PROMOTION AND REMOVAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19579, 28 August 1933, Page 9

PROMOTION AND REMOVAL

MR D. W. WISE, WAIMATE

PRESENTATION AND SOCIAL

A representative gathering ol the farming and mercantile community together with personal friends, assembled at the Pipe Band Hall, Waimate, on Saturday night to tender a social evening and presentation to Mr G. D. Wise who for the last five years has been auctioneer to the local branch : f the National Mortgage and Agency Co. Ltd., and is leaving to take up the position of head auctioneer for his firm in Christchurch. Mr J. Matheson occupied the chair and after the loyal toast, said he took it as an honour to be in the chair on the occasion of a send oil to Mr Wise. He read apologies from many of the leading business and farming people of the district, after which he proposed the toast “Our Guest.” Speaking to the toast, Mr Matheson said that Mr Wise had come to Waimate with a fine reputation both in business matters and as an All JJJack. He had justified his reputation and was leaving for Christchurch to fill a most responsible position, which his friends were confident he would fill with credit. It was shown by the large attendance present that the energy put into his work by Mr Wise was as fully appreciated by his firm as it was by its clients. They regretted his departure from Waimate, but trusted that further promotion was in store for him, and that he and Mrs Wise would have a happy and prosperous time in their new sphere. Mr S. Laurenson, branch manager, Pyne Gould Guinness Ltd., endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks, and on behalf of the Waimate Stock Auctioneers congratulated Mr Wise on his promotion, and wished him success. Mr Geo. McCulloch on behalf of the farmers said that they had always found Mr Wise a good business man, keen and dependable. They trusted that his move to Christchurch was but a stepping stone to the highest position in his profession. They were sure that the confidence placed in Mr Wise by his firm had not been misplaced, and wished him all the success his ability warranted. Mr D. Matheson spoke on behalf of sports bodies, and paid a tribute to the manner in which the guest had assisted every department of sport with which he had come in contact in the district. Mr J. Tennant, auctioneer for the C.F.C.A., said that Mr Wise had a wonderful opportunity for a man of his age to justify the confidence placed in him by his firm. Personally, he regretted the departure of the guest, of whom he could say nothing better than that he justified the high opinion and esteem in which he was held by his many friends. Mr W. Lindsay, Studholme, testified to the good qualities of the guest, and said that the difficult times which ne had met so energetically and successfully in Waimate would be experience which would stand him in good stead in the future. Mr R. D. Robinson, Ashburton, said it gave him pleasure to join with the local people in honouring Mr Wise, who always played the game as he had done with the All Blacks. It was always a pleasure to pay a tribute to a straight-forward, honest good fellow. (Applause.)

Messrs S. F. Hanson (St. Andrews) and A. Gorman (Arno) also joined in wished Mr and Mrs Wise all happiness and success in their new position.

Mr J. R. Patrick said that he had been asked by Mr Wise’s many friends to make him a presentation in recognition of his unremitting efforts on their behalf, and of the courtesy he had shown on all occasions. They regretted his departure from the district, but realised that his promotion was fully merited, and hoped. it was but the first step to greater things. He then asked Mr Wise to accept a wallet of notes with the good wishes of the .subscribers.

Responding, Mr Wise said that he could not say all that he felt. A fine feeling existed among the stock auctioneers in the district, and the hospitality of farmers was proverbial. Anyone coming to Waimate to deal with them was indeed fortunate. He had spent four happy seasons refereeing football in Waimate, and had also been associated with cricket, which gave him equal pleasure. He thanked the organisers of that night’s gathering, also Mr Macdonald, the manager under whom he had worked for the last five years, and to whom he owed so much. He was very grateful to the speakers for their kind references to his wife and himself, and would ask them to accept his sincere thanks for their sentiments, their handsome present, and for the never failing kindness they had shown him during his happy days in Waimate. (Applause.) During the evening the following toast list was honoured: “The Farming Community,” proposed by Mr W. Boland, and responded to by Mr J. Gorman; “Stock Auctioneers,” proposed by Mr F. F. Wallace, and responded to by Mr D. Macdonald; “The All Blacks” proposed by Mr N. Knell, and responded to by Mr Wise; “The Press” proposed by Mr J Matheson; "The Ladies,” proposed by Mr Macdonald, and resopnded to by Messrs M. Meehan and A. Matheson; “The Successor” proposed by Mr Wise and responded to by Mr Stevens, and “The Chairman,” proposed by Mr Macdonald.

Items contributed to the programme were:—Songs, Messrs A. J. Hoskins, C. Fraser, G. A. McCulloch, F. S. Hanson and J. Matheson; Lauderisms. Mr F. T. Wallace; recitations, Mr M. J. Friel; houmorous stories, Messrs R. D. Robinson and J. Tennant. The accompaniments were played by Mr E. W. Murphy.