FAREWELL SUPPER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 531, 11 January 1882, Page 2

FAREWELL SUPPER

Last evening the friends of Mr Charles Brown (late of the firm of Baker and Brown) assembled to the number of about a dozen, at Shearman’s Hotel, for the purpose of entertaining Mr Brown (who left Ashburton to-day for Sydney, en route to England) at a little farewell supper. The supper was laid in the dining-room, Mr Chapman occupying the chair and Mr George Pope the vice-chair. Mr Shearman’s good things having been duly discussed Mr Pope rose to remark that he had no doubt they were aware of the object of that gathering; it was to tender to their good friend Mr Brown a very slight jnark of the esteem in which he was held. The little entertainment was not so elaborate as he would have wished, but the affair had been got up in a very hurried manner, and he trusted i that if it was not so good as it ought t;o have been, that their guests would accept the will for the deed. The gathering might have been a much larger one but’ he (Mr Pope) had resolved that only th() particular and personal friends of Mr Brown should be present, and if the company was small each man knew Mr Brown for what he was, and heartily respected him. With these prefatory remarks Mr Pope sat down amidst considerable applause. The Chairman then rose to propose the toast of the evening—the health of the guest. He (Mr Chapman) could eidorso the remarks of Mr Pope on their friend Mr Brown. Whether in a business or in a private capacity, he had always found Mr Brown a most estimable

asking the company to drink his very good health and prosperity. The toast was drunk with musical honors. Mr Brown, in responding, remarked hew very |much surprised he was when he heard that it was in contemplation to - tender this supper to him. He knew every man present as a friend, but he hardly thought they would have gone out of their way to do him this honor. He was about to leave them, but he trusted they might meet again, or some of them at least, if not in Ashburton then in some other place, and for his part he could not imagine a greater pleasure than that of meeting an old friend when you least expect to do so. Should any of them cross his path in the future he need hardly say how delighted he should be to meet them; (Loud Applause.) The toast of “ the Chairman," (responded to by Mr Chapman,) “ the vice-Chairman,” (responded to by Mr Pope,) “ Mr William Hicks, junr.” (proposed by Mr Brown and responded to by Mr Hicks,) “ the ladies,” “ the Press,” (responded to by Mr C. A. Wilkins,) and several others, brought a most enjoyable evening to a close.