THE FAREWELL TO THE REV. H. STOCKER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 657, 31 October 1882, Page 2

THE FAREWELL TO THE REV. H. STOCKER.

As anticipated, the gathering to say good-bye to Mr Stocker, was very largely attended, not only the town's people being present, but a great many friends from the bays. The day had been a gloomy one, but towards evening the clouds passed away and the weather was all that could be desired. The Oddfellows' Hall had been admirably arranged for the occasion, the seats beinsr placed down the centre of the room, and at the sides, so that those present could walk round arid look at the pictures, and other objects of art and interest that hid been sent by a number of friends to give the building a pleasing appearance. The effect of tho whole was very good, and reflected the greatest credit on Mr Garwood and his invaluable aide-de-camp, Mr Robert Noonan, who superintended tho arrangement. So many lent the different articles that decorated the walls, that it is not in our power to name them all, but Messrs S. and E. Watkins. Aylmer, Garwood, Grange, Stewart, and Noonan may be mentioned as contributing a large poition. Mrs Garwood lent her piano for the concert, Messrs Westenra and Hargreaves took the unpleasant duty of looking after the doorp, and Miss Connell, M/s Wilkin, Mrs G. Armstrong, Mrs stocker, Miss Armstrong, Miss Daly,, and Mr Daly played the accompaniments. Mr Billens also deserves great credit for the way in which he had worked up the choir in the glees. The concert was certainly one of the best that has been given in Akaroa for some time, and the audience were from first to last very attentive and generous in their applause. The first item on the programme were the charming " Manuscript" waltzes of Strauss, which were very well interpreted indeed by the Misses Daly. Bishop's glee, ll Hark the Lark," was then efficiently rendered by St. Peter's choir. Claribol's " Half-mast High " was sung with much pathos by Mr Billens, but it was a pity he did not Jet his grand voice have greater scope. Mrs A. Lelievre was in splendid voice, singing Gatty's beautiful ballad " Apart " with a pathos power and execution that procured her a well-deserved encore, to which she responded. Her song was considered by many the gem of the evening. Mr Parson's selected Mrs Heman's ". Spanish Champion " for his recitation, and acquitted himself in his usual able aianner, his clear articulation ; enabling every word he uttered to be I heard in every corner of the Hall, an example we should like to see followed by many who perform there. Mrs Hargreaves gave Levey's difficult operatic song " Esmeralda" in a way that displayed the full power and great compass of her fine voice. The audience were thoroughly delighted, and their unanimous demand for a repetition >vas acceded to. A word of special praise is due to Mrs Wilkin for the way in which she played the catchy and difficult accompaniment. Mrs Wilkin and Mr Robinson sung Balfe's beautiful duet, " The Sailor Sighs," very sweetly, and were followed by Mr and Miss Daly, who played an arrangement of Sclmelling's " Adieu" waltzes for the cornet and piano admirably. Mr Daly's cornet plajdng is excellent, hie tone being very full and mellow, and we hope that ho will utilise his great gift at any future concert that may be held here in the future. We understand that in the past he was always to the fore, but latterly his cornet has resided a great deal in its case, which we look upon as a very bad thing for the musical public of Akaroa. Possessing as we do, not only Mr Daly, but an excellent flute player, we should be able to vary tbe monotony of the eternal piano at our concerts. Mrs Charles Dudley was next on the programme. She selected Tito Mattel's '' Never more," and sung it with deep feeling. The audience were delighted, and in response to her encore, Mrs Dudley gave " Kate O'Shane," with even more effect than her first song. Mr W. Jacobson was next, and showed his fine tenor voice to much advantage in " The White Squall." Misses Penlington, Wright, and Armstrong, and the two Messrs Jacobson, then gave a musical novelty in the shape of a quaint ballad dia-

