PRESENTATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12480, 17 September 1904, Page 4

PRESENTATION.

Mr Andrew Austin, who for the past twenty years has been in the. employ of the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association, and for many years has been accountant in their offices, has severed his connection with the Association. His long ytars of hard work in a- responsible position have it is said made him desirous of a less arduous life in the future, and he is about to take up farming in the A buiy district. He was met last night by the staff of the Association, who assembled in the Board room. There have been several such gatherings in that room, but never before Jiiive so many come together, and fo-r the first time a number ol the young women v. ho are employed in the establishment were present-. Mr J. P. Newman presided, and highly eulogised Mr Austin for his many good qualities. The largeness of the gathering snowed the high esteem in which he was held by his fellow-employees, an esteem which was held in no less degree by the employees of the Waimate and Geraldihe branches of the Association. There was no man, he said, who ever left the,employ, of any firm, leaving more, genuine regret behind him. He referred to'Mr Austin's reason for leaving. During the long years ho had "wbrked for them, he ..had used all his efforts; in the .interests of the .Associa-, tion, and no office could have been better administered than that of which he had had charge. Personally, he felt the greatest regret: at losing Mr Austin's services, and his comrades and fellow-workers would 'eel in the same way. He was, however, not going far away, and they.would probably see him now and again. On behalf of the employees of the Association, he presented Mr Austin with a dou6le-barrel!ed gun and a handsome marble clock, the latter with; a neatly engraved plate notifying the occasion and purpose of the gift. Mr Newman, who was evidently much moved, was followed by Mr Mundell. H 6 spoke in light vein of the happy future in store for hiiil now he had left hard work. Mr -Austin had started when the Association was a very small concern,' and had ssen.it grew to its present great size, and it must be gratifying to him to leave it in &uch a healthy condition. He wished Mr Austin every success in the future. Mr F. Sniitii, for the drapery department. wished him a happy iuture. 'Mr A. Wilson, his successor to the .position of accountant, paid Mr Austin a high tribute for his capable manner of managing the office. He had always got on exceedingly well with the farmers, some of whom were the most capable grumblers in the world, and had, by his manner with them and general way of doing business, become very popular. Mr Austin's business methods were above reproach, and his sound advice was always at the disposal of whoever "reeded it.' Mr G. R. M. Jones, Mr Walton, and Mr A .Jones also spoke a few words of farewell and kind wishes. : Mr Austin made a brief reply, sincerely thanking jail for their kind remarks and handsome presetits. This was, he said, the first time he had regretted sending in his resignation. Ho thought, however, that farm life would , suit him better, and he left the heavy office work behind him gladly. He spoke of Mr Wilson's capabilities - to fill the .position to which he had succeeded, and expressed the opinion that, he was the best man the Association could have chosen to rule the sober and wellconducted staff of the office. . . The gathering concluded * with three hearty cheers for Mr Austin, and " For he's a Jolly Good Felloe.