MR H. CARSWELL HONOURED

Southland Times, Issue 24420, 28 April 1941, Page 6

MR H. CARSWELL HONOURED

Big Gathering At

Winton

Farmers from up-country stations and all parts of Southland, business men from Invercargill, officials of racing clubs and agricultural and pastoral associations and also many friends gathered at Winton on Saturday evening to honour Mr H. Carswell, who has been attached to Wright, Stephenson and Co. Ltd. in Southland for the past 35. years and who has been transferred to the firm’s Dunedin office as assistantmanager. More than 150 persons were present. Mr Carswell was presented with a hunter gold watch from the gathering. The presentation was made by Mr T. Hamilton, of Winton. The evening took the form of a smoke concert and a long toast-list was honoured. The chairman was Mr R. King (Winton) and Mr C. M. Lindsay (Winton) was toastmaster. The chairman remarked that the big gathering fully emphasized the popularity of Mr Carswell. In proposing the toast of Our Guest, Mr Hamilton said that no doubt all present had known Mr Carswell for many years. He had spent practically all his life in the province and had made a host of friends. There was regret at his departure, but all were proud of his promotion. Mr Carswell had a wonderful knowledge of the potentialities of Southland and he was sure that he would always boost this province. His knowledge of the high and low country in Southland was second to that of no man. It was well known, continued Mr Hamilton, that whenever the guest’s firm required a first-class man for a northern province it always looked to Southland. INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS During his residence in Winton some years ago Mr Carswell took a great interest in public affairs. He was a member of the Winton Borough Council I and also served on the executive of the Winton Jocky Club and the Winton Trotting Club. He was a foundation member of the Winton Experimental and Demonstration Farm and has been a member of the executive ever since. As a member of the Winton Agricultural and Pastoral Association he had I played a big part in the success of its I shows throughout the years and on two occasions he had been president. He was also a director of the Invercargill Agricultural and Pastoral Association. A good deal of Mr Carswell’s success, continued the chairman, was due to his wife and he wished them both every success and the best of luck in their new sphere. Other speakers to the toast were:— Messrs T. McGillivray (Winton Jockey Club), R. King (Winton Agricultural and Pastoral Association), W. G. Clark (Winton Trotting Club), W. Falconer (Southland Racing Club), J. McDonald (Invercargill), D. H. McLean (Caroline), J. Carnegy Gardner (Invercargill), John Ewan (Invercargill), John Charters (Te lAnau Downs), T. Prendergast (Wailkiwi), Guy Chewings (Mossburn), W. I McLean (Southern District), Henry Cowie (East Limehills), G. Lindsay (Winton), Colin McKenzie (Dipton), John Kean (Lochiel), Noel McGregor (Mount Linton), C. M. Lindsay (Winton), J. Taylor (Lora Gorge), W. Brandford (Winton), A. Macdonald (The Plains, Mossburn), J. Macalister (Kauana), C. Overton (Otapiri), G. McLeod (Thomson’s Crossing), W. Munroe (Dunearn), John Macdonald (Invercargill), R. A. Douglas (Invercargill), W. Hazlett (Invercargill), Alan Fleming (Glencoe), J. M. Wilson (Invercargill), J. J. Blaikie (Ryal Bush), A. Chisholm, jun. (Otautau), J. J. Woods (Oreti), W. Swale (Limehills), J. R. Todd (Winton), F. Boyle (Winton), T. Wray Wilson (Invercargill), J. de la Perrelle (Winton) and C. Speight (Redcliff). Mr Carswell, in reply, thanked the speakers for their kind remarks. It was with mixed feelings that he was leaving the province, he said. Southland was a wonderful province and he was quite sure it was the “Cinderella” of New Zealand. It was a wonderful thing for a province the size of Southland to go on the London markets and command the highest prices for all its produce. FAT LAMB PRODUCTION Mr Carswell traced the history of fat lamb production in Southland, stating that instead of having the poorest lamb in the London market the province now had the best. Although there were recommendations for other breeds of sheep for Southland, he would advise farmers to stick to what had given the best results—the Southdown ram and the Romney ewe. In conclusion he thanked the gathering for the sentiments expressed- and remarked that should the time come for him to retire he would most assuredly return to Southland. Other toasts honoured during the evening were: —“Army, Navy and Air Force,” proposed by Mr N. G. Pigou (Winton) and responded to by Messrs C. Overton (Otapiri) and T. Miller, jun. (Oreti); “Commercial Interests,” proposed by Mr W. L. Cunningham (Dipton) and responded to by Messrs John McDonald (Invercargill )and J. Murray Wilson (Invercargill); “Agricultural and Pastoral Interests,” proposed by Mr J. W. Smith (Invercargill) and responded to by Messrs W. J. A. McGregor (Invercargill), A. F. Speight (Redcliff), H. Ross (Dipton), A. Charters (Mossburn) and W. Roxburgh (Ryal Bush). During the evening items were given by Messrs G. Lindsay, F. Tilley, C, Me- ,

Kenzie, J. R. Todd, F. Turner and W. Wilson. Community singing was led by Mr P. Linton Hodge. ' ,