logue by Mr Peareall, the words to which the music was set, being those so well known to us all in our • earlier years, commencing with " Who killed Cock Robin?" The quintette chorus is very effective, and Miss Armstrong's rich contralto was specially noticeable in this part of the dialogue. The piece was heartily encored. Mrs Aylmer sung a very pretty new song of Miss Lindsay's entitled " My Laddie Far Away." It is a ballad well adapted to show the lower contralto register, and the deep notes were taken by the singer, with an ease and appreciation proving that she thoroughly understood him to interpret the pathetic music. Mr Jacobson sung the " Gallants of England," the cornet obligate by Mr Daly being much admired. Pearsali's grand old glee, "The Hardy Norseman," rendered with great precision and effect by the choir, brought the con-* cert to a most successful close. THE PttESENTATION. The concert ended, MrGarwood ascended the Btage, and called up the various members of tbe committee, who are as follows ; —Messrs Citron, O'Reilly, Black, Singleton, Adams, E. S. Latter, Garwood, Hargreaves, Jacobson, and Westenra. Messrs McGregor, J. Bates, and W. Barnett were unavoidably absent. He then made the following address:— Ladies and gentlemen,— Shakespeare, in his charming creation 'Twelfth Night," says that " Some men are born to greatness, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them." Now, as regards myself, I illustrate the third example; but if my capability is to be measured by the sincere pleasure I feel in fulfilling the duty, my friends have done well in selecting me. It was put upon me as a sort of act of courtesy to an old resident. Mr Hargreaves, the chairman of our committee, managed it in this way. He said, " Look here, Garwood, your'e an old identity, one of the first comers, you know, so you ought to do it." (Laughter.) Well, when I felt the pleasure of my task, I was proud of its having fallen to my lot as the " oldest inhabitant;" and oldest inhabitants, you know, are very useful and interesting, and make the fortunes of newspaper men like Mr Jacobson, being far superior in point of attraction to Mr Noonan's slugs or Mr Fyfe's peas. (Liughter.) We are met here, friends, to do honor to a gentleman who possesses our respect and esteem, and the committee thought, as your representatives, that the most sensible and proper mode of showing that respect and esteem was in the tangible form of ■£ s d. (Applause.) Ever since Mr Stocker first came amongst us, and lodged in the house of Garwood, he has done everything he possibly could for our moral, intellectual, and social advancement—(cheers) —without an atom of ' ostentation or display. (Cheers.) There ia a lady, too, in the case, who has been no mean helper. I, of course, allude to Mr Stacker's "White Sergeant.". She haa given her kindly aid most ungrudgingly, and if these boards on which we are standing could speak, they would tell many things of charitable, social, and other gatherings at which she has assisted. Perhaps I am not a great hand at praising ladies properly, but I can say one thing, and that is, that I am very fond of them indeed, and I must ask Mrs Stocker to take the will for tho performance. (Applause and laughter.) lam afraid, gentlemen and ladies, thai I am b idly selected, that my language is not flowing enough, that I am not tbe man for the task, but I must ask you to be kind to me. Mr Stocker has, as I said before, assisted us in many ways thougli he has never attained the dignity of being a Borough Councillor. (Laughter.) Mr Stocker, I have now to ask you, on behalf of a number of ladies and gentlemen, to accept what they give you as a token of their genuine appreciation and esteem. I wish specially to point out that the gentlemen who with myself represent the public in making the presentation to you this evening, aie not of any special cieed or caste, but represent the whole community, showing how universal have been your labors, and how widely they have been understood and appreciated during your sojourn amongst us in Akaroa. Here is Mr Stephen Watkins, who represents the Horticultural and Industrial Association, for which you have done so much. Here is Mr Aylmer, president of the Library and Literary Institute, to which you have devoted a considerable portion of your time. Mr Westenra your successor as chairman of the school committee, is here to testify to the great trouble you have taken Jin the cause of Education; and Mr Jacobson, general representative of the fine arts, literature, and muscular Christianity. (Laughter.) I could go on to enumerate many others who are interested in useful pursuits with which you have identified yourself, but I will pause, merely finallycallingattention to the thoroughly representative character of the gathering. I will now call upon Mr Westenra the Secretary of theCornmittee, to read the "address which we desire to present to you. Mr Westenra, then read the address, which w as as follows :— " From the Inhabitants of Akaroa.

" Reverend and Dear Sir,—lt is with feelings of sincere regret that we have assembled to bid you farewell. Since your arrival amongst us, the active part that you have taken in all matters tending to the welfare of those with whom you have been associated, makes us conscious how much we shall miss your kindly face and ready aid. We are glad, however, that you are proceeding to a spherf-of extended usefulness, and trust that your health will be materially benefited by the change. Wishing yourself, Mrs Stocker, and family health, happiness, and prosperity in your new home, and begging your acceptance of the accompanying purse of sovereigns as a small token of our esteem and regard—We are sincerely yours, on behalf of the subscribers,

" J. D. Garwood, F. E. Corbet-Singleton. H. G. Jacobson, J. Daly, E. S. Latter, G. L Black, J. Aylmer, S. Watkins, H. Citron, H. Billens, P. O'Reilly, W. H. Hargreaves, G. W. Nalder, A. H. Westenra."

