PRESENTATION TO MR. JAMES KIRKER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 16, 22 April 1905, Page 23

PRESENTATION TO MR. JAMES KIRKER.

A gathering of a very pleasing nature took place at the head office of the South British Insurance Company, Auckland, last week, at which Mr. James Kirker, general manager of the company, was the recipient of a handsome clock and silver bowl, suitably inscribed, these being the, gifts of the Company’s staff throughout its world-wide service, and a fitting testimony of the high personal esteem in which Mr, Kirker is hekl by the company’s officers, and also their recognition of the splendid success achieved by the company under his management. In the presentation to Mr. Kirker was also included a beautiful and diamond crescent brooch for Mrs. Kirker.

Mr. Batger, chairman of directors, supported by his fellow directors, and in the presence of the whole of the members of the company’s local and head office staff, in making the presentation on behalf of the staff, referred to the good services rendered to the company by Mr. Kirker, to the great interest Mr, Kirker has all along taken in the welfare of the staff, and to the keen gratification it gave the directors on the success of Mr. Kirker’s serious operation last year and his subsequent restoration to perfect health. The chairman also read a letter addressed to Mr. Kirker by Mr. R. Maris Clark (the Dunedin manager, and the oldest officer of the company), who, on behalf of the whole staff and at their expressed desire, conveyed their congratulations on his complete recovery, their appreciation of all his kindness to them, and their warm feeling of personal regard for him. as well as a thorough appreciation of the undoubted skill and ability he had displayed in bringing the South British Insurance Company into : ls present very satisfactory position. Mr. Woolcoft, accountant at the head office, also spoke, referring in particular to the spontaneity of the desire of the whole staff to join in the testimonial to Mr. Kirker, and also to the warm and loyal feeling entertained towards him by the company’s staff throughout the world.

Mr. Kirker. who was taken completely bv surprise, in reply, expressed his gratitude to the staff for the very handsome gifts to himself and his wife, and to the directors for their attendance at the presentation. Mr. Kirker, speaking with evident emotion, also conveyed bis thanks to the directors and staff for their kind solicitude on his behalf during his recent severe illness, and spoke hopefully of the future of the company, seeing the directors and every officer were working together in complete harmony, and determined, so far as it lay within their respective powers, to achieve a still large measure of success for the company in the years to come.