PRESENTATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 10

PRESENTATIONS.

Mr Chas. Whelan, postmaster at Tapanui, who has been transferred to Keeiion, was accorded a farewell social and piesentation on Friday, 29th ult. The Ceniral Hail was elaborately decorated for the o^cc^.on, and the gathering was the 'argrst jen at ary iv; c l.ou of the kind evrr h-!u m T\t\>ai vi. lbs buildmg was quite mca 3!*b" ' of pecouiiiioclating the numbers that as=emb'»d. and many o'd fricrds of Mr and Mrs Whelai uune long distances to be present. For the lirst part of the programme musical items were provided by Mrs Bramgan and Miss Cullen ar-1 Mr Fred Cullen, i id songs by Mrs Chas. Todd, and Messi-3 Bramgan. Frank Whelan, E. K. Hyde, E. B. Wcthev, T. L. Hall, J. K. Mensies, C. Whelan, v.luM the local piper (Mr Alex. JJuncfii) pl?yed a couple of selections. The Mayor (Mr T." J. Qnnyle), in presenting Mr Whelan with a substantial purse, as a mark of the esteem m wb.ch he was held by the community j.-puta I ,!}- as a citizen, and a token of the sy.y. -r ~ial<c.i o{ ]; ; s services during his long pir.y ot i.5 ycais m Tapanui, referred in v^ry comVnin -v':y terms to the recipient's rai-'iy pood qusht; cs, btc! on behalf of the subscribers v-ished ilr and Mis Whelan and family long hfe and ijrosnanty in their new sphere Mr Whelc.ii, he said, had been connected with every society and club that had for its object the benefit of the people and district, and had givon his talents, money, and time ungrudgingly at sll tinier. Jr his official

capacity the rouag men row holding responsible posit lors in different parts of the colony, and who had been trained m the local office, were sufficient testimony to the postmaster, and were a credit to Mr Whelan and the department. The purse was handed over amid rounds of applause and the singing of "He's a jolly good fellow, followed by cheers for Mr and Mrs Whelan. Mr Whelan, in his reply, warmly taanked the friends who had treated him so kindly and the mayor for the many kind things he had said. In a happy speech he enumerated many incidents of the '• good old days " of the sawrmllmg industry, and traced the growth of the district during the past quarter of a century. Twenty-five years ago Tapanui and Dunrobm were the only post offices, but to-da-y every portion was provided with a postal service and almost all parts were connected by telephone. The increase m postal work was also of special interest to local people, and altogether Mr Whelan gave a graphic account ot the progress of the district. Several of the vocalists agam rendered items, and at the conclusion of the programme most of those present were treated to refreshments, the supper room being also tastefully arranged, and the catering was m the able hands of Mr Quayle The hall was cleared for dancing, and a few hours were h " W i'^ aS^ ntly t0 violln music supplied by Mr Fred Cullen, other friends assisting at the piano. The gathering was an unqualified success and Mr and Mrs Whelan and family carry with them the good wishes of a great many Iriends for their future success. ■ At the Hillside Workshops on Friday 29th ult Messrs J. Jolly and A. Farrant were presented with handsome presents from their fellow employees on the occasion of their approaching marriages. In making the presentations, which consisted of a dinner set and lamp to each of the above, Mr A. D. Hillior spoke in terms of praise of the good feeling that existed, and said their fellow shppmates could not let such popular men join Ihe noble army ot .Benedicts without suitably recognising the | event He (Mr Hilher) hoped t'neir future would be long and prosperous, and that the presents would remind thprn of the esteem m which they were held by their fellow workmen. Messrs Jolly and Farrant thanked those present for their handsome gifts, and said they would remind them of the happy times they had spent together. They then invited all present whel/M^T T™ 8 at the Xe *smgton Hotel, where Mr Jolly was presented with a travelling bag from Messrs A. Hobson, Loudon, Goodman, and Loner. Orchestral selections were given by the Hillside Band; songs by Messrs A. Hobson, JDrummJoH, Wilims, West, Galloway, D Hobson, and Head; a cornet solo by Mr -Phillips; recitations by Messrs Farrant, Lewis, and Leyland; and a step-dance by Mr J. 5 1 ?' 3 ?r n - -o T H hea - Uh of Mr Joll y ™ 3 proposed by Mr Braid and that of Mr Farrant by Mr Dawsett. The evening was brought to a close by drinking the health of the proprietor ii x ,r> who liad eve rything so well arranged that all present declared it one of the jolhest evenings they had ever spent. The members of the Pirates Football Club piet Mr W. Farquharson, well known m foot- '

- — Vr, ? r f ', f " ri -f temper of that club and . -ijvfs &£z?. few*"; I of the club, 0.-cu^.J the cha.r, cj.d m a few Mr JR. 1. D-atlilc, v .iio Lis ,u=t iPj.-j.cd }->- conne,tio:i from lfe= ;!S R u 3 aid o4d>n u^l , ino,d« to m.u.ag, the Invercarg.ll tra'.ch^f , tjo Aevv Zealand Express Company's bir-nie^s was. made the guest o^ the 30th ult. ot a p-ily~oFp -ily~oF I Duuedm gentlemen, who drove hin to O ," sopping on mute at Mo 3g le l m order to ccc the road r.ce Dmner was partaken of at the Oata ™, lo **\> after whic'i Mr C. F. Russell, oa bahalf of those present and a few absent mend, hanaed to Mr Dutlue a gold scuere.^n case ! with his monogram noatly engraved, also a csne , ot razors and a pair cf house comforts. In mak! ing the presentation, Mr Russell made =ome ! appropriate remarks, which were Lc'mly £! I Tr bb 77 f ' de?s » Alec - Wright, Hope Flemi£ a^d Golfrey jfag-us Mr Dn'm,, , vho j visibly inched, snitibJy rclm „\cic,d thi wi r* r a lew fflu; lu J xwl JL?ni - 'la^^j, w .th Ait. Lrs; sjfic, too iomr>ar>r .trift 1 for , home. nrop~ ng Me Duthie ai"his*f.,^er's'rc" ' finr.ee. Alia 'ton. Hero good-bv ea v,;ro f . 3o ken and after the p^rty responded with v,m to three clieers ior Mr Duthie, called for by Captam Brown, they dwe back to tou n I I nor to his "dennrture for TJr-Itm-l, the I crap oyecs o' Mr Hobert Lodihrad piecen- ' ; e^ Ivm w.th a tra^Uin 3 ru-. a pan- of iiel't <;)£. , 3 c-, and a pocket book, rs a mark of tapir esteem and a token of their good wishes lor * pi onerous voyage to the old country. :I L ;° c^^\ who left by the Westmlia to join the Prmta Regent Luitpold at Sydney, gec 3 Homo chiefly to attend to matters m con- , j'f:t.oa with the extensivs business carried on : M mm throughout the South Island "f New „¥, a nd to moeL his pai-cnts, who re«id a I at Mnufax. both of v.hom. though well adj vur.ccd in years, are PtL'l living