PRESENTATION TO MR. W. ROWE.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1694, 8 June 1874, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR. W. ROWE.

On Saturday night the r workmen employed by the Moanatairi Company, assembled at Lloyd's buildings for the purpose of making a present to their late manager, Mr. W. Howe. The present consisted of a handsome locket, solitaire, and set of studs, accompanied by a beautifully illuminated address. Mr. lAoyd took the chair, and, in opening the meeting, said, it gave him great pleasure" to preside over the gathering. So far as Mr. Eowe's abilities concerned it would not perhaps be right for him to comment on; but men, 'although workmen, could speik tp the merits of thoie placed over them, and'he could testify to Mr. Bowl's kindness as an employer—he was strict i in his duty to the company, yet ruled the , men kindly. Mr. Trevallyan then read the address, which is as follows:—-" Mr. Howe, —We, the workmen of the Moan atairi Gold Mining Company,; desire to; express our high appreciation of your many qualities as a gentleman, and your abilities as a mine manager. -We, regret your giving up the management of the mine not only on our own account, but also for the Company, aa we are certain you have studied their inter^t, at the same time you have been careful not to endanger the lives of the workmen. We beg your acceptance of tli£ accompanying" present, and wish yourself and family many years of health and prosperity.—Signed, on be.half of the workmen, Win. Lloyd , George Symington, John Johns." On - being presented: with the address Mr. Bowe said that on occasions like the present it

was not necessary to make lons speeches. He was sorry to leave the Moanatam Company's mine, but circumstances arose which made it imperative for him to do so. When he took the mine over it was at a very low ebb ; he had tried to make it a success financially, but had not been permitted to do io. He (the speaker) had always.tried to do good toUhe men placed -under him, and he had had more men in his employ than any other mine manager in New. Zealand; and he was always glad to »cc them, and he believed they Were glad to meet him. His »j stem of ruling men was one of sympathy and kindness. Mr. Kowe, in further remarks, said that no man oh "the Thames had suffered more from 'upecimen-stealing than himself. The practice was most infamous, and he : would particularly impress upon their minds that specimen stealing was not only criminal, but destroyed the confidence of capitalists, as investors, in mines.. ■Miners always had his sympathy, aY he had never forgotten the rock from' which he was hewn, or the pit from which he was dug, neither could he forget the hard, grinding taskmasters who were placed over him in his boyish days. In further ; remarks, Mr Eowe stated it was not his intention to leave the Thanies, an d advised the workmen present to do their work, and do it well, never forgetting that their employers' interests and their own ; were the same. Three rattling cheers for Mr Eowe and one for the chairman concluded the proceedings. The present is a very handsome lone. The address is. beautifully illuminated, by Mr Slator. The locket by Mr Cookson is chased and engraved with masonic symbols, and the studs and solitaire are neat works of art from the same gentleman's workshop : the gold is Thames. ;