BANKER FAREWELLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 31 December 1935, Page 6

BANKER FAREWELLED

MK. W. C. CHB.ISTIE, OF THE j, j RETIEING TO OAMARu ' Mr. W. C. Christie, who, f O . past nine years, has been niauaw " the Wanganui branch of the bS 0 New South Wales, was lar»» .. 4 yesterday at the Hutland Hotel t representatibe gathering of client ” friends.. The Mayor (Mr. w an Kogers) presided and, m boluif' J tn&se present and others warded apologies for not being .k, l ” attend owing to the holiday p er ““( e . l presented Mr. Christie mu\ ’ 1 and extended to him, Mrs. pk ““ and their daughter good wishes aappy retirement. Mr. Christi. ; ' 1 tiring from the bank's service ana •’ tends to live in Oamaru. Mr. Kogers said that the attend., testified to the popularity in wlli ? 1 '• Christie was held. The speak., ,7 gratulated him on completing 4",. W continuous service in the bank.' u Christie had started at Oamaru in i and since then had served the Bant i New South Wales in Blenheim r" aldine, Chiistchureh, Wellington’ v terton, Napier, Waverley, Haweri Pr mcrslon North, uud Waug.-muj fl 1 appointed a manager at Waverley **? came to Wanganui in JP26 Sion to Mr. G. W. Harden. I n Wa „ nui he was held in the highest miT by all with whom he camo in co„2® In his own quiet way he had rcnd et ,J a great deal of community service and the same could be said f or ’v ™ Christie and their daughter. (S wishes were extended to Hr. Christi/ his wife and daughter in their sphere, but Mr. Kogers expressed ft. nope that in tho near ititnre would return and establish their M i. maneut home in Wangan'ti. 4/ Christie had been a good eit lzCn he carried away with him the estesm and respect of the eitizens of ganui. v ? Ir p , C - w,id lhi " eversinc. au. Cnrislic had announced hig j C tirement there bad been a feeling ifgrel. that he was leaving Wanganui and there was u desire to make some tangible recognition of the high re. gat'd iu which he was held, m Duigan said that there had tl j managers of the Bank of New tSouth Wales in Wanganui, since the brand was opened in ISUJ, and they b a j served for an average of 71'years. Mr. Christie had been here for nine yearn. The bank wns opened on September 3, 1861, and the following managers had held office;

J. D. Busby ,861 to John Kirkpatrick .. .. Jsiil to 18J0 W. K. Perston 1870 to 1878 Gilbert King 1878 to 1886 K. C. Tenneut ]BBii to 1889 W. F. Downes 1889 to 1895 A. Stedman 1895 to 1901 J. C. Campbell too, to 1912 G. W. Harden .1912 to 1928 W. C. Christie 1926 to 1935

It was remarkable, Mr. Duigan stated, how clients had stuck to the bank right through those years, he knew many who were clients now whose fathers and grandfathers bad been clients in the past. Mr. Cbihtie look away with him the good wishes of many friends, and Mr. Duigan hoped that later he would recollect the advantages of Wanganui and return here to live.

Messrs. Hope Gibbous, Hugh Cameron, G. W, Currie, H. Hague Smith, and G. Broadhead endorsed the previous speakers, all of them testifying to Mr. Christie’s qualities as friend and counsellor.

Replying, Mr. Christie sincerely thanked the gathering for the varioui expressions of goodwill. Circumitaiicu were such, he eaid, that the call to Otago and old friends proved tw strong to resist. He and bis wife wanted to get back among their old friends. He had been in the hank for 42 years or a little moreand felt that he needed a rest. He had alwayi eo« dcavoured to give of his best and had never kicked the underdog when he wu down, but had tried to help him up. By that m cants, the speaker had reached one of life’s objectives. He could assure the gathering that if he felt the South Island climate too keenly he would come back to the North, and would certainly visit Wanganui. The health of Mr., Mrs., and Mis* Christie was honoured enthusiastically. Mr. Christie introduced his successor, Mr. R. McDonald, an old Wanganui boy, and asked them to extend to bini the same loyalty, friendship, and goadfellowship which had been extended to him. Replying to a toast in his honour, Mr. McDonald said that ho first serve* the bank in Wanganui in d 905. had had the honour of reprcaentUf Wanganui at football, and had done some rowing and refereeing here. e regarded Wanganui a* home and very pleaded when ho heard ho • transferred to this branch. He w endeavour to live up to the " ■ standard set by Mr. Christie.