Mr Garwood continued : In asking your acceptance of this, one thing has struck' me, which is, that I am vejy sorry you are going down—but after all, as it is only going down South, it does not bo much matter. (Laughter.) There is always a streak of sadness in wishing farewell to one we esteem and regard, though we may veil it with light speech. iA&m no Uriah Ileep, to simulate what I do not feel, but I and others are sincerely k&ry at losing you, ye t that sorrow is |tetaperod with gladness at the thought thai £011 are going to a sphere of more extended usefulness. I now beg your acceptance of this purse

of sovereigns, and in presenting them I can only say that I hope your future lot may, under the blessing of Providence, be cast in pleasant places. May prosperity attend yourself and your family, and may happiness surround you. (Loud and continued applause.) The Rev. H. Stocker, whe, on rising, was received with loud and prolonged applause, said: Mr Garwood and gentlemen of the committee,—lam glad that as you have kindly chosen to do me honour, you have selected such a respected old resident as Mr Garwood as your mouthpiece and representative. It was at that gentleman's house, as he has told you, that I first resided when I came to Akaroa, and since I first came I have received nothing but sincere kindness from that gentleman. It is indeed a pleasure to say good bye like this, and yet it is exceedingly painful to sever ties that have been very dear to me. Thiß meeting is one that I feel is called in mutual charity and kindliness, and I wish to place on record the fact of the great support I have received in my duties here, and I hope I may receive the same help and recognition in my new sphere of labor. (Cheers.) You are all aware that I came here some three and a half years ago, not drawn to this little place by any exalted ideas of high duty, but for consideration for the health of my children. There has been a difficulty, owing to my health, in fulfilling my duty as I should have wished, and I could not have done as as I have had it not been for the kindly aid of George Wright and Ted Latter, who have always been ready to take me across the harbor, at great inconvenience to themselves. (Hear hear.) I have not visited many places I might have, owing to my health, but have always done my best. I first refused the parish to which I was appointed, and then accepted it. I was not willing to part with you, but I thought it my duty to go. I should like, in parting from you, to tell you two or three simple rules that have guided my own conduct during my stay among you. First. I have attended to my own business. Secondly, If I saw any public work to do, I have done it myself, and tried to do it well. Thirdly, I have always tried to find out the best, and not the worst, of any person with whom I have been in contact, and treated them accordingly ; and fourthly, I have said my prayers, and then I felt I had done all I could. (Applause.) Latterly, I must say I have felt that my own work was too much for me, and my inability to do it as I should have wished haa worried me. As to the other work, I cannot see that because a man is a parson that he has to be excused the labors of citizenship. On the contrary, I think he should do all he can for the advancement of the place he resides in, either in matters of serious import, or the promotion of innocent amusement. I think a man who does not do these things is not fit to occupy the position that I have occupied ; and that by leading the public into innocent paths of diversion a man holding my position may do much good. I feel a great difficulty gentlemen, in saying any more for my heart is very full: full of grief at Jeaving all of you : full of grief at saying good-bye to my next door neighbor, who has been as good as a brother to me. That gentleman (Mr S. Watkins) has been ever ready with his kindly help ■since I first came here. At the house, or in the Sunday school, he has been ever ready to do anything to help me and mine, without any humbug. Before coming to Akaroa I had heard all sorts of strange accounts of the place. I had been told that there wou!d be opposition, and I should have no rest. The opposite has been tire" case, for I have received the most kindly consideration. You all know that I am not narrow-minded, but I have always believed in the view of things that I have preached, and have endeavoured to incul cate them, but I think I have never given others who think differently cause for complaint. As I said before, I find it difficult to address you, for I am much moved, ,so I will end by Baying thank you and good bye. (Applause.; This terminated the proceedings, and the meeting dispersed. The amount of money presented to Mr Stocker will, we understand be more than £70. The illuminated address was the work of Mr McCardeil,of ChristchWh, and was beautifully done in that gentlemen's well-known style.