PRESENTATION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1191, 26 December 1884, Page 3

PRESENTATION.

A most pleasant evening was spent on Friday last.m the Cromwell Town. Hall, on. the occasion of tho presentation of a purse of sovereigns to Major Keddell, H.M. ahd Warden, on the eve of hit departure from

this district for QreymoutU, About 20 gentlemen representing Oromwoll and Clyde were present. Mr John Marsh, Mayor of ■ Cromwell, occupied the chair. MrW. Fraser, Earnsolengh Station, who made the presentation said : It was not for those presentto question the po|icy of removing Major Keddell from the distritt, but he could not help saying it was much to be regretted that the Government had acted upon the recommendation of the Goldfields Committee on the subject. Both publicly and privately he considered the district would suffer a lorn by the removal of Major Keddell. As some slight token of tie respect in which Major Keddell was • hild in the district he had the pleasure of pro* seating him with a purse of sovereign!, and in wishing him a pleasant and safe' joirney to his new scene of labour, he felt assured he was but expressing the sentiments df the majority of those in the district, Mr Eraser then made the presentation of a pnije of sovereigns, remarking that in consequence of the short notice given of the intentun to make a presentation, ma n y had not Been able to add to their mite. However, he vas anre the gift would be received not so mloh for its value as an index of public opinion. The Major’s health was then drnnk ina bumper with musical honors; after whim Major Keddell acknowledged the high compliment paid him by both the. Mayor cf Cromwell and Mr Fraser. He referred t« to the opening of. the Dunstan GoldfieHi nearly a quarter of a centnry back, when he was called upon by the Government to take charge of the district as Warden and; R. M, ; to his second visit some few’ years back, and said, with these! recollections, and the fact of having on both occasions made some warm friends, he felt it hard to be called upon to leave them.! The removal was not sought for by him j indeed, in ‘obeying the order of the Government he conld assure them he did so with the keenest regret.’ He should never forget the district nor the kindly good-oye they were then giving him. _ i Several other toasts, interspersed with song and joke, having been drnnk and responded to, the meeting broke np, all agreeing they had spent a most pleasant and enjoyable evening.