A POPULAR PUBLICAN

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 698, 23 July 1903, Page 20

A POPULAR PUBLICAN

Mr P. Lynch, late of the Northern Wairoa Hotel, Dargaville, has not met with fair play frOm the Licensing Committee and certain other persons, but the most prominent residents have shown that they appreciated himself and his wife in a manner that is quite unmistakeable. A presentation and social took place shortly before the departure of Mr and Mrs 1 Lynch from Dargaville, for. a report *of which we are indebted to the “ Northern Luminary;’? f-r’l'.. “ There wCrd- a'" large number of residents^' resent. On behalf of the friends

and well-wishers,, Mr Dargaville, who acted as chairman,, presented Mrs Lynch with a handsome and costly silver tea service. Mr Dargaville eulogised the many acts of kindness, and the untiring generosity which had won for Mrs Lynch the high esteem and affection of all, and in bidding her farewell, he, on behalf of the townspeople, wished her and hers, God speed wherever they may go. Mrs Lynch was evidently much affected, and in a few words tendered her heart’s best thanks to her many dear friends whom she was about to leave, and wished them all the happiness and prosperity it was possible to attain. Mr Dargaville then read a letter,from the Rev. A. J. Beck, vicar of the parish, in which Mr Beck regretted his inability to be presertt at the farewell, gratefully thanking Mr and Mrs Lynch for the many kindnesses he, as vicar, had received from their hands, and wished them a happy and prosperous future. Mr Dargaville* then addressing'. Mr Lynch, read the following testimonial : — “ To Mr P. Lynch—We, the undersigned, residents of Dargaville, feel we cannot allow yourself and Mrs Lynch to leaVe the township without giving some express sio’n of grateful recognition t O i . the consideration which you yourself, and the many acts of kindntess on the part of Mrs Lynch, have endeared you to those with whom you have associated. We do not wish to appear as merely expresseing our personal opinions, as your election and reelection as a member -of the school committee sufficiently indicates the entire confidence and respect of the houSeho Iders; while your appointment to the highest non-commissioned rahk in 4 your cor] >s not only illustrates your capacity to command, but also certifies the full reliance on the part of your company. We wish.iin the most emphatic manner to recognise the loss which the township has sui stained through your, removing from our midst, and we do most sincerely wish yourself and Mrs Lynch, all happiness and prosperity in any line of life, to which you may be calledL—We are, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, F. J. Dargaville, J. Mitchelson, L. B. Marriner, J. Hay, "Fred. F. Day R. B. Peat, R. A. Cook, John A. Drunmond, T. Kennedy, W. J. Brown, Frederi jk : Norton, John Dennin, C._ H. Gould, FinlaySdn Bros., and a host of 'Other signatures; ;L. “ On rising to respond, Mr Lynch was greeted with loud applause, and in a md&t happy and well set speech, he thanked one and all for the unlooked-for kindness bestowed on himself and Mrs Lydich tfiat evening. He could only say that ht would treasure and retain in his heart the .remembrance of that evening’s farewall and -good wishes. The large assemblage then joined with all ceremony in sinking Auld Lang Syne,’, and hearty cheers for Mr and Mrs Lynch brought the .preset tatibn proceedings to a close.” .; 4 Licensed victuallers in Scotlanc miist be in a much happier frame of mind today. than they were twelve montit s and two years ago, but the continual cianges on the part of the magistrates ar e not conducive to the benefit of the Trade. {ln Glasgow, it will be remembered, tl e{ old body of magistrates sought to curt til the hours of closing, and in fact in < ertain districts compelled licensed- holders. >ip shut at ten o’clock instead of < leven. Their successors on the Bench are satisfied that no advantage to the community is to be gained by a curtailment of.i the hours:, and the old order of things is :to be restored. Family compartments on {licensed premises, which were regarded Jasi indispensable for the protection of those who went 'with jug and bottle in hai d for the family beer, are now. looked upo 1 Las aids to secret drinking, and are to '" be abolished, while the harmaids who wdre to be banished by the “ unco guid ” are now to be left to earn an honest livelihood in their own sweet way. While it is gratifying to find that common sense/snow, a prevailing , characteristic of the Seo btifeh Licensing Bench, there is really no (uar--antee-that the -present-order of-things -will continue, and when the next electioi of magistrates takes place it 'is iJ quite possible tihat the elected may entirely reverse the policy pursued by their predecessors. It is this lack of continuity >hat is so sadly complained .of eby the'Ti. ide, since it serves to destroy all confidence amongst those who would- be glad to set to work to improve the licensing business. —(“ L.V. Gazette.”),