VALEDICTORY GATHERING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2408, 26 April 1900, Page 22

VALEDICTORY GATHERING.

AU E.EVOIR TO MR FERGUS

At the invitation of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, a number of gentlemen assembled in the Grand' Hotel on Monday afteinoon to bid farewell to the Hon. Thomas Fergus, prior tc his departure ior Europe. BeBides the president of the society (Mr A. C. St'ronach), there were also present— Messrs J. Moloney (president of the Chamber cf Commerce), A. Burt, A. C. Begg, J. Eeid, G. IRoberts, A. Todd, J.- F. Woodhouse, A. Thomson, J. T. Mackerras, J. Angus, J. M. Galla■way, D. Crawford, H. Jones, J. B. MacEwan, 3. Loudon, J. Mitchell, A. St. G. Ryder, J. Lethbridge, W. Patrick, Keith Ramsay, T. W. IKeiivothorne, W. L. Simpson, A. Sligo, J. Allen, M.H.R., and J. Hazlett. The Chairman said they had met that day to say bon voyage to Mr Fergus, a prominent member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society, who was about to take a trip to the Home country. It was only on Satuiday morning they learned that the date of his departure had been fixed, and for thst reason not many of their country friends had been able to attend. He had received apologies for non-attendance •from his Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Chishohn), Mt John Roberts, Mr G. P. Farquhar, Mr Crosby Morris, Mr Fred. Stronach, Mr W. H. Taggart, Mr G. L. Denniston, and Mr Walter IBlackie. He need not mention to that meeting the f.ict that Mr Fergus had done a great de^l ior the Agricultural and Pastoral Society. -Besides being a member of the committee for several years, he had taken a leading pait in the erection of the flue Agricultural Hall, which was, he was pleased to say, making, satisfactory progress, always with ihe assistance of their town and country friends, towards the ■time when it would be handed over free of debt <o the societ3\ During the current month they had also been able to practically secure the annexe building adjoining the hall, for which they had also to thank Mr Fergus and two other gentlemen, who were with him in the venture when it was purchased from the Exhibition authorities. The two gentlemen to ■whom he referred were Mr Alexander Thomson and Mr J. Hazlett. Mr Fergus's year? prevented him from being on the list of those who were known as old identities, but he was one of the worthiest samples of what those old identities regarded as the " new iniquity." (Laughter.) Mr Fergus, as was well known, bad also been a member of Parliament for many years, and in that capacity had done work which had been an advantage to the country and\a credit to himself. Previous to that lie had 'devoted his energies to railway contracting on a large scale, and in this colony and in others there were many important works — monuments of progress, as it were to show the good he had done here and elsewhere. Without a doubt, Mr Fergus had done much good for New Zealand, a lot for Otago, and a great deal for Dunedin. — (Applause.) Mr A. C. Begg would like to be allowed to say that Mr Fergus had for many years taken a leading part in connection with the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and also in connection with agricultural and pastoral matters throughout the province. He was sure everyone present wished that Mr Fergus might have a pleasmt and happy holiday, good' weather on the \oyage, not suffer much from seasickness, a good time in the old country, and perhaps on the Continent, and turn up in Dunedin again eight or ten months hence poking even irore smiling and rubicund than he was at present. — (Applause.) He did noi, know whether Mr Fergus intended to include South Africa in his rambles or not, but if he did he would bring back a lot of information such as was wanted here in connection with a market for their prpduce, and probably he might see a httle of the hard knocks that were being dealt there. It was to be hoped, however, that by that time the war would be over. — (Hear, hear.) Personally, and he was sure he spoke for everyone else in the room, he wished Mr Fergus all tlie best foitune and pleasure on his journey. — (Applause.)

Mi J. Allen, M.H.E., expressed his pleasure at being able to be present on that occasion, ■when they were assembled to bid good-bye, and wish bon vos'age, a pleasant time at Home, and a safe return to Mr Fergus. It was not often they sent away from Dunedin citizens vv-itli the amount of mental vigour and energy, coupled with the bodily capacity, 'possessed by Mr Fer-

gus. Dunedin and the province of Otago owed a lot to Mr Fergus, and to men like him, for their activity and go-ahead spirit — qualities which had brought Dunedin to the position of the most prominent city in New Zealand. In ]io direction have his abilities in this respect been more greatly evidenced than in his association with the A. and P. Society, which has led the way in New Zealand. &o_ f ar ps shows were concerned. The speaker was glad that Mr Fergus was about to take a trip to the old country, and he was quite sure lie would come back with his energies increased, rafher than in any way impaired, and that -when at Home he would learn more than most other men who have made such a trip, but who weie endowed with less energy and mental power.

The President of the Society then called upon tho&e present to drink to the health and sticcess of their guest.

