A POPULAR CITIZEN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 100, 23 December 1912, Page 3

A POPULAR CITIZEN.

PRESENTATION TO MR WEBSTER

AFTER DINNER SPEECHES

Interesting speeches, good fellowship and affability were the salient features, of a jovial dinner held in the Foresters’ Hall on Saturday evening to do honour to Mr F. W. Webster (late manager of Mr Newton King’s Stratford business), to wish him success in his new venture, and to make him a presentation, significant of the esteem in which Taranaki holds him. .His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood) presided/and the hall was crowded, the guests including Mr J. B. Hine, M.P., Mr Newton King, Mr Webster, senr., and settlers and professional business men representative of Stratford and surrounding districts. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Evan Jones (Toko), Were (Toko), Calvert (Strathmore), W. A. Hewitt (Loan and Mercantile), S. Death (Inglewood), E. Walters fDouglas), McKeown (Opunake), Stanner (Opunake), McCutchan (Whangamomona), H. J. Okey, M.P. (Neu Plymouth), W. H. H. Young, S. Pitt, W. D. Linn (Oakura), E. Vickers (Inglewood), and T. Mercer. TRADE AND COMMERCE.

After the loyal toast of “The King” had been duly honoured, Mr T. C, Fookes proposed the toast of Trade and Commerce, and in doing so compared present tymes with those twen-ty-six years ago, when Mr Webster joined the staff of Mr Newton King, an event which was, he thought, closely linked with Taranaki’s development. Mr H. N. Liardet was then Mr Newton King’s agent in Stratford, for there was no Stratford branch at that time, only casual sales, and everything was on a small scale. Stratford had even no permanent bank and a fortnightly visit from another branch bank was the only financial arrangement made for the ton nship s financial transactions. In all directions the institutions now doing business here were outgrowing their present capacities, and in the near hituro he looked to see palatial piemises taking the place of the present very modest buildings. Ihe speaker spoke of the prosperity of the times. The dairying industry was flourishing, the wool industry uas prospering—in fact, the only blot on this prosperity was the unkindness of the hank managers, who shook their heads over an increase of overdraft. (Laughter.) However, he was pleased to see that Mr Harold Beauchamp (chairman of the Bank of New Zealand) had forecasted an easier money maiket Concluding, Mr Fookes gave it as his opinion that Stratford was only on the fringe of development, and the future was one full of progress and expansion. (Applause.) MR NEWTON KING, IN REPLY. Mr Newton King, who was greeted with a' tremendous fialvo of applause, thanked those present sincerely tor their welcome, and Mr T. C. I 1 cokes flor coupling his name with this important toast, for the subject was ceitainly one that was very valuable to them He would not touch on the dairying industry, because that matter would be dealt with by anothei speaker. Mr King then pictured graphically Ids first entry into Stratford. some thirty years ago. In those davs,” he said, “1 used to ride a little pony round the district, and didn’t carry my cheque book with me, either, for I hadn’t any cheques to write. (Laughter.) Some people used I to sav, “It will come by and by, and certainly it has come . (Applause.) Mr King went on to refer, amid union laughter, to those times when Mr 1 Webster and he used to tour the 1 country by horse and trap, and be ' told how “Will” used occasionally to i fall out, Mr King confessing to not beino- over careful in Ins driving. ! There wore changes necessary in those days, and I selected from my staff Mr Webster. (Applause.) I think he I j ms fulfilled what be was intended to do He certainly bad to serve a rather hard apprenticeship. Mr King remarked that Mr Webster and In' had been associated .for 2b ycais. Mr Webster came to Ids office frosli from school. He (the speaker) served under Mr Webster’s father for nine years, and in turn “Will” bad served under him. They had been very gone friends. “And now he is leaving, j Mr King concluded, “I. feel like a tree with an arm lopped off. I «nt> : pose I shall get over it; young shootf ! will grow. He is going into business f on the same lines as myself, but then is plenty of room for all of us, and J | wish him every success.” (Applause, i Mr Joseph McCluggage proposed tin ! toast of the Dairy Industry, and sau in this connection that Taranaki, oi account of the small holdings, had pro 1 ore*sod more than any other provmc. so far as the Dairy Industry was con cerned. The future was bright, am he emphasised the importance to tin industry of the opening of the Ranami Canal, and the near prospect of having inter-colonial liners berthing a Moturoa. “Stratford is 1 OX THE BALANCE,” .Mi* McCluggage went on to say, “am

