PRESENTATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8217, 27 May 1895, Page 2

PRESENTATION.

Mr A. M. Clark, late super! tendent of the New Zealand Estates Company’s properties in Canterbury, was invited to the Grosvenor Hotel on Saturday afternoon to meet as many of the estate managers as could conveniently attend, for the purpose of receiving from them a token of the feelings of esteem and friendship with which he had been regarded by them, and of regret at the severance of his connection with the company. There were present—Messrs K. B. Bain, ex-manager at Waihaorunga, Mr Clark’s successor in the superintendcncy, Mr Richardson of Albury, Mr Sutherland of Eskbank, Mr McColl of Arowhenua, managers, Mr J. Murray, an ex-manager, Mr Buller, inspector, and Mr Chisholm, local manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Bain, who said he felt much honoured by being requested to do so, informed Mr Clark that some of the old managers had invited him to meet them that they might present to him a piece of plate, and express the sincere regard and esteem which they all felt for him. When Mr Clark decided to resign the superintendency of the Estates Com- - pany, they recognised that they had lost one who had been their best friend, and that the company had lost the services of a thoroughly able and practical man. They hoped that the cause of his resignation, ill-health, would soon be removed, and that with health restored Mr Clark had many a year before him yet. He had the honour and the pleasure to present to him, on behalf of the old managers, a silver salver and matchbox, and they hoped that these articles would frequently remind him of his former subordinates, and the feelings of respect and esteem with which they parted from him. He had also to beg Mr Clark’s acceptance' of a silver card case, scent bottle, and other silver articles, as a present for Mrs Clark, as a mark of respect and of gratitude for the friendly and thoroughly hospitable reception that any of them had always been accorded whenever they had occasion to visit the homestead.

Mr Eichardson, as secretary and treasurer, read telegrams expressing regret for their inability to be present from other subscribers—Mr Grant, of Waihaorunga ; Mr O’Halloran, of Glentui, Oxford, and Mr Sim, of the Clarance runs, Marlborough, managers, Mr Hugonin, an ex-manager, and Mr

Pinckney, an ex-accountant of, the company. Mr Richardson hoped that their little offer would be accepted in the spirit in which it was offered. It was a pity that there were not more managers to subscribe, so that they could have made the gift worthy of the man and the occasion.

The health of Mr and Mrs Clark and family, was then drunk in bumpers of champagne. Mr Clark was much affected, and repeatedly broke down as he replied. He said he could not make a speech, as he found himself in a painful as well as a pleasant position. It would be superfluous to say that he was pleased to meet so many old associates in business on such an occasion, and though he said it himself, it was an honour such as falls to few men during their lives. It was not necessary for them to have gone to so much trouble and expense to show that they pai'ted the best of friends ; the friendly relations which had existed between them could not be broken off by his retirement into private life. They had been too closely connected in business matters, which were always conducted with the greatest honest} 7 and trust in each other,and their connection was therefore bound to lead to staunch respect and friendship between them. Where there was trust and confidence between man and man things always go smoothly, and he was well pleased to say that had been their case and their experience. He had always enjoyed meeting the managers and talking things over with them, acknowledging that two heads are better than one. He'felt proud to be assured that during the long time they had worked together he had earned their good opinion, as they were all practical men and men of experience. He felt that it was a feather in his cap that so many such men should judge favourably of the manner in which the. business had been conducted, as to ask him to meet them for such a purpose. Fie need not say that this was one of the proudest moments of his life. The handsome present they had made him would always remind him of the pleasant time they had spent together, and would bring before him their well remembered faces. It would be cherished as one of his most precious possessions, and handed down as a heirloom, and>he knew,, that his family would be as proud of it as himself. He was pleased to say that he had decided to settle in South Canterbury, not far from his old residence, and he would be delighted to make them welcome as of yore, “ and fight their battles o’er again.” It gave him great pain to sever their connection but forty years in harness had told, and he was reluctantly compelled to bid them—officially only—adieu, wishing them all many years of happiness and prosperity. He also returned his sincere thanks for the handsome presentation to Mrs Clark. He assured them that they would all be most welcome at the new establishment, as at the old, where Mrs Clark’s efforts to be hospitable had been thoroughly genuine. Among those present were some of his oldest friends, and he would have liked to say much more, but his deep sense of their kindness made it impossible. Again he thanked them for their handsome presents to himself and Mrs Clark. Mr Richardson said that nothing had given him greater pleasure than to act as secretary and treasurer for such an object. Mr Clark knew his (the speaker’s) feelings towards him. They had sometimes had little differences of opinion, but having met and talked matters over, they had always arrived at a fair and clear understanding. They had always been the best of friends, and he had to thank Mr and Mrs Clark for many kindnesses to himself and his family, and the other subscribers, he knew' would be ready to make the same admission. It was felt as a great personal loss when Mr Clark resigned. He hoped their small presents would be received in the spirit in which they were offered.

Mr Sutherland said he was sorry to have occasion to be present at such a meeting, and every one of them wished Mr Clark, no matter where he might settle down, every success and happiness in his future life. He had been about 30 years in the service at one place or another, and he must say that Mr Clark was the best boss —if they would excuse the expression—that ever he had. jHe was always glad to see Mr Clark come to the station, for whenever he wanted advice he got it, straight from the shoulder, and every time he went to Arowhenua he was treated with the greatest kindness by both Mr and Mrs Clark. He wished them both every prosperity. Mr Murray spoke from personal contact with Mr Clark for 16 years in different parts of the colony, and he always found him less an employer than a friend. He always observed that if a man did his duty he had nothing to fear from Mr Clark as an employer, and he regretted very much that Mr Clark had retired from his connection with the trust estate which he (Mr Murray) had charge of. He hoped that Mr Clark would long live to enjoy the retirement he had earned by so many years of hard work without a holiday. Mr McOoll said he had been under Mr Clark for 19 years, and they had always got on well together. He was sorry they had to part, and he wished Mr and Mrs Clark long life and prosperity. Mr Buller expressed his pleasure that, by the merest chance, he was able to be present, and he felt honoured by the invitation to come and say farewell, in a sense, to Mr Clark, who had been one of his most intimate friends for many years. He had also met with him a good deal, officially, and he could safely say that no man in New Zealand made a better superintendent of a large concern like the Estates Company. The cause of Mr Clark’s retirement was a matter of the greatest regret, and he hoped that retirement from the worries of the business to an estate of his own would have the greatest benefit, so far as his health was concerned. And indeed he was already a different man from what he was a feAv months ago. He hoped that he would soon be in robust health again, and that he had at least another quarter of a century before him. Mr Chisholm said he was very pleased to be present to witness the presentation, as he had known Mr Clark for many years, and entertained the same feelings towards him that had been expressed by others. He was pleased to hear that they were not to say good-bye to him, as Mr Clark was still to remain among them. Mr Richardson proposed the health of Mr Bain, Mr Clark’s successor, expressing the hope and expectation that the pleasant relations between the managers and the last superintendent would be continued with the new one. Mr Bain suitably replied to the toast. Mr Clark again thanked the company for their kindness, and on the suggestion of Mr Chisholm the proceedings were closed with a verse of “ Auld Lang Syne.”