TESTIMONIAL TO MR ST. JOHN BRANIGAN.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2018, 23 October 1869, Page 2

TESTIMONIAL TO MR ST. JOHN BRANIGAN.

To-day, at noon, a very handsome silver salver and cup wore presented to Mr St. John Branigan by several friends, who wished him to possess a memorial of their esteem, now that ho is leaving tho Province for tho North. The presentation took place at the Club Hotel, at noon. Sixty-seven gentlemen put down their names as subscribers, and there were present, Messrs George Turnbull, R. B. Martin, A. C. Strode, Howorth, Hodgkins, Hepburn, Davie, W. C. Young, Tewsley, Quick, Maddock, Ne 11, Kenyon, Fish, Thoneman, Birch, Oliver, Butterworth, Brodrick, Ritchie, Dr Alexander, Turton, Eccles, Catamore, Rattray, Watt, C. Stewart, Lamach, Jackson, Griffen, Walcott, Carrick, L. 0. Beal, Murison, Percy’, and Dalgleish. The plate was purchased of Mr John Hislop, jeweller, Princes street. The cup, which is beautifully embossed, is 13 inches high and of proportionate width, and the salver is 14 inches in diameter, with beaded edge. Both cup and salver are of solid silver, and both bear the following inscription, neatly engraved Presented to St. John Branigan, Esq., By a few friends, on his leaving Otago. 23rd October, 1869. Mr Turnbull, who was called to the chair, said— “ Gentlemen, I wish some one more able had been placed in tho position of chairman on this interesting occasion. We are met, as you are all aware, to present the testimonial which now stands before me to Mr Branigan, on the occasion of his leaving Otago for a more extended sphere of action. I am sure you will all agree with mein thinking that in honoring Mr Branigan we are doing honor to ourselves. This and tho other demonstrations of tho past few days are I consider highly creditable to us, both as individuals and as a community’, as it shows that in this remote corner of the world public merit is approbated, and that if our public roen perform their duties satisfactorily they will not go unappreciated or unrewarded ” Turning to Mr Bran Lan, he said—“ Mr Branigan, it is my pleasing duty to present you on behalf of the subscribers this cup and salver as a mark of respect for your valuable public services as chief of the police force in this Province. A list of the subscribers will bo handed to you, and I may say that had time and opportunity permitted the number of names would have been very much larger. You must not consider this gift as our estimate of the value of your public services but simply as a recognition on our part of the admirable manner in which you have performed your important duties. I have only further to request on behalf of the subscribers to convey to you our warmest wishes for your health and prosperity in whatever sphere your future lot may be cast. ” Mr Branigan, in reply, said:—“l feel deeply impressed with the kindly way in which so many of ray personal friends are assembled to bid me farewell and to wish me success in the new field of my exertions. I think, gentlemen, it .can hardly be wondered at, if after so many years passed among you, and after taking so prominent a part in the public service of the Province. I feel deeply that the time approaches when my residence among you terminates —I feel that even now, if I could with honor or credit retire from the position to which I have been appointed, I should like to do so. But, gentlemen, this meeting, and similar meetings held lately in root ignition of my past services will, I trust, nerve mo, and give mo heart of graco to persevere in what I have begun. I again thank you, Mr Turnbull, and yon, gentlemen, for this very handsome testimonial ; and if at the close of my career I am able to look back upon the events of my life, one of the most pleasing reminiscences will be my connection with Dunedin.”