A FIRE AT MARTON

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12857, 18 December 1912, Page 6

A FIRE AT MARTON

TRIBUTE FROM'BAR TO BENCH

MR. A. D. THOMSON HONOURED

IMMIGRATION OF FARM LABOUR-

ERS.

" (From Our Own Correspondent.)

MATON, Dec. 17. Martcm Fire Brigade received a. call to-day, owing to a fire at an outhouse •at the rear of the Advocate office. The fire was extinmiished with the aid of the chemical apparatus. Mr A. D. Thomson, Feilding's S.M., who has been appointed a Public Service Commissioner, was yesterday entertained by the Bar of Feilding. For once stuffy law books and blue papers were, conspicuous by their absence, and in their place were the .Union Jack, and beautiful bowls of flowers. Mr*Richmond, "chairman of the Feilding Law Society, (presided, and in the course of ia hapny and eulogistic speech he asked Mr Thomson's .acceptance of an afternoon tea set as a memento of the hapT>v friendship existing: 'between t^o Bench and Bar during his regime. In again tendering congratulations on his well deserved promotion, the Bar of Feilding tendered to their guest their best wishes for health, happiness^ euccesw and .prosperity in the important and high appointment to which he had been called. In Teply, Mr Thomson; who manifested very great happiness, expressed his pride at 'being so honoured by'tho gift of the "Feilding Bar, and for Mr RichmoncFs kind remarks. At a recent function in Feilding he had said he would not regret going back Jto the Bench, should the occasion requiro it; but ho would go further than, that, and "say ~ he. would >be very glad to ao-ain take tip the magisterial work. His cordial relations with the Feildinor .people had always been amonasfc his happiest memories. Feildirio; *had beeji the first toiwh he came to after leaving his home, and it was the scene of many contests in tennis, football and other athletic games. The Feilding people had always been very kindly in their feelinsrs towards him. and he mentioned that a marble clock which they had given him twenty-three year ago was still keeping good time, and was one of his most valued possessions. He was particularly pleased with the handsome tea service the momfbers of the Bar had given him, and for M.ns Thomson and himself he offered, them grateful thanks. Beautiful 'bouquets of flowers were handed to Mr Thomson for Mrs Thomson. Mr Thomson was afterwards the guest of the •members • of the Bar at dinner at Hastie's hotel.' The Cheltenham Dairy Co. paid out • at the rate of Is per 1b for cream sup- ■ plied last month, the total amount distributed to suppliers being £2500. In reply to a communication from the Feilding branch of the Farmers' Union asking tho Prime Minister to arrange for more immigration of farm labourers, the Hon. W. P. \*<vwey has pro- • wised to confer with the Minister c r Immigration with a view to seemg -whether anything can bo done in the matter.