cui'acy of the parish to take the cure of Riverton. The Very Rev. Dean Fitchett said Mr Davidson had been with them nearly two year 3, and had won the esteem and the affection of all. He had performed faithful and loyal duty, and they were now parting with mutual esteem. There had been five curates in the parish, and he (the speaker) had agreed - with, them all ; but whether this spoke well for himself or for the curates he would leave the parishioners to say. — (Laughter.) He parted with Mr Davidson with the greatest reluctance, but felt sure that his two years' services as curate of All Saints' would stand him in good stead in his cure. Mr J. Allen, M.H.R., senior churchwarden, said that those who had worked with Mr Davidson did not wish to let him go without some slight memento of the kindly feelings that existed between them. Mr Davidson had been especially successful in his work amongst the voting people of the parish, and had done good" work in that department. He was certain that the training he had received in All. Saints' would stand him in good stead now that lie was going to have a cure of his own. The life of an Anglican clergyman in the country was especially hard and trying, and he was certain that the fact that he had the hearty sympathy of All Saints' parishioners would help him in his new field of work. On behalf of the parishioners he then presented Mr Davidson with a handsome pocket-book, siiita-bly inscribed, and containing a substantial sum in gold/ He hoped the pocket-book would always remind the recipient of the high esteem in which he was held by the All Saints' parishioners. The Rev. Mr Davidson" said that he was not going to rnaks a speech. All he could do was to thank them. He was glad to have heard the expressions of sympathy and love that had fallen from the Dean and Mr Allen. Ho had tried to secure their love, in order that he might do good work for his Master, and was pleased that to some extent he had succeeded. The benediction closed the proceedings.

Mr J. H. Preston, of Longlands station, having cleteiminecl to shortly lemove from the Kyeburn district and take up his abode for .a time on his recently acquired property in the Mackenzie Country, a few of his friends and immediate neighbours met at Longlanda on Saturday afternoon to wish Mr and Mrs Preston good-bye, and to present them with a memento or souvenir of their life in the district. The gathering took the form of an afternoon picnic — a surprise picnic it might be called, — and about 2 o'clock a siiccession of buggy-loads of people, armed with provisions, began to arrive, and by 3 o'clock there were, including children, between 80 and 100 present. Mr and Mrs Preston's attendance having been requested, tea was at once made, and that and the good things were first discussed. The Rev. Mr M'Cosh Smith then addressed those present, and spoke of the pleasure it gave him and the others to attend on the occasion. He referred at considerable length to the many estimable qualities of character possessed by the guests of the afternoon, and afterwards asked them to accept of a silver tray and kettle. The tray bears the following inscription : — " Presented (along with a kettle) to Mr and Mrs J. H. Preston, on the occasion of their leaving the Kyeburn district, by their friends and neighbours, as a token of goodwill and esteem, and to mark their appreciation of their many good qualities. February, 1900." The articles are of lemarkably ,handsome design. Mr R. W. Glendrning said that after the prisents had been paid for it was found that there were still a few pounds sterling on hand, and it had been "agreed to hand this over to Mrs Preston for the children, Mrs Preston to buy with it something for each of tliem the first time a suitable occasion presented itself. The sum of £5 was handed to her for this purpose. Messrs A. Murdoch, P. M'Leod, and Pearson made brief speeches, in which they referred to the high estimation in wWfik Mi &J$ Mj» PigsioQ were iieidj, and the

regret felt at their departure.. Mr Preston returned thanks in suitable terms for the handsome presents he and his wife had received, and for the kindly remarks of the various speakers. He did not know that he had done anything to merit such unexpected kindness. Tea and cakes were again handed round, after which, racing and games and conversation were indulged in, and a very happy afternoon speedily came to a close. It may be remarked that Mr Preston lias disposed of his Longlands property to his younger brother, Mr Joseph Preston, of Forestvale, Toi-Toi district, who intends for the future to reside on the property, so that there will still be a Preston at Longlands. It may be stated that in deference to the recipients' known feelings in such matters the function on Saturday afternoon was kept as quiet and unostentatious as possible, and the subscriptions for the testimonial collected only fiom the closest neighboxirs. One of the most pleasant features in connection with it was the hearty spontaneity with which everyone contributed.