PRESENTATION TO MR JOHN BRADSHAW.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3251, 26 February 1885, Page 6

PRESENTATION TO MR JOHN BRADSHAW.

On Saturday, Feb. 7th, a very interesting gathering took place at the offices of the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association. A large number of gentlemen, the majority of whom belonged to the Association, met together to bid Mr John Bradßhaw, who leaves for Lyttelton cii route to the Old Country, by the Express train to-day, goodbye, and at tho same time present him with a slight token of the esteom m which he has been held during his six years' residence m the district. Mr Joshua Page, who occupied the chair, on rising said they had met together to do honor to their parting guest, Mr Bradshaw. So far as he (the Chairman) was concerned, the occasion wa9 one of pleasure, not unmingled with regret, at parting with ono whoso loss would be felt very much. It gave lum groat pleasure to. express his appreciation of Mr Bradshaw, and of his actions m various public matters since he had been among them. He was quite sure that all he could say would fall very short and inadequate m conveying any idea of the very high opinion they all held oMn'm. Ho could assure Mr Bradshaw that wherever he wandered the good wishes of the people of this district in-particular, and of many others resident m othor parts of the colony, would always follow him, and that they would ever hope he would long continue to enjoy good health and meet with every success m whatever calling m. life ho might outer upon. (Applause.) Mr Sealey then read the following address : — " Presented to John Bradshavr, Esq., of Otaio, South Canterbury, New Zealand, on his final departure from the colony, m token of the esteem m which ho is held by every section of the community, as a man of large and liberal ideas and a true friend ; as one who took a prominent part m the forma* tion of the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association, an organisation which has effected much bonefit to the farming population, and as the originator of some and tho consistent supporter of all public institutions tending to promote the welfare and happiness of the people of the district, among whom his memory will ever be chorished."Mr Bradahaw, m replying, said he found great difficulty m expressing his feelings towards them for thogreat kindness they haddone him, which he believed to be special sympathy to one who was going away. He bad worked among them for the lost five years, and had alwayß tried to do bis best, and as ho was about to depart for the Old Country, he would on getting thero do all he possibly could for the colony m his own small way. Ho was perfectly certain, after having travelled m many countries, that there was no better country outside England for Englishmen to live m than South Canterbury, or for the matter of that tho whole colony. That was the feeling which after many yoars stay here ho was about to go back Homo with. He was very sorry indeed to go away from here and leave behind so many true friends, but it was some men's destiny to travol about the world,— to be a kind of rolling stone, never long m one placo — and ho supposed ho wa3 ono of theso. It was always a very painful occasion to port, after living some time m one place, making friends, and just as one is becoming intimate with them to go away. But, as he had said,- he believed h& was destined to travel about. He could hardly express the feelings with which he left them, and he thanked them most sincerely for the remarks made and for the kind expressions contained m the address. (Loud applause.) Mr Sealey then proposed the health of their guest, coupled with the name of Mrs Bradshaw, ■ wished them a pleasant voyage Home and every success m the future, and hoped they would lire long and always enjoy the best of health. Tha toast was drunk most heartily amid cheers. ' • Mr. Bradshaw, tbaiiked them very much for drinking bis health, and more especially that of his wife, who he said waß very, very sorry to leave this district. Sho had made many friends — perhaps more than ho had — . while resident on the farm,' and left with feelings of deep regret. As for himself, he was, as he had previously said, to a certain extent a' rolling stone, and he supposed it would go .on to tho end of the chapter. As a country next to the old one, he thought Now Zealand the beat field for immigrants, and he would do all m his power to bring it uader notico. After a hearty shake of the hand and an exchange of those courtesies so inseparable at parting with a dear friend tho gathering broke utJ. ■-„». ;