PRESENTATION TO MR. M. FAGAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 392, 15 October 1880, Page 14

PRESENTATION TO MR. M. FAGAN.

On Thursday evening, 9th inst., between 30 &nd 40 persons attended at James' Boyal Hotel, to take part in a presentation to Mr. M. Fagan, the Mayor of Palmerston, on the eve of his departure from the district for Dunedin. Mr. John M'Kenzie was voted to the chair and Mr. C. M'Gregor occupied the vice-chair. ' After the " health of the Queen " had been drunk in bumpers, The Chairman said the business that had brought them together was to make a presentation to Mr. M. Fagan, prior to his departure from the district. During Mr. Fagan's ten year's residence ia the district he had always been one of the foremost in matters appertaining to the welfare of the district. They would all miss Mr. Fagan, more or less, from amongst them both .is a private citizen and a public man. He would not go so far as to say that they could not do without him, as there was always some one to fill the place of a man no matter how good he might be. It was not always that a public man got a presentation such as the one before them, hut in many cases they got abuse. He was pleased to say that was not the case in this instance. He had no doubt Mr. Fagan would always have a warm place in his heart for Palraerston. He hoped he would long live to see the sands of time run down. Mrs. Fagan had not been forgotten ; there was also a small presentation for her, in the shape of a gold locket. He had much pleasure in presenting Mr. Fagan with a handsome black marble thirty-day timepiece, 'which bore the following inscription : — " Presented to Michael Fagan Mayor of Palmerston, by a few friends as a mark of respect and' esteem on his leaving the district. October, 1880." He would now propose the health of Mr. Fagan and family. The toast was drunk in a most enthusiastic manner. Mr. Fagan, in acknowledging the presentation, thanked them sincerely on behalf of himself and family. The presentation was as unexpected by him as it was perhaps undeserved. Tt was one of the things he would cherish most in this life, and he hoped one of the name of Fagan would always do the same. He felt regret and pleasure in getting the presentation — regret at leaving the district and pleasure in being the recipient of such a handsome testimonial! During his stay in the place he had spent some of the happiest days in his life. It was not to better himself pecuniarily that he was leaving the district ; it was mainly owing to his family, who were now growing up, and he wished to put them to some trade or profession. He was not leaving the district altogether, as he still held some property in it, and intended to do so. Although he was leaving they had still a number of valuable men whom any district might be proud of. He believed he would leave no enemies behind him at least as far as he was concerned he bore no one in the place any'illfeeling, and he hoped no one bore him any. He felt very proud of his career in Palmerston. He came amongst them almost unknown • he had worked in an honest straightforward manner, and had gained the good feeling of his fellow-citizens, who had placed him more than once in the position of Mayor of the town. He might say his career gave a living lie to the statement that had been made on more thaa one occasion that an Irishman and a Catholic could not succeed in the colony. He was proud of the people of Shag Valley in making this presentation, as it was a contradiction of the statement referred to. He thanked them for the very grand presentation that had been given to himself as also for that given to Mrs. Fagan. Palmerston Times.

Mr. J. J. Crofts delivered a lecture on spiritualism, in Timaru on Monday evening in which he conclusively proved that the phenomena produced when genuine were of diabolical origin. There was a good attendance and the lecture was much appreciated by the audience We have received from Mr. John Flood, Southbridge, £1, in aid of the Eev. Father McGuinness' Presbytery Building Fund. We are requested to acknowledge, on the part of the Dominican Fisters, the receipt of £14. collected by Mr. Corrigan in aid of a distressed family, and placed by him in the hands of the Sisters for judicious expenditure on the object in question. We shall be in a position to furnish in our next issue a full account of the proceeds of the concert iv aid of the Dunedin Cathedral Building Fund. We may add that a considerable sum has been received, but we are unable, at the moment, to give the exact figures. Mr. John Ogg's Caledonian Hotel, Anderson's Bay Road Dunedin, has been fitted up in admirable style, and is amongst the best to be found in any of the suburbs. Mr. M. Moloney. of Princes-street South, Dunedin, announces the completion of his Queen'e Arms Hotel. This establishment offers first-class attractions to boarders and visitors, occupying as it does a central position in the city, and possessing every convenience of apartments, furniture, and fittings. Messrs Fenwick and Kennedy, Dunedin, are agentg for the Hanseatic Fire Insurance Company, which offers the most advantageous terms possible to persons availing themselves of its services.