FAREWELL TO MR THORNTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 21

FAREWELL TO MR THORNTON.

Mr A. A. Thornton, Government butter and cheese grader, received at the hands o£ numerous friends, including fellow-graders, factory managers, dealers, exporters, and others more or less interested in the work of his department, a most Learty " sendoff" at the Oban Hotel on the 26th. Some 30 ladies and gentlemen were present. Mr W. J. Bolt, chairman of the Taieri and Peninsula Dairy Factory, who presided, opened tbe proceedings;— after justice had been done to an ample spread by Host . Gray— by expressing regret that their meeting was to say farewell to a valued and; genial friend, one whom they all knewhad taken great interest in his work, keeping all whom his work brought him in. touch with continually up to the scratch. It was only that morning they had learned that Mr Thornton was going away, consequently allowance must be made for any shortcomings or absence of expected faces. He knew several of those present would want to speak a few words, so would not encroach further than to read a fewletters of apology for non-attendance, and conclude by remarking that he was sure everyone present would join him in wishing Mr Thornton very good lurk in Auckland.

Mr Thornton, in reply, sam ho did not know how to express his sincere appreciation pf tbe way they had responded to his health, and success as proposed by Mr Bolt. It - was only when reading the Otago Daily Times that morning that he had learned: that the function at which they were then, present was to take place, and he had , thought at first that there was some mistake—some confusion of thought owing to his ' recent leave-taking in Christchurch. Ifc was most pleasing to him to see in that room representatives of -London .firms -ins j the uroduce trade and ' factory nian : . agers * also 'personal friends and' fel- -, low officials/ He was very sorry he was leaving Dunedin, for he had had a. really good time here. He had had ups and downs, some "scrapping" matches, as they all knew, but he had done his duty to the best of his ability. Acting between, buyer and seller, friction at times was inevitable, but when one acted to. the best of his power and knowledge, such friction, could scarcely b© regretted. In this colony they had. to look to the manufacturing of the finest articles in butter and cheese that could be made in the world ; they had other countries to compete with, and boms so far from the central markets, they woukt have to take a back seat 'unless they could supply the 'best. He could, however, say that, with the class of produce they were turning out, they deservedly took a front position on the London markets. After referring to the state of things in connection with the dairy industry at the time— ll years back — when he first came to Dunedin, Mr,-Thornton concluded l.is remarks by again thanking those present for their kindness and their appreciation of his efforts to> do his duty, and he expressed the hope that at some future time he would <be back amongst them again. In the meantime he was sure they would find his successor (Mr Grant) a thoroughly loyal man, with whom they would be pleased, and 'he hoped they would help him as they had himself. Mr J. E. Scott, secretary^ of the Dairy Association, said he had been deputed' to. present Mr Thornton with a token of their esteem and regard. Owing to the very short interval between their learning o| his departure and the present farewftb ,

meeting, it must be understood that the value of the gift in no way represented the value they set upon Mr Thornton's services. It was but an expros&ion of their goodwill. He had just returned from a visit down south hunting up butter and cheese, and 'he was pleased to say that he hoard expressions of regret from many men whom he knew had had various " scraps," and tough ones at that, with Mr Thornton ; but all liad shown regret at his reported departure. They had learned to appreciate sterling quality and the conecientFous way in which the grader had done his work. T3ier© was not one who did not recognise that Mr Thornton had done his duty without fear or favour of any person at all. He would like to say that everyone in the room recognised the very important position that the graders in the colonies occupied. They had to make the finest article that they could, and he could emphatically say that all who had known the dairy industry since- it had shown any magnitude would bear him out that it owed its advancement to the part played by the department and its officers; and of Mr Thornton it could be claimed, without making any invidious distinctions, that he had played no inconsiderable part in bringing about the satisfactory state of affairs now existing. There was no " Government stroke" about him at all — no doing his work in a mere official manner, — but he had carried on his work with enthusiasm, and there were many sitting around him who ■had been a&sisted by him. He had always shown willingness to assist. He (Mr Soott) very much regretted that Mr Thornton was going away. Auckland was gaining a firstrate man, and they certainly needed it, for Auckland sent on more butter and cheese than all the South Island put together. He presented Mr Thornton with a purse of sovereigns «s a slight token of theiF esteem and regard. Mr Thornton feelingly responded, expressing his surprise and appreciation of the kindness of the friends he was leaving behind.

Mr Fulton, secretary cf the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, spoke of the assistance received from Mr Thornton in connection with the winter shows, and Mr Andrew M'Farlane referred to his association with the guest of the evening as director of the Ta.ie.ri and Peninsula Company and the Agricultural and Pastoral show, in both of which capacities he had found ample room to value Mr Thornton's services and willing help on all occasions.

Mr George H. MaoEwan (exporter) reiterated all the compliments bestowed by previous speakers, and also expressed .regret at his departure. He. recognised that grading was not an unmixed blessing, as those outside the butter business were, by the graders' certificates, able to speculate in the business against the interests of those wilh expert knowledge. So far as factories, however, were concerned, there was ■an incentive to keep up quality owing to the grading, .and to a very large extent Mr Thornton's hard work and backbone were to be thanked for the good that had been done in this direction. He hoped that MiThornton would have opportunities to come again amongst them, if only fox a pleasure trip. Mr Riddell (of the Taieri and Peninsula Company), Mr Grant (Mr Thornton's successor), and Mr Gray (the latter in response to a toast to the host for the excellent spread arranged at such short notice) also spoke. At intervals during the evening Mr and Mrs Parker (violin and piano), and Messrs Moritzson, Lemon, Wright, Bray, Telfer, and Mrs Gray gave musical items and songs.