FAREWELL PRESENTATIONS TO MR. G. GARRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 14 September 1900, Page 2

FAREWELL PRESENTATIONS TO MR. G. GARRY.

On Thursday evening a number of Mr. Garry's friends assembled at the Criterion Hotel to bid him farewell and to give practical expression of their appreciation of his services is Conductor of the Town Band. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. E, Dockrill) presided, and addressing Mr. Garry, said that a number of friends in New Plymouth heard that he was leaving under oircumstances which they personally regretted, but hoped would prove to Mr. Garry's advantage. His services had, for many years, been ungrudgingly rendered, not only with regard to music, but in assisting to further charitable, benevolent, and other objeots. They felt they could not allow him to leave without spying "Good-bye" and expressing their appreciation of his services. His Worship said he remembered Mr. Garry's advent to the town, and that he was brought here as conductor of the Philharmonic Society, and when that Society came to end, Mr, Paul, who was then Mayor, took a leading part in forming the band, which he had loyally supported from that time to the present. The Band, at its initiation, numbered amoDgst its members the Mayor, the District Judge, and several of the leading citizens, and might well be described as a " toff" bind. Shortly aftarwarJp, Mr. Garry was appoin'ed organist of St. Mary's Church, and it was admitted on every hind that from a musical point of view the position was never better filled. On the formation of the Opera Company Mr. Garry had been appointed conductor, and many of his productions would long be remembered. Bearing all these things in mind, it was felt that Mr. Garry should not be allowed to depart with a mere " goodbye," and so he (the Mayor) had muoh pleasure, on behalf of the subscribers, in presenting Mr. Garry with a purse of sovereigns, not in any way as being commensurate with the services rendered to the town during the last sixteen years, but as a token of appreciation of those services. In conclusion, he wished Mr. Garry success in his new career. (Applause.) After Mr. Garry's health had been drunk, with musical honours, be brie fly expressed his thanks for the presentation, and paid a tribute of praise tc the loyal way in which the members cif the Band had worked with him.

Subsequently at a smoke concert at the Guards Club, Oaptain Taun'on, who presided, presented Mr. G arry on behalf of the Guards, with a v< ry handsome silver mounted cane and cigarcase as a souvenir of their appreciation of his assistance at several of the social evenings held at the Olub, Oaptain Taunton as-uring Mr. Garry that he had the b.'st wishes of the Guards for hi* future success.

In thanking tho Club for their giff, Mr. Garry said he was glad to find that the members appreciated the small services he had rendered.

We understand that Mr. Garry was afterwards entertained by several friends at the Red House Hotel.