SERVICES RECOGNISED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1878, 11 October 1913, Page 8

SERVICES RECOGNISED.

!N PUBLIC MATTERS.

MR R. W. GILBERT FAREWELLED

Mr. R. W. Gilbert, who is shortly to leave Wellington for South Africa to enter into business thero, was met at tho Royal Oak Hotel yesterday by a number of friends, who desired t<> express their regret at his departure, and to wish him a successful career in the country to which ho is going. Mr. J. 6. W. Aitken, who presided over tho gathering, remarked that during tho years Mr. Gilbert had been in Wellington, ho had not dovoted his entiro energy to working out his own destiny, but on tho contrary his horizon had been considerable. Anything ho had taken in hand, ho had shown a capacity to bring to a successful issuo. Thoso who had boon associated with him in municipal affairs had learned to appreciato his services, and they felt they were going to loso a man of ability when ho took his departure. They were quito sure he would do well in the new country to which he was going. On behalf of the Municipal Electors' Association, Mr. Aitken then read and handed to Mr. Gilbert an illuminated address.

Messrs. E. C. Jack and Hurley added a few words in support of tho previous speaker's remarks.

Mr. H. P. von Haast, on behalf of the Wellington Reform League, also read and presented an address 'to Mr. Gilbert. In doing so, ho remarked that the League had no connection with tho Municipal Electors' Association, but they had met for tho common purpose of showing their appreciation of Mr. Gilbert's services in whatever task he had taken up. _ His efforts had always been in the direction of good, sound, clean government, whether in the interests of the city or of New Zealand at large. His efforts in connection with tho League, first as secretary for Mr. Herdman and then for Dr. Newman, had always, been attended with success, and a pleasing featuro of it was t\iat when doing his work ho was always endeavouring to keep in the background. Of such a character was his work that it should not havo been overlooked at last Saturday's meeting of tho Reform party and it was an oversight on Mr. Von Haast'a part that it had been overlooked. The speaker expressed confidence that in South Africa Mr. Gilbert would do well, and help to keep (in peace) the reputation our Now Zealand Contingents gained (in war) in assisting tho Imperial causo.

Mr. A. Leigh Hunt apologised for the absenco of tho Hon. C. M. Luko, chairman of tho Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, and presented an address on behalf of the latter body. In doing so ho referred to the valuable service rendered by Mr. Gilbert in the formation of tho Chamber. In tho course of his reply, Mr. Gilbert said his departure from New Zealand was because he had an opportunity presented to "him in South Africa wliicli did not come to every man, and ho felt ho was doing the right thing in accepting it. As far as his work in public matters was concerned, he desired to say that it ha,d always been a pleasuro to work for tho advancement of the city of tho country to which ho belonged, and it certainly' was a great experience for any young man to engage in such work. Ho thanked tho speakers for tho kind things they had said about him, more especially because the addrosses they had presented would bo of valuablo assistance to him in going abroad.