THE WARDEN'S DEPARTURE.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8601, 4 March 1897, Page 2

THE WARDEN'S DEPARTURE.

FAREWELL AT THE COURT HOUSE.

The last valedictory function in connection with the departure of Warden Kenny from this district took place in the Court-house this afternoon. There was a large and highly representative attendance, all classes of the mining community being represented—notably the mine managers, mining agents, and surveyors, as well as the local Bar. Among those present we individually noticed the following:—His Worship the Mayor (Mr Thos. Radford), Colonel Eraser iSergeant-at-Arms), and Messrs H. C. Gille9pie, A. Bruce (Secretary to Committee), J. A. Miller, E. J. Clendon, E. Smith, T. A. Dunlop, J. HagueSmith, T. C. Bayldon, J. W. Walker, J. Wilson, Bobt. Comer, W. H. Burch, H. P. Harper, W. 8. Styak, A. Cuff, F. H. Whalley, W. Bloomfield, C. McLean, J. Morrison, F. Trembath, A. Thomas, C. Me Williams, H. P. Stark, J. Jordan, Jas. Corbett, J. W. Proudfoot, E. F. Tizard, W. Kensington, T. A. Bailey, A. J. Allom, Sergt. Gillies, and the Rev. S. J. Neill. On the late Warden entering the room, he took his seat at the table along with the Mayor, ColonelFraser, and Messrs Gillespie and Bruce. The Mayor briefly opened the proceedings, and in his preparatory remarks referred in terms of grateful thanks to the kindness and sympathy which Mr and Mrs Kenny had shown him in his recent bereavement. He said it must be gratifying to the Warden that he (Mr Kenny) had so successfully performed the difficult duties which fell to his lot. No Warden had ever before had such a difficult task to perform. He (the speaker) believed in leaving well alone, and he could not agree with the policy of change adopted by the Government.

The Mayor then presented to Mr Kenny a handsome gold watch and chain for himself, and a tasteful gold brooch and bracelet for Mrs Kenny. The watch was inscribed as follows:—

Presented to H. Eyre Kenny, Warden and S.M., as a mark of esteem and regard on his leaving the Thames Goldfields, March 1897.

Before concluding his remarks, the Mayor expressed the hope that the articles then presented would bo a lasting token of the esteem and respect of the Thames people, both in the possession of the Warden himself and as an heirloom in the hands of his children.

Colonel Eraser, as an old Warden of this field, congratulated Warden Kenny on the manner in which he had performed his duties. Mr Kenny came at a crucial period, and he regretted that the community should be deprived of his services.

In reply, Mr Kenny said he could not adequately express his sense of the kindness which had been shown | him by the Thames people on this and on all occasions. Three years before he had come to the district a stranger, having no previous acquaintance with any of the local people, and he could say that from first to last he had received fair treatment and kindness, culminating in the magnificent present he had just received. A mining community was the warmest hearted community in the world. A mining man was hard to fight.—he was always better to shake hands with —but if treated in the right way he would be willing to do anything. His position as Warden had been beset with great difficulties, but a laige share of the credit for the work accomplished was due to his official chief (Mr Cadman,) who had rendered every assistance, and who, by working in spite of illness and fatigue, had set a splendid example of untiring energy and sympathy for others. He had tried to follow this example, and to do his best for the mining industry and the mining community. He thanked the Mayor and Colonel Fraser for their kind remarks, and said that he had felt deeply for Mr Radford in his great affliction. He would treasure their gift all his life long—it was his Victoria Cross — and he would hand it on to his son, (now in the Imperial service at Singapore) who, after the Thames had frown into a second Melbourne, would eep it as a memento of the esteem in which his father was held in "the early days," He hoped to come back and look at them again (emphatic cries of hear! hear!), and he would be no false prophet when he predicted that atter long patience and waiting, a prosperity would dawn on the Thames which would surpass the golden times of '(57 and '08. All credit was due to those people who stuck to the place during the time of depression, and he hoped they would reap their reward. He had been unsociable in many ways during his stay here, but his official work had taken up his time so much that lie was prevented from cultivating friendships which he would be glad to make under other circumstances. He would always be glad to see his Thames friends in the place to which he was going. It was no mere figure of speech to say that he wished them from the bottom of his heart, farewell.

All the speakers met with emphatic applause from those present, and when Mr Kenny rose to reply he wus greeted with an almost deafening welcome. Throughout the proceedings the enthusiasm was maintained at a very high pitch, and after the ceremony was over Mr Kenny personally bade good-bye to a number of his friends who remained behind.