Valedictory.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXI, Issue 3572, 1 July 1903, Page 2

Valedictory.

SEND-OFF TO ME HOLMES. A large number of the business people assembled at the BoroughChambers last night to aay larewellto Mr Arthur Holmes, who is leavWoodville and. ibe Bank of New' Zealand to take up his residence ioi Palmerston North, where he has re~ ceived a more lucrative position ia the firm of Abraham & Williams* Ltd. His Worship the Mayor presided, and said Mr Holmes, we have met to say good-bye to you, and to express the regret we all feel at your departure. I have been asked to present you with a small token of. our appreciation of the way in which, yon have conducted the affairs of the Bank of New'Zealand, and of your excellent qualities as a citizen. A£* ter such a short residence in tho place—l think about 18 months--it must be very gratifying to you to see such an assembly. It is go od evidence that your efforts as a s ervmt of the Bank of New Zealand have been appreciated, and also that your many good qualities as acktizen have been fully recognised. The contributions to the testimonial lam. about to give you have bee: a kept small so that the affair should not ba a burden on anybody, and £b .r from out having to go round and beg people to subscribe they have come forward and asked that their contributions should be received. This testimonial has been subscribed to by every section of the commiunity, the farmer outside the Boi;oogh, the business man, and the professional man. On behalf of the inhabitants of the district I have to ■ express their regret at your severing ;your connection with the district. I hope that* your departure from Woodville means greater prosper! fey for yourself and your family. I ciin assure yon we shall always have warm corner in our hearts and homes for vouiseif and your family. I do not 'wish to paint the lily, but can tell you wa have one and all the same regt*!' for you. Some of us may have been hauled up, but there are ways of dcing this and there are other ways, iou have had the happy way. Wo are gratified to find that your gooit

qualities and business capacities have been appreiisted by ethers than ourselves. I hope you are going to a life of increased prosperity, health and happiness: and shall conclude -by ashing your acceptance of this token (a purse of sovereigns) as an earnest of our good will towards you and yours.” Mr Holmes said—“ You have hll been so exceedingly kind to me that, to say * thank you ’ seems bald. ’Sfet that is about all I can say. I am sorry indeed to sever my connection with Woodville, as during the time I have been amongst you 1 have been most kindly treated by everyone. 1 had no idea you would do what yon have done. The whole thing is undeserved. _ Whatever I have done has been done in the ordinary course of business. I need not tell you that without this I shall always have a warm corner in my heart for Woodville. I took the step I did with considerable regret. I ask you to believe that your kindness has been sincerely appreciated, and I hope our friendships will not be broken as a result of my departure. 1 am better pleased at going when I know there is such a good man following me. I can assure you that when Mr Whittington’s turn to move on comes you will say, ‘ Well, he was a much better fellow than Holmes.’ —(Laughter). 1 can assure you wherever I go, it would be impossible for me to have better friends.” The Mayor then publicly welcomed Mr Whittington, and expressed the hope that the same relations would exist between him and the people as had obtained with his predecessor, and that he would go away enjoying the same respect, esteem and affection of the people as Mr Holmes did. An adjournment was made to the Club Hotel, where Mr Holmes’ health was drunk in bumpers.