MEMORIAL TO THE LATE MR JOHN MOUAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2527, 20 August 1902, Page 58

MEMORIAL TO THE LATE MR JOHN MOUAT.

The Otago Chrss Club's rooms were crowded oi. Saturday evening when, at an interval in tha JCaseby-Otago telegiaphic chess match, a prtsentation was made by Mr George Brown to the club of a handsome portrait, framed in gold and oak, of the lato Mr John Jklouat.

Mr Brown, in presenting his gift, said that he had been actuated with the desire of perpetuating in a tangible form the memory of the late Mr Mouat. — ( Ipplause ) Mcmbeis generally had felt the lo»s of their former co'leagtio almost as a personal one, and he (the ■=] eaker) anked their acceptance of the portrait, which, while being merely tb» shadow of the original, would yet, he hoped, keep green in their memories one whom they had for many years been associated with, and had ail loved and revered. — (Loud app'ause.)

Mr J. Crow, vice-president, in reply, intimated that the club hpd very »r«st p)e«sme m accepting Mr Brown's handsome gift, -which would occupy a prominent yomtioii m the club's rooms for all time. On b-half of the club he thanked the donor very 1 eaitily for his munificent piesentation. - .AppUure )

Messrs J. Stone, J. B. Borto-., O. B?ik, and the Rev. Mr Chodowski also spoke in laudatory tcims of Mr Biown'i actto-i, the two lastnamed mentioning tint ti opines would shortly be forthcoming for competition a.u»ong members as additional mcmonalß

Mr F. J. Mouat (son of deceased) made a short speech in further reply, •rp^kinpt as follows — " Ai th© folp representative in Diiredm of the- family of the late Mr John Mouat, it de\ olves upon me also to thank Mr Brown for the signal mark of reverence and affection he has shown towards my father's memoiy It has often been said that in the maelbtrom and stress of modern competition for an rxictence theie is very little room foi a display of sentiment. I think, gentlemen, that you will agree with me when I pay that to-night's proceedings are a striking refutation of that Elatement.— (Applause.) It viil! rot, I hope, be out of place for me to merticn that while Mr Biown, when he conceived the idea of this presentation, had no doubt m view the connection of my late father with the Otaio Chess Club, yet ho is at the s nine tirre doing honour (o cne who took a, very matenal pait n* mouldirg the dc« 4 .nnes> of Otago in the »>rK <la\*> As most of you are aware, the lute Mr Mouat represented the Otago RoldieldH m t!i» Provincial Government from 1864 to IF7I coiitmuous'y In 1865 he was a member of th* Ota^ro Provincial Executive along with Major John Carkill, George Brodie. and Arthur John Burn=. In 1866 he was Provincial Secretary in Sir (then Mr) Julius Vogel's Adimr.Mraf io", comprising also Me=si9 Henry Dyc-r Maddock, Alexander Mo'iiso.i, ard Mac.cod Clement Or'xll. Ou the lc^Jiation of this GovernmTi, a new one was formed in Ifi67 by Sir Julius Vc-go!, with Messrs Alexander Molhson, George Duncan, and John Mcuat as his colleoeues. T*ie last Otago Provmeial Executive in which ray father took a portfolio was Mr DonjM Re.d's Administration of lf>G'J-I^7l, vvh eh al=o included Mpsts George M'Lcan, Arlhui John I3urn<?, Join Lillie Gill'c-, and Bivji C,i 1 llapp>ti lhp=e facts I h." c eompi'ecl : -(im n] ! ().? t'"" md I men tion them, no' with the hop" of obtaining reflected g'orv, but win t Ti <- i<l< .; oi ftmi.-hnig tiie sihiuu. ztU'Ht.U&Uk yn\A viis Uivm,e& oi lJuose

who bore the heat and burden of the- day in the infancy of Otago settlement. — (Applause.) I have only further to add that I consider the portrait now before us a speaking likeness of my late father. It illustrates to a nicety Hippocrates'a aphorism, ' Ars longa, vita brevis,' and as a work of art reflects great credit on Mr C. C. Armstrong, the photographer, and hia assistant, Miss Chambers. — (Applause.) In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to again terder Mr Brown the sincere thanks of myself and relatives for his graceful and spontaneous tribute of affection and esteem." — (Applause.) The proceedings then terminated.