WAIMATE NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13713, 30 September 1908, Page 3

WAIMATE NOTES.

PRESENTATION TO Mil AND Mitts COLTMAN. (From Our Own Correspondent.) There was a representative gathering in St. Augustine's Hall on Monday night, at the presentation to Mr and Mis W. Coltman, on the eve of their departure lor Auckland. The Mayor (Mr' Francis) occupied 'tlie chair, and was supported on the plat-form by the guests, the Mayoress, Mr and Mis Manchester, Mr Talbot (Tiniaru), and the Executive Committee. The chairman, after apologising for Councillor Saunders' unavoidable absence, said he was pleased to see so many present to do honour to the departing guest, who had been intimately connected with the borough for over eighteen years, and on almost ail public bodies. The lioiough Council loses its oldest and one of i s bent members. Hie .swimming baths were due to Mr ColtmanV> enterprise. lie was pleated to see that Mr Taibot had

come from limaru to do honour to his "former colleague on the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Mr Colt man had done more for 1 lie young men of the district than any other public man, and in all these public offices liad a valuable helpmeet in Mrs Coltman.

Mr I'itcaumy read the to ba presented, testifying to the goodwill and appreciation of ilie community towarus the guests. Mr Manchester said lie lose to take up a difficult task, as he would not know when to stop, so would propose a resolution ;<« a starting p<tint, namely—"That a cordial and hearty vote of thanks be tendered to Mr W. Cohnian for his invuluab.e service/* to town and district." As to the merit of the resolution no one could cavil. He had always found Mr Colt man to be a man afraid of nothing but of doing wrong, iiul had many turns bcenguidcu by In.t judgment. ft was a pie, sure U>" give praise to Mr ColUnau, but a pain to think of the parting. He hoped Uki email present (a wry unworthy one) would be acceptable, and with the pui«c of sovereigns he could buy a i< minder or put in the Savings Bank, ready to bring ihcin back to W'aitnaU.

Mr I albot said he had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He was very pleased to b.- pre-ent. He came because he had known Mr Coltman inanv veait>. He came from lemtika, and as Mis'coh man came from Temuka. he felt that 1 e inuka had something to do with Mr Coltmans success, ;ia a good wile n;i> one of the chief factors in a in.inn eaiecr. He had been closely connected with Mr Coltman on tile Hispital and (liari'afo.'e Aid Board, where bin conduct, and u.-eful-n«ks pto\-ed linn capiilile nt tilling any pub he position. Whatever Ik* look up was well thought out and eoiiM'icnliouslv | worked for, and lie frusttd that m Auck land the gUi-sL might -take up a position in public lilt-, and wotild do justice to it. .{!*' iepieM.ntativ,»» -cnL to limaru were g«.n-rally good; .Mr Coltman was a little extra good. and Mr lal bo', trusted the guci-Us uould have health and in their new sphere. Mr Graham hail pleasure in endorsing all that had been vtid of Mr and Mis Coltman, and considered that not one word in exaggeration of the nivtiir* of tlm parting friends had been utuied. Ho very much regretted the departure of their guest.* fioiu W'aimati. Mr \V. M. Hamilton said h ■ could not let the meeting pass without expiAt-Miig Illfull endorsement of Mr ColuuanV. goou qualities. On** office in which ilie ojs-aker had conic in contact with Mr Coltman w;tf* u lirti lie Uit> doing dtitie.* ;*> J.l'., and Ik- had always found him willing an<l able to carty out hi.i duties in that |«>vition. Mr Hamilton jojn>-d m j I**l wifli-s for Mr .iiul Mr* Colt man's I lutuie wclfaie. I

Tin; ltev. Me. K (jib.son rviitl it «.■- evident that IligLlf one W.ln only to «]>.-ak ns the iNjiirit. ni'>v, ii, and would do *o. Hi- J|, t d eniii.- in cons.H t with Mr Colt man in many j>ul>!ic ani f-emi public affair*, and .«t,ud no tv fc id* n' had taken a ii- r or had b-» r n lln'te u>ef'i] m public Jiiat.l. Irs. H>alw.iy* prepared to stand up for iii» »\\ n judgment, mlii.li w., /v gcn-ially r-hhl, M.ji of suitim gci>. 1 ally had g.-w'i w:ve», ,uid !*• wa. ,tir,- Ml* ('oilman had i>. n tim great hvlp to Mr * hitman ihal a wife could l>-.

lie* I'.cv- MoIli*oi) fr!l thai- parting Willi th*- fti- ri'ir. « horn thev .ii! i,>■ u w i( « jwinful H.- had aiw.,Vh .ulnul.d Mi tollman'- menial gr.i.«p of' jitiT.li. alHur. i'ubhc men had mueii to pat up wuh, and any small tofc.-n t ) , t v ~fl. rod fully due. and he w l f.jr .j to t}i.parting guests.

Mr ft. lnk*!i-r »iiil l|.- n>n|.] r.i>; !■ t !(>** opportunity ji„t .xj.rrrrij- ,j. preciaMori of Mr O.jfimn. H< b- n rl(»!»cly d ui'ii bstri "n ni*fiv j>ub li>: ts.jKrc:.iii_v i.fj \l.c

Council,- for.- many y«ars, and fully 'appreciated Ilia services and judgment, u»u -ivijihcd the family suecetw- ~ The audience then carried the motion with acclamation.

Mr Manclufeter said lit had great pleasure in handing to Mr Coltanan the <idiire«s ami hojxd his lift l would be as lull and iteoful m the future as in the past. Mrs Manchester then printed the puise of sovmugus. ■ She, lelt pain at parting with the gucislts, who had given help and advice iu connection wiui the Ladies' Benevolent Society, and in charitable aid and ot.her matters, iuid hoped their future home and usefulness would be as happy and gr«?at ao in Waimate. . The band played; a selection, which received hearty recognition. . Mr Coltiuan, who was warmly cheered, in .'.replying, thanked the speakers for the good things that had baid of himself und his wife. H<? had always 'done his best in public matters, and was pleased that it was appreciated. He felt leaving Wahnate very much, and would" never for [ get the. friends ho had made here, . He " on!ct only thank them for tlx? good words : and pr*.t>i nt made to hiiu. A la-arty vote of thanks was accorded •'*» 'he R \ M K. Gibson for the cue of tin? hall for thw meeting, and to the Wni mate Bru»> Band for their good mimic, which had helped the meeiing considerably. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to rhe chairman, on the- motion of Mr Talbot, who said he was not surprised there wero five candidate for the Council to sit under !s-ueh a chairman as the Mavor,

"Auld Lang Syne" and th<- National Anthem by tiie- band and audience, conUudetl a very {meecssfnl gathering.