FAREWELL TO CANON RICHARDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 9

FAREWELL TO CANON RICHARDS.

The parishioners of the various college districts presided over by Canon Richards (warden of Selwyn College) held a social at All Saints' Schoolroom on Monday, 30th ult., to bid farewell to their retiring vicar. The Verj Rev. Dean Fitchett, who presided at the meeting, spoke in most laudatory and feeling terms of the work which Canon Richards had performed as curate of the college districts and as warden of the college. He thought he was strictly accurate in saying " that Canon Richards had been in labours more abundant than his brethren, and had done them uncomplainingly. ' The Canon, he said, had a very high estimate of the spiritual and divine character of his work — few men a higher, — and he had done his work v/ith a fidelity and with an amount of diligence and energy that had often put him (the speaker) to shame. He had often felt praccically rebuked by his example, and he was sure that in all those places wherein he had ministered Canon Richards had secured the esteem of the people. The Dean referred to the good work performed by the Canon as warden of Selwyn College. Though' his work had been in this early stage of the life of the college of a plastic nature — natural at the beginning of things — he had strenuously worked Jo raise the standard of the men whom he had had to prepare for the ministry, insisting upon those educational qualifications without which they would be terrifically handicapped in a way painful to see. To send out men into the ministry, as had been done in the past, •without these qualifications was a cruel wrong to the church, and would be bitterly repented of in the future, and by none more so than by the men thus sant out themselves. The Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers, in the course of an eloquent address, reiterated the eulogisms pronounced by the previous speaker, and, after referring to the vastneas of the work performed by Canon Richards, said that he had noticed that since resigning his office he (Canon Richards) had looked 10 years younger. Speaking of his own experiences as a world-wide traveller and his opportunities of judging men, he said that, without flattery, he was quite prepared to resign St. Matthew's parish to any man who could be said to have done his work more thoroughly or who had a higher ideal of his duty than had/Canon Richards. Mr Murray Aston and Mr Wright spoke, on behalf of the districts, expressing the appreciation of the parishioners of the admirable qualities of the Canon. The first-mentioned gentleman, in concluding his remarks, presented Canon and Mrs Richards with a- number of gifts— amongst others being a handsome illuminated address, designed by Mr R. Hawcridge (a "West Harbour parishioner), a timepiece, travelling rugs, etc. The Rev. Canon Richards, in responding, thanked the Dean and the other speakers for their very kind remarks, and expressed his thanks for the beautiful gifts with which^ he and Mrs Richards had been piesented. He thought particularly highly of the illumination, inasmuch as it contained pictures of the churches in the various districts of which lie had had charge during the past five years. Looking forward to his work at Lawrence, he hoped he would meet with as loyal church workers there amongst the lay people as he had found in the Dunedin districts. He believed that it was God's will that he should go to Lawrence, and that He would bless his woxk there.

During the evening songs were sung by the Misses James, Mrs and Miss Drake, and Miss Graham, and Mr Kaye gave a recitation. Mr Towsey presided at the piano. Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies who had supplied the tea, to the ladies and gentlemen who had provided the music, and to the Dean for presiding at the meeting. The meeting closed with the benediction.