PRESENTATION TO DR. GUTHRIE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 568, 23 December 1881, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO DR. GUTHRIE.

The presentation to Dr Guthrie took place on Tuesday evening at Bruce's Hotel. About 8 p.m. a number of the gentlemen interested assembled. The room in which the presentation took place was most tastefully decorated with flowers and foliage, and the table spread with a refection of fruit and wine was admirably laid.

Mr W. B. Tosswill occupied the chair, and Mr J. Aylmer the vice chair, Dr Guthrie as a matter of course occupying the seat at the Chairman's right. All being seated, the Chairman said, "Dr Guthrie, on behalf of your Peninsula friends, I have much pleasure in asking you to accept a slight token of our respect and esteem. If there is an unpleasant thing to do, I think it is to praise a man to his face, one can say so much more in his absence. I think therefore that on tnis occasion it would be out of place for me to make a long speech, for nothing I can say can add to our esteem for your sterling qualities, nothing can add to our feelings of admiration. It was remarked to mo by one who knew you, that

one , 4 of your peculiarities was, that you said an unkind word of any of your fellow creatures. It proves a man has a large heart indeed, when he never traduces and it is a great Virtue indeed in a small place like this, where people are so apt to talk about each other. I think that yon have been more than good in the exercise of yo'-.r profession here, for you never studied your own ease, but did your duty thoroughly, sometimes at the great risk of your own personal health. I will say no more, except to wish yon a long life and happiness, nnd to ask you to accept these small tokens of our esteem and respect for you." (Applause.) Dr Guthrie was then presented with the gifts, which consisted of a clock and vases of porcelain and ormolu, in the style of the Renaissance,.and an address, beautifully illuminated by Mr H, Goodman, of Christchurch. The wording of the address was as follows :—

" To John Guthrie, Esq., M.D. " We, the undersigned inhabitants of the County of Akaroa, desire, on the occasion of your departure from among us, to express our sense of the great loss we shall sustain by your removal. By tbe skill displayed in the exercise of your profession you have earned the confidence of all, while your unselfish nnd sympathetic disposition has gained you the esteem and regard of a wide circle of friends. In conclusion, we wish you and yours every success in the future, and subscribe ourselves your sincere friends."

(Signed by the gentlemen contributing to the testimonial.)

Dr Guthrie said : Mr Tosswill, and gentlemen, I can assure you I feel deeply your great kindness in presenting me with this magnificent present and address. I am much pleased at Mr Tosswill having kindlj consented to make the presentation, for I am glad to receive your good wishes through one I am proud to call my friend. I am indeed gratified at your appreciation of my humble services amongst you, and feel utterly unequal to the task of replying, feeling it is' utterly useless for me to attempt to make anything like a suit ble response. It is now four years since I first came to the J.-'eninsula and settled amongst people who were most kind and indii'geiit to me. I was very liappy here and had no desire for a change, and I think I may briefly review the circumstances that led to my quitting Akaroa. You are all aware of the terrible disaster by which Christchurch lost one of her leading medical men. His partner, who was left in Christchurch, determined under the circumstances to ask some one else to join him, in order that the practice might not dwindle away. He asked his principal patients what they thought on the matter, and they quite agreed with him. The result was that several names were mentioned, amongst them my brother's and my own. My brother could not get away without a great sacrifice of property and money, so I was called upon to decide whether I would accept or not, only twenty-four hours lime being given me'for consideration. Mrs Guthrie felt quite miserable at leaving the Peninsula, where she had much enjoyed herself, and wished much to remain, but I felt that perhaps the time had arrived when it was my duty to change. You all know the celebrated lines—

''There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune."

Gentlemen, I felt that perhaps that time had come, and that decided my removal to Christchurch. I knew in going that I should not have the same pleasure as I had had in Akaroa. and I merely went as a matter of duty, and against my inclination. I thought, however, it was right lo seek the larger field. In Dr Moore I have found not only a talented colleague but a warm friend. In going away, too, I took care not to leave you without an efficient successor. Dr. Singleton is not only well qualified to fill the position of your medical man, but he also likes the place, and I am certain that the longer you know him the more you. will like and appreciate him. I hear that some of the ladies object to him because he is single ; but all I can say in that case is, that they have only themselves to blame. This error of bachelorhood can easilybe rectified. Let the ladies take a lesson from the battle of Parihaka, assemble their forces and surround the fortress jof his celibacy, and than, like Te Whitf* the end will be that he will be led off info captivity without a hope of release, (daughter and applause.) 1 thank you again most heartily in the name of Mrs Guthrie and my family. No words of mine can express my satisfaction at the receipt of your magnificent present. I shall always look back upon the four years I spent in Akaroa as a bright spot in my existence, the four happiest years of my life. (Applause.) Mr Justin Aylmer proposed " The Prosperity of Akaroa." They had suffered last season from tho loss of a good deal of their cheese in transhipment to England. He thought a great many of these losses arose from want of unity, as he fancied badly made cheese would spoil the good. If they instructed one another and started a uniform plan, he had no doubt that a quality of cheese could be produced which would find a rc-_dy nmikot in England.

Messrs Garwood and E. S. Latit-i responded in lilting terms.

Dr Guthrie then proposed " The Chairman " in most eulogistic terms.

The Chairman responded. He said that during the three years he had resided in Akaroa he had met with great kindness, and he and his family were delighted with the place. . There seemed to him to be a certain kindliness of manner peculiar to tha Peninsula that struck a stranger at once. Whether it was that the residents were principally old settlers he did not know, but it was a fact that everyone you met seemed exceedingly couteous and kind. He thanked them all for the kind manner in which his health had been drunk, and felt that it was an honor to preside on such an occasion. Mr Justin Aylmer proposed the health of the Rev. Harry Stocker, not as a clergyman, but as a citizen. He was foremost in promoting the good of Akaroa in every possible way he could* The Library, the Exhibition, and in fact everything which tended towards the good of Akaroa, he stuck to through thick and thin, with, untiring energy. (Applause.) Mr Stocker responded. He said that' all he did was to try and do as much good as possible, and to act during the week according to the doctrines that he preached in the church on the Sunday. (Immense applause.) The toast of " The Press," responded to by Mr Jacobson ; " Sweethearts and '.

Wives," responded -to by Dr. Singleton and Mr KS.; Latter; "Our Host," responded to by Mr Grange ; " His Worship the M;iyor," responded to by Mr Garwood ; and " The ,li.M„" responded to by Mr Aylmer, were all drunk with enthusiasm.

. A great number of songs were sung, and much merriment prevailed, and the company separated at a late hour, after hiving spent what they all acknowledged, to be a most delightful evening,