PRESENTATION TO MR.FENTON.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 488, 18 March 1881, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR.FENTON.

A gathering of an interesting nature took place on Wednesday evening at Rodrigues' Madeira Hotel. Mr Harold H. Fenton being about to leave the district, it had been determined by a few of his friends to present him with a testimonial of th eir regard and esteem in the shape of a purse of sovereigns. As above stated, the presentation took place on Wednesday evening. The followinggentlemen,among others, were present —Rev H. Stocker, Dr Guthrie, Messrs A. C. Knight, G. H. Saxton, A. H. Westenra, H. Piper, W. Meech) W. B. Tosswill, and many others.

Glasses having been charged,

Mr A. C. Knight said he rose to propose the health of his dear friend, Mr Fenton. They had met there that evening for the purpose of wishing him good-bye, though not in its every day sense. Separation was always painful, but they wished their friend God speed. They wished him hea th, happiness, and prosperity. They hoped he might carry with him into new scenes his present equable, happy disposition. They were indebted to him in various ways. lie had taken an active part in church as well as lay matters. But what they chiefly owed him gratitude for waa the roads they now possessed. When Mr Fenton came here there were no good roads. He had shown them that good roads could be made. Their memories must be feeble indeed before they forgot their friend. They had determined to present him with some slight token of their regard and approval. He wished he could say that he hoped the contents would wear well and last bim his life. They could have presented him with a piece of plate, but it would have been of very little use. They had, therefore, determined to put their contributions into a common purse, of which he begged Mr Fenton's acceptance. He wished also to express on behalf of those present, and many who were unable to be present, their best wishes on behalf of Mrs Fenton. He would now call upon them to drink the toast he had proposed. [We nnderstand the purse contained something over £60] Mr Fenton's health was then drunk with musical honors. In rising to respond, Mr Fenton said he was glad to remember that any one in his position was not expected to say much, Their kind present was both welcome and unexpected. He had never thought that he was a popul r man. He did not possess tbe suaviier in modo ; but he could assure ihem that whatever there wasrepellant about him was manner only. He had spent many, many happy days here. Leaving a place where he had been engaged for some years, during which time he had constantly been making friends and acquaintances, carried with it feelings of melancholy. Wherever he went he would have tho process to begin again. It would take years for people in a strange place to know him as well as they knew him on the Peninsula. After making so many friends as he had here, it was hardly possible to do the same thing again. He could not recall an instance of receiving unfair treatment. It was true he had had little disagreements, but he had always said what he believed to be the truth, and had told it them the same before their faces as behind their backs. His friend Mr Knight bad not exaggerated the difficulties ot travelling when he (the speaker) arrived on the Peninsula. With regard to the Chiistchurch and Pigeon Bay roads he took no credit for them, as he had merely widened them. He had, however, set to work to make -roads in other places at good grades," and he had succeeded. There had been no special difficulties in tho matter to an engineer, and he claimed no credit for doing what he h id undertaken to do. But he was gratified to find that the inhabitants were grateful for the good roads he had provided them with. He than ked them for the kind way they had spoken of his wife. He felt ho could, without any want of delicacy, endorse all that had been said of her. She was of an amiable disposition, aud had made numerous friends. Although the saying was a hackneyed one;

he would yet say that that this was the proudest moment of his life. It was very gratifying to find that in the present hard times they had been able to collect such a purse It showed that they were really in earnest in their expressions of goodwill. He thanked them heartily for their handsome present as well as for the kind man ncr in which they bad drunk his health. He hoped some day to lie able to return amongst them, and wherever he went he felt sure be would not be happier anywhere than he had been on the Peninsula. (Applause.) Mr Fenton proposed the toast of ;' Prosperity to the Peninsula," aud dwelt at considerable length on its capacities as a grazing country, and was glad tos cc that the dairy fanners were taking steps to send their produce to the English markets He eulogised the kindness and hospitality of many of the residents he had come in contact with, and coupled the toast with the names of Messrs Saxton and Piper, two old and representative settlers. Both these gentlemen suitably replied,Mr Piper taking occasion to refer to the capabilities of the Peninsula as a hop growing district, an industry that would give employment to a large number of both old and young. The Rev. H. Stocker proposed the health of the gentleman who had occupied the chair that evening (Mr A. C. Knight), and regretted they did not see more of Mr Knight on public occasions, as his capacity for affairs was well known. Mr Knight replied in suitable terms, remarking that it is only any spare time a man should give to tbe common weal. At present, he waa too much occupied with his own private business to bo able to devote much time to public business. The mteting shortly afterwards broke up, some excellent songs having been given by Messrs Tosswill, Knight, Westenra, S. Watkins, Billens, and the Rjv 11. Stocker.