PRESENTATION TO MR McEWAN.

Southland Times, Issue 3417, 3 June 1879, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR McEWAN.

'<■ Last 'night a ; number .of the friends s'of Mr' Peter McEwan met m the Prince' of Wales Hotel to make a suitable presentation to him on the eve of his 'departure for Europe.,. There were about twenty present, and Mr Mitchell' occupied the chair ; In malting the presentation Mr Mitchell made reference to Mr McEwan's services • iil.- connection • with -'the Railway and Emigration 'Committee, of "which he had been an active member during the whole period; of , the "'existence' of that useful .institution. . The Athengeum, building' would be/ a. Tasarig-mbnuirieiiti of Mr McEwan's energy, for to his iudomitables i exertions the completion, of that handsome structure mv.st be attributed. Mr. McEwan had taken an active part in various public movements.- He had been a member for many yea -s of the Southland Building Society, and Lad also taken an interest in municipal and Road Board matters. In short, he might say he had' discharged . the- duty. : of a gppd citizen, 1 sacrificing himself to-- promote the public welfare. He therefore felt much pleasure '• in presentiug" .him ' with a gold Watch, with- suitable appendages, together with a bropcli and earrings for. Mrs McEwan. . Mr Mitchell then- read the inscription, as follows:— "Presented , to Peter McEwan, by a number of fellowcitizens on-.thp eye of .his departure from Invercargiil, New Zealand, in recognition of his many public services. May, 1879." '■ < Mr Blackwood, in supporting tlie presentation, mdde allusion to the-maby useful qualities which had always characterised Mr. McE,wan, social, political, and municipals:' l .'.'' ."'.'.!/" ! .';: ../,"'"'/'/.;"' !i !; ; Mr McEwan, in most" feeling terms, returned thanks, and, after referring, to yaripus public movements during the [past sixteen years since he came to, New .Zealand, said he had always, endeavored to act on the system Of sacrificing, to :a- certain extent, both time and purse in furtherance qf tjie interests of his. adopted country, and this he considered tq. be the duty of every, good citizen. , , Mr Mi Arthur made' a few appropriate remarks, during which he said he had known Mr McEvyan intimately during the whole period of bis residence in Invercargiil, and from his knowledge of the great value of his public services all along, he cquld not see "how they were to get on after his. . departure without a ; McEwan amongst them. ..,,.,... .Mr McEwan tlieh proposed, in eulogistic term's, the health of the chairman, and referred tothe, ;active. interest he li act always taken in public affairs, and to this the Chairman suitably replied. ~ /y - The gold watch and chain,' we understand, cost forty rguineas,. and was procured from Mr Freeman, jeweller ; while the brooch and ear-ringsy Which cost? £8 10s., were purchased from Mr Lumsden, jeweller. The whole- proceedings attending the presentation were - of a most cordial and enthusiastic description. : ' - ''