it remains to be seen whether she will remain stagnant or go forward. The indications aro that the former will bo our fate, if the business people continue to lie down and say nothing. Railway works are being practically stopped. Now, you will wake up some line day and find that the railway line from Auckland to Ohura is completed, the railway station at Ohura officially., opened, and that a special train is taking hundreds of guests irum Auckland to the ceremony. Then will the Stratford people realise they have lost a very big slice of their trade.” The remedy, the speaker averred, lay in agitation, unceasing and unrelentlees. Ho had had plenty of experience of Governments in the past, and knew that everything came to him who agitated the most. Mr McCluggage concluded with a warm eulogy of Mr Webster, saying that he knew him as a thorough business man yet civil, courteous, warm-hearted and obliging. Speaking of Mr Abraham, Mr McCluggage said that Mr Newton King knew a good man when he met one, and therefore they knew that Mr iA braham was the right man. (Applause.) MR HINE SPEAKS. In reply, Mr Hine, ALP., congratulated the farmers on the general high prices ruling, and passed a tribute to the citizens, and to the auctioneers who “propped up” the farmers. So long as the auctioneers were as upright and honest in their transactions as were the present gentlemen holding these positions in Stratford he would be satisfied the farmers would be in good hands. Passing back to the early days, and speaking of the hard work entailed by hand milking, Mr Hine confessed to having milked 27 cows in two hours. (Applause ana exclamation.) Referring to Mr McCluggage’s remarks, Mr Hine considered” that the former speaker had gone somewhat astray in the contention that Stratford public men were asleep. Had Mr McCluggage any knowledge of what the Stratford Chamber of Commerce were doing? He did not think so. The acuteness of the financial situation had rendered necessary the stoppage of certain expenditure, and the stay in proceedings would continue until the financial position became more sound. With regard to the stoppage of the works at the Whangamomona end of the line it was not the first time that tinthad been said. A newspaper—and not a Stratford newspaper—had stated that the services of all the men had been dispensed with at one end and not at the other end. He wondered if the writer of the article had made any enquiries, and endeavoured to ascertain the true position, which was, Mr Hine claimed, that at Te Koura 50 per cent, of the men had been sacked, and at Whangamomona not more than 50 per cent. He thought it was onlv a fair thing that the public should know the true position. Before the Ohura valley could be tapped. Air Hine concluded, the great barrier of the Tangarakau would have to he removed, for at present the country on the other side could hardly he reached by horse and trap. Until the railway was got through the Tangarakau it behoved every citizen to hack up the Chamber of Commerce in its work for .the welfare of Stratford. (Applause.), “OUR GUEST.”

The principal toast of the evening, that of “Our Guest,” was proposed by the chairman. One of the most pica tillin' features of the evening, said Mr Kirkwood, was the presence of Mr .Newton King at this function. It was indeed a token to Mr V\ ebstex of tno kigdly feeling that now existed, and had always existed between Mr .Newton King and Air Webster. (Applause.) As far as the new firm was concerned, Air Kirkwood said lie admired the attitude which had been taken up. Air Newton King had said there was 1 plenty of room for all, and that was tne proper spirit for a true business man to regard opposition. (Applause.) The Mayor stated that ho had knowxi Air Webster as long as lie had known Stratford, namely, for twelve years, and he had always associated their guest with Mr Newton King. 'Touching on Air AVebster s popularity, a popularity among not the farming community alone but among all classes, the speaker emphasised the fact that the man who could sustain a good character over such a long period of time must be a genuinely good man. Air Kirkwood contributed a few reminiscences of tiie days when butter was Id a lb, taken out in groceries, and funguspicking was the rule, and then revolted to the subject of the toast, giving it as his opinion that Air Webster had done wisely to launch out in a town where ho was known; it was better to deal “with the devil you know, than the devil you don’t know. (Laughter.) In conclusion, Air Kirkwood said lie had very much pleasure in presenting to Air Webster a substantial cheque, as a small token ol the very great regard in which he was held in this town (Loud and continued applause, followed by cheers.) “hi presenting this cheque,” added His Worship, “I sincerely hope you will live long among us in Stratford, and will prosper.”

