PRESENTATIONS.
In the Otago Daily Times library on the 6th inst. the presentation of a gold chain and dress suit case was made to the i Hon. J. T. Paul, who is severing his conj nection with the staff to undertake hia new political responsibilities in Wellington. There was a large gathering of~€mployees i from all departments. j In making the presentation, Mr G. Fenj wick, the manager, said they had assembled j on many occasions and for varying zc&sons to <k> honour to members of the office staff, , but they had never met under circum- , etanr«es similar to the preeent, for this was I the firat time in the history of the office j that they had been called upon to yield up I a member to the exigencies of political 'life, j if he excluded the memorable instance of the first editor of the Otago Daily Times, Sir Julius (then Mr) Vogel, who, as they knew, shone in the political firmaftnent as a star of high finance, and centred, upon ] himself and his progressive policy the attenj tion of men in all parts of the Empire. As | far ac be knew, Mr Paul had no proclivities in that particular direction. High finance, the speaker understood, was not Mr Paul's forte, as yet at anyrate. As they knew, Mr Paul was a man who, outeide his work, had given studious attention to economic subjects. He had read, thought, and studied a great deal of these subjects ; he had assimilated what he had read, and he had given the public the benefit of his research and his convictions on many occasions in wellchesen and forcible language. It waa proper that they should recognise the honour that had been done Mr Paul in his being called to the Upper House. — (Ap- j plause.) The event had been a token of the i appreciation by the Government of the i great interest Mr Paul had taken in econo- | mic subjects, and particularly in the welfare ' of those with whom he had been more immediately associated. They had all found him an exceedingly good fellow — (applause), ' — whether in the ranks of the linotype operators or in other branches of the office work. He felt sure that now Mr Paul had ' entered on a different walk in life he would give hi 6 best attention to his legislative duties and to the many important matters that would naturally come within his province. He (Mr Fenwick) highly esteemed ; Mr Paul, and was sure that he would carry with him the best wishes from one and all. — (Applause.) Messrs Lye, Abernethy (the " father of ihe chapel"), M'Culloch, and Ferguson, fellow workers with the recipient, also epoke, tendering the most cordial good wishes on behalf of the staff. The Hon. Mr Paul, in reply, raid that if he deserved half the good things that had been said about him his time amongst them had not been wasted. If his political life was as fair and as happy he would be perfectly satisfied. The heads of the departj ments and everyone he had been associated ■ with had always treated him with the 1 utmost kindness and consideration. He had j met Mr Fenwick in several capacities as an advocate and representative of his fellow ' employees, and he had ever found him ready to listen and confer on matters affecting them. — (Applause.) The men with wnom he had worked had at all times tried to help him, even at personal inconvenicr.ee to thomeelvc.a. He hoped that in seven years, or at the end of his political oarror, i they would have the same opinion of him as they had to-day. — (Applause.) As to his i political life, his sole aim would be to benefit his fellow colonists. Although he was sorry to sever hia connection with the ; staff, ilia sphere of influence in the Legis- , lative Council would be much wider, and he would have opportunities of doing work for his fellow men which hs could not undertake in his present position t no matter how |«HS b 1 l b «?^ r V*| %*s£h h W« Ha trusted.
they would all give his credit for sincerity ' of motive in all ho did. —^Applause.) j Mr Andrew Todd presided over a large ' gathering representative of both town and • country at the Provincial Hotel on the 6th inst., where they had assembled to say farewell to Air David Murray on his departure for Scotland, after a residence of 38 years in Otago. Apologies were received from Messrs James Gow and James Blair (of Taieri). The Chairman 6aid that no one in Otago was more respected by all who knew | him than his old friend, Mr Murray, and j as a member of the Otago Agricultural and ] Pastoral Society he could say that Mr Mur- ' ray had been found occupying a prominent position as judge or exhibitor in every \ exhibition or show that had been held ; and, , there was no one who held a higher reputation, i Messrs James Smith. John Henderson, and T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., paid tributes to the guest of the evening. The Chairman said the many friends of Mr Murray had deemed it necessary to show their affection and respect in a tangible form. He then presented Mr Murray with a handsome gold watch, suitably inscribed ; and having shaken him warmly by the hand, wished him bon voyage, and expressed a hope that he would find his old mother safe and well on his arrival in Edinburgh. Mr Murray said he did not see a face in the rrom of which he had not the kindliest reoollections. He spoke in the warmest terms of Messrs John and James Smith, of Greenfield, where he had made his way, carrying hie swag, soon after his arrival in New Zealand. In connection with this journey Mr Murray related how he " had been benighted in the bush, but stumbled on to a house, and knocked at the door. In response to a gruff " Who's there?" he modestly replied: "A new chum." The dcor was immediately opened, and he was 6oon eating a hot supper by a roaring fire. Not only that, but the young lady of the house was turned out of her bed so that he might get into it. In conclusion, Mr Murray thanked them all from the bottom of his heart for their expression of go/xl will and their handsome gift.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 14
Word Count
1,071PRESENTATIONS. Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 14
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