PRESENTATION TO MR WILLIAM.

Southland Times, Issue 3419, 5 June 1879, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR WILLIAM.

" Yesterday affcerhoon. Mr Daley," formerly manager Of the local gasworks, was the recipient of a very handsome silver salver, - TmVwas subscr'fted^fprj^yiainumberTiol: his : friends( whV fblly'-- appreciated^ His exlcellent mknageirient; of. the -works 'during the tiHe'he'Ms'beeri'in^ charged ' Mr-Quthr bertspn'waS <^allgd to' the^chair, on' the mption" of ; M!r Craig. .' ;; ' ' '■'- ,",'.'; ,-. ;'.. ''. ■' '■... r, / ;' / : . : ,-',•. /The phairmAri,^ho made* the tion, prefaced-- liisl^remarks by ; alluding to; the;p'b]e.dt,^ai:..iiad 4 Jbeeri.-.tliej.ca]asjß of itheir. assembling, i namely, j. to, make , , a . farewell, . gift'to- Mr ;Daley, "who; was J--leavirig-.,.-for ; : Brigland, and who 'had' most- successfully: managed 1 the- works- for ay; considerable.: length -of time. 'He could only attribute; the circumstarice of ; his -having, been called Upon to make the presentation to the" fact' that during. a portion pf the time. Mr Daley ■nad'managed'tTi^^Orks/he'y.Xthe speaker) had occupied ,the post of ; Mayor of', the town. He had no hesitation in saying that very 'general regret was experienced at the , departure of so valuable a citizen and" efficient a public servant as; Mr l Daley.' When that gentleman arrived :he was com-? paratively unknown, and what reputation lie had secured, and what respect he com-" manded, was due to ' his own actions!*. While it was not. necessary to say anything to' those ; assembled with regard to Mr Daley, " still ,it might , be. gratifying to that gent|emari's feelings 'to say that had those' 'in that room been consulted he. would have remained in charge; of those works, for life, or until he ; committed some act sufficient to, warrant his dismissal. Speaking of the quality . of gas manufactured, he drew their attention to the fact that in 1874 Professor Black, when delivering a lecture here," publicly stated his surprise and satisfaction at the purity and brilliancy Of Invercargill gas and' contrasted it with that of Dunedin. Since then no complaint had been made or the illuminating quality of the' gas supplied. The speaker then alluded directly to Mr Daley's resignation. They were all aware, he said, that Mr Daley had voluntarily resigned, but they were also aware that it was through the action of the Town Council that that resignation took place. At the same time he mu3t. say that he considered Mr Daley's action in resigning was precipitate, for Mayors were neither hereditary "nor perpetual, and it was quite possible that with the succession of others to the Mayoral chair a different feeling would have existed. However, Mr /Daley, : had resigned, but afterwards recognised the fact that it was not necessary, that he should leave.; It was through the Council's action, then, that Mr Daley was compelled to give up his position. [Hero Mr Craig left the room, havingfirst stated that he disagreed with the political element being imparted into the meeting.] The speaker again referred to the resignation, and then went on to allude to the confidence felt in Mr Daley, as evinced by the petition get up in his favor, after which he expressed the opinion that although, doubtless, he had committed- a mistake, he did so through over zeal in the interests of the town. It became them to express their appreciation of Mr Daley's services, and whatever might have been the cause that led the Council to take the steps it had done, they were now met to give vent to their feelings with regard to the matter, and to wish the gentleman who was now leaving them every prosperity. With the object, of showing that appreciation, a number of the leading gas consumers had clubbed together to present him with a souvenir, which, he now had the pleasure of handing to, him. A^ te O few further remarks laudatory of Mr Daley, the chairman resumed his seat. The health of Mr Daley was then drufife in champagne. Mr Mitchell, who was called upon, added his testimony to. the deep regret experienced at the public loss they had sustained. He had no doubt but that those who had caused that loss would yet regret it. Mr Hatch endorsed the renicirks of the Chairman, and eulogised Mr Daley. Cheers having been given for the recipient and his wife arid family, : Mr Daley thanked them very heartily for their handsome gift, which he should look upon as a souvenir to be valued. During the time he had been gas manager he had' used every endeavor to bring the gas to perfection, and he prided himself that Irivercargill had during that time occupied a foremost place in the colony as regarded the brilliancy and illuminating properties of its gas. Hehadnodoubtthathad either of the gentlemen who had spoken that ' day occupied the mayoral chair nothing would have been heard of this matter. What he had done' was with tile object that the town might be plentifully supplied with gas during ; the present winter, but when .the , Mayor, used such language and. threats towards' him as he had used he ; thought .it was about time he should resign, otherwise he whould lose his reputation.. He accepted the former alternative, being. , under the impression that it was preferable to sacrificing his name. He -thanked those who had subscribed the 'necessary siim to present him .with Such a handsome souvenir. Espec ially would it in future years serve to remind his" daughter of the appreciation in which .her father was held in Invercargill, her birthplace. Mr Daley sat down amidst much applause. Mr Cuthbertson remarked that there was one fact he wished to be made public. Many complaints had reached him . regard- , ing the quality of the gas during the last few days, and he must say that it had perceptibly deteriorated. This was very much to, be regretted,, but such, was the | fact. J / .The health of , the .chairman was then drunk, after which the proceedings ter- . minated. . The following was the inscription upon the salver presented to Mr Daley : — ' Presented to Mr William Daley, Gas Engineer, by the principal gas consumers of InvercargiJl, New Zealand, in appreciation 'of services 'rendered by him in erecting the local gasworks, and successfully managing them for four years, the. quality of the gas supplied being unexceptionable. Inyer,cargill, New Zealand, May, 1879." , . .