Personal.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 3, 13 January 1903, Page 4

Personal.

About twenty friends of Mr W. Hunter assembled at the Commercial Hotel on Friday and made that gentleman a presentation as a parting gift. Mr W. H. Smith was voted to the chair and expressed his personal regret that Mr Hunter was leaving the town. Mr Cavell said to- know Mr Hunter was to appreciate him, and lie felt the town was losing a good citizen who had taken a practical interest in affairs and who ran his house in conformity with the Licensing Act. Their guest was a gentleman of enlightened views, and he (the speaker) was sorry he was leaving the town’ Mr Orsman endorsed all that had been said, and Mr Buckman said he had known Mr Hunter for over thirty years, and knew him to be everywhere recognised as a thoroughly straight goer. The Chairman then presented Mr Hunter with a handsome set of* 1 gold and greenstone sleeve-links. In responding to the presentation, Mr Hunter said he could not express in words his gratitude to his friends; he had only been in the town a few mouths, but he had learned to appreciate the sterling character of many of the residents he had met. He Considered Havelock was a model town; he had lived here through a race meeting and through the Christmas and New Year holidays and had not seen any unseemly conduct nor heard an improper word during those periods. He thanked them very heartily for the gift, saying that while he wore the links he would always have “ a bit up his sleeve ” for Havelock. The health of Mr and Mrs Hunter and family was then drunk with musical honours, and the gathering concluded by heartily drinking success to Mrs Duggan, who has again taken over the Commercial Hotel.

The subscribers to Mr George Smith’s oil-launch fund (which now amounts to £44) have decided, in order that the summer trade may not be lost, that it is advisable for Mr Smith to buy a hull in Wellington, if possible. At a meeting of the subscribers, held at the Masonic Hotel on Friday night, Captain Allman, of the Manaroa, offered, on behalf of the Wellington, Havelock, and Motueka Steamship Co., to carry to Havelock, free of cost, any boat Mr Smith might purchase in Wellington. The offer was greeted with applause and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Captain Allman. Mr Smith explained that the engine rescued from the Wahina was now as good as new, and if it was placed in a temporary hull he could this summer almost earn the price of an entirely new boat. Mr Smith went to Wellington by the Manaroa on Saturday. Mr and Mrs Hunter and their family, who left for Wellington by the Manaroa on Saturday, ' received a hearty send-off from friends assembled on the wharf. .

Mr Atbelstan Parsons, late •of Kaik ura, has been appointed Commissi jaer of Land Settlements for the Eastam Transvaal.

Mr C. Tee, who has been for about twenty-one years in the employ of Brownlee -and Co., went for a trip on Saturday to Wellington. Mr Tee’s last visit to the Empire City was in 1866, so it will be interesting to hear his impressions as to the progress made since that year.