MR WEBSTER REPLIES. Alinutes elapsed before Air AVebster was able to commence his reply, owing to the warmth of the greeting extended to him, and when lie did so it was to admit that ho was in “a tight corner.” Ho said he felt his position most acutely, and would like to express his feelings in words, but he could not. The meeting that evening called back to his mind the time, twenty-six years ago, when, as a boy, ho had joined Air King. “I was a very shy little fellow then,” continued Air Webster, and, when laughter greeted his naive remark, Air Webster repeated it, and added, “It’s a fact, I was.” And then he went on to refer to his first meeting with tlie “chief” in his office, being ushered in by his ‘dad.” “Well, Willie,” Mr Newton King had said, “you are just making a start, and you have decided to come in with me. Do what I tell you and you will get on all right.’ But sometimes he had disobeyed those orders—every good general did that. (Laughter.) ‘Mr Webster attributed much of his success to the fact that lie was taught from the first an object lesson bv bis late chief, never to mind hard work. Air AVebster then went on to refer, in humorous terms, to those times when he drove with Mr Newton King round the district, and to the early days in Stratford. He paid a generous tribute to the loyalty of the staff, who had assisted him sc well, and he felt that they would put their shoulders to the wheel when working under Air Abraham, and work in the same earnest manner as they had worked with him. (Applause.) In conclusion, Mr AVebster said: “It was absolutely the hardest job of my life leaving the firm 1 have been with so long. 1 won’t say very much more, or I may flounder into deep water. I most sincerely thank yon for the handsome present. I very much appreciate it—words cannot express my feelings. (Applause.) OTHER TOASTS.

Proposing the toast of the ‘Army

and Navy,” Mr H. E. Abraham was in a humorous vein, and continuous laughter greeted his amusing treatment of this old and famous toast. As a prelude, he thanked Mr MeCluggago for his kind words ? to a stranger in a strange land. Mr McCluggage had said that Mr Newton King had a faculty for picking out a good- man, and he (the speaker) knew that that was so, but, in this case, he only hoped Mr King had not given “a miss in baulk.” (Laughter.) Captain Lampen responded, ana stressed the admirable manner m which Taranaki people had supported the defence movement. Our Army was but 18 months old, yet he conscientiously believed that 90 per cent, of those eligible for training would mobilize. He was sorry to see that some irresponsible persons did not appieciate the fact that they had to serve. Of late they had had some prosecutions, but they were very few for the size of the district, and for the hardships and the sacrifices that both employer and employee undoubtedly had to undergo in some cases. Those hardships, however, Captain Lampen continued, would be very much lessened if they would confide a little in him. Young as he was, Captain Lampen added amid general laughter, he could help them in very many ways. —= "i** po-." proposed by Mr E. P- Webster, and responded to by Mr C. H. Giokei, and “The Press,” proposed by Di. Paget and the “Chairman,” proposed by Mr R. Spence. THE MUSICAL PROGRAMME.

Local amateurs were in rare form, and the musical programme rendered was truly enjoyable The hero ol the evening was undoubtedly -Mi • H Wilkie, of whom those present could never hear enough. it was pleasing also to hear Mr W. D. Weister in a song, which has never probably been sung before in Stratford, the words being the poetical effort of Mr Hursthouse,. one of Taranaki s pioneers. Songs were also contributed by Mr A. L. Jones, h. T Hale, and H. W. Douglas, the last-named and Mr Jones also giving a duet. Mr j. H. Thompson officiated at the P 1 The singing of ‘Auld, Lang Syne” followed by the National Anthem brought a notable function to an The catering was in the hands <n ,Mrs W r . H. Brooking, and was excellent in every respect.