‘THE TIMARU HERALD.”

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 16 June 1924, Page 9

‘THE TIMARU HERALD.”

JUBILEE CELEBRATION DINNER.

To mark the celebration of the “Herald’s’-' diamond jubilee, th ne • + .. the paper entertainre “hole omL L'lf i.. the Slatford Tea Rooms on Satm daj nigh.. The company, which sat down at sevmi o’clock, to an excellent dinner, was a * large one, including besides members of the staff and their wives, Mi and Ai rs (J. E. Kerr, Mr A. E. kerr Mr John Hardcastle (who was ’for forty years a memoer of the staff), Mr W. D. Campbell, A 1 i L.L.8., a former editor of the “Herald,” and Mr T. Diiyle, manager of the “North Otago Times” (which is connected with the “Timaru, Herald Company). It had been hoped that another former editor (Mr \v. i ■ ■ Alexander) would have been piese-.-, but he sent an apology for unavoidable absence. ■ . Air E. G. Kerr (chairman c.t directors of the “Herald”) and Airs Kerr were not present by reason o the fact that they are on a torn abroad, and an apology for absent: , coupled with good wishes for the success of the gathering, was leceit-d

from them. , Mr M. J. Doyle (general managei of the “timaru Herald” Company) presided, and a very pleasant evening was spent in speech and song story, plus a card tournament, festiv ities concluding just as midnight was concluding just as 7 midnight was reached. , ■ ■ After honouring the loyal toast, there were some post-prandial speeches, liberally interspersed with bright stories and humorous anecdotes of special interest to followers of the Inky Way. / ' In toasting . “The Timaru Herald, the editor (Mr A. E* Lawrence) referred in flattering terms to the enterprise of the directors and management, and expressed the hope that the paper would long continue to be con ducted on its present lines, and to

prosper. Air M. J. Doyle made appropriate acknowledgment of the toast, and in the course of his remarks mentioned that the circulation of the “Herald” had risen from 2944, in 1908, to 7443, in 1924. The “Herald” was now the largest provincial paper published in New .Zealand, both in size and circulation; ,it was as large, or larger than the city journals of New Zealand, and it carried more advertising than any other paper published in New Zealand, city or provincial. The i “Herald?’ had a New Zealand record in home town circulation, serving as it did, 96.4 per cent.- of tho homes in Timaru. (Applause). The toast was warmly honoured, following which the health of “The Proprietors” was proposed in felicitous terms 1 by , the chairman and enthusiastically honoured by the company, Mr C. E. Kerr (acting-chairman of directors) responding. - -A peaceful tribute ‘to “Members of the Staff, Gone But Not Forgotten,” was paid by Mr C. E. Hassall, and fittingly" acknowledged by Air W. D. Campbell, Air G. T. Robins, and Air John- Hardcastle (the latter giving a fund of interesting -information concerning past members of the literary staff, with thumb-nail biographical sketches - of- the 7 more illustrious ot them). , “The Staff”; was proposed by the chairman with complimentary references' to all departments of the “Hcr- . aid,’!;, Air’ Doyle stating that he, did not think there was a better all-round', newspaper staff in the Dominion,; and that -only once; in 23 years had he found'it necessary to dismiss a man. The,* toast was responded to by Mi A.. B-. Blaekmore (literary), Mr L. Kane- (commercial), Mr J. Alason (publishing), and Air W. AlcKav (mechanical). . Success was also drunk to the “North Otago Times,” this toast being proposed! by. Air C. E. Kerr and responded to by Mr T. Doyle. On behalf of the staff the editor asked Mr At. J. Doyle’s acceptance ol a large and handsomely framed photograph of the staff, as a mark of appreciation of the wav in which he kept all departments working smoothly .and treated the staff generally. Air Doyle expressed surprise at the appearance of this non-scheduled item on the programme. At the same time he voiced his warm appreciation of the gift, which he said would be ever valued by him. , last item on the list was a toast to the ladies without whom, it was said, no jubilee supnlement could have been produced, without whom there could be no subscribers, and no ‘ ‘Timaru Herald.” The toast was entrusted to Air S. H. Harrow and Air I* rank Ryan, and was enthusiastically honoured.

Between the speeches there were fioine attractive musical items, solves bemg given by Mrs C. E. Kerr, .Miss Hutt Mr J. Daly, Mr F. Ryan, and AT n i ’ . U )ss Patricia Lynch, pHnc L A B -’ P residin S at the

coSUTT the speech making' a S nn i 10U, ' S ,' vere passed pleasantly S£S£K —«