The toast having been drunk with musical honours,

.The Hon. Mr Fergus, who was l-eceived with applause, responded. He said that at that moment he felt the force of the words of the old Book that it was "more blessed to give than to receive," for it would give infinitely more pleasure to speed o.ie of them on a holiday trip than to bid them good-bye. He had received any quantity of indications of the goodwill that was borne towards himself by all sections of the community, for he had received telegrams and letters from every part of New Zealand wishing him health and happiness and a safe and happy trip to the land of his nativity.— (Applause.) And on looking around him at tiiat gathering .he was perfectly certain that everything that had been said had been reechoed in their hearts. In was with pleasure that he could say, with all honesty and sincerity, that from the day he entered public life to the present day he had never made a permanent enemy in the colony— applause); —not even among his most bitter political antagonists. He and those with whom he had worked in politics had ever been ready to meet on the plane of social friendship. They ever remembered that they belonged to the people 'of New Zealand, and that their nrs t duty was to the State, and for the State, and for the benefit thereof. He felt it was a great honour that the society had done him in ineeting him there in such large numbers on a busy day to wish him bon voyage. He appreciated the honour. He was sorry that for some little time past he had not been able to give so much time to the affairs of the society as he would have liked to give, but that he had been of some slight benefit to the institution he thought he could not but recognise, and he was glad to know that such was the case.— (Hear, hear.) He was pleased to know that he was one of the originators of the Agricultural Hall scheme. When the society found that the winter show was growing too large for the Garrison Hall it was necessary that some other building should be provided to keep pace with the growth of" the society, and although the hall had not been all they expected it to be it had met a decided want, and had allowed the society to expand their powers for usefulness.— (Applause.) As the chaiiman had said, the society had only recently still further expanded. That step, he might say, had come about in this way. When the exhibition was closed, Mr Hazlett suggested to him that the society should buy the lease of the sections on which the annexe stood, but as the society couLl not see their way to do so Mr Hazlett himself bought the lease, and in response to his request he (Mr Fergus) and Mr Alexander Thomson subsequently stood in with him in the' purchase. Then, in reply to the secretary of Ihe society, the ground was offered to the society 12 months ago, and the buildings, also, for what had practically been the cost of them —(applause) — on condition that they were held by the. Agricultural and Pastoral Association for their shows. The society did not, however, see their way to accept the offer, but about a menth ago they again opened up the matter, and as a result the buildings had been acquired by the society on the terms originally proposed,, and, lie was sure, formed a valuable addition to the society's property. Twelve months ago the hall was found to be altogether insufficient for the gradual expansion of the winter shows, but with this addition the society had now a large area of ground to work upon, and he was sure that the eneigetic committee the ■society had elected to conduct tlieir affairs would not lose their oppoitumty, and that they would guviatain the show in the pro.ud poaj.-

tion it occupied at present — the premier show of New Zealand. — (Applause.) The people of Dunedin, he thought," should give the society more assistance than they had given in the past, but that they would rise to the occasion he had not the slightest doubt — (hear,hear),— and when he leturned to New Zealand, after about 12 months' absence, he hoped it would be to find that the winter show of nest year was; to excel all ether shows which had been held in the city. — (Applause.) It was now some 30 years since he landed in New Zealand fiom Victoria. Shortly after his arrival he joined the public service as a. civil servant, and he had since been to a greater or less extent before the public. He was associated, 28 or 29 years ago, with Mr Simpson on the goldfields, when he (Mr Fergus) occupied the position of disiricc engineer. Subsequent to that he jrenfc Into the private walks of life, and then he cinfted into politics. He was in Parliament for 15 sessions, and at the expiry of that time he got out of it, and he was glad io get oub of it —(Laughter.) He came out of it feeling that in it there was 110 honour or any other good. — (" Hear, hoar, from several gentlemen, and a Voice, '' No.") Of course, someone must do tho work. It might have been vanity that picmpted him to stand for the position," but it was particularly his desire to keep someone out who, in his opinion, would have been an indifferent member. He trusted that, at the same time, he also had an idea of doing some little good to his countr3'. That he had erred he was free to confess, and at the same time he confessed he might have done things he ought nol to have clone, and left undone things he ought to have done. — (Laughter.) At anyrate, he did not think there was anything for which he could be held morally responsible. — (Hear, hear.) He wished also to say that Mr Thomas Brown and himself had been appointed representatives of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to attend the Congress of Chambers of Commerce from all parts of the Empire, which w?s to meet in London in June next. It was a very influential body. The representatives were drawn from all parts 01 the Empire, and the subjects for discussion were varied and important. In conclusion, Mr Fergus said that although he looked forward with pleasure to his trip he believed the happiest day would be when he got inside Otago Heads again, on the way to rejoin his children who were born here, as their mother had been before them.^ . (Applause.) He thanked the meeting very heartily for the kindly reception that had been extended to him. — (Applause). Before the proceedings terminated the Hon. Mr Fergus called upon those present to drink success to the A. and P. Society, and coupled with the toast the name of the president. He stated, in doing so, that Mr Stronach had acted as class steward on the committee for many years, and had now risen to the highest position in the society — namely, that of president. " " The toast was duly honoured, and appropriately responded to by Mr Stronach.