PRESENTATION TO DR SORLEY.

Evening Star, Issue 3506, 19 May 1874, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO DR SORLEY.

j, About three-and-twenty subscribers to the - testimonial which the friends of Dr Corley r agreed at a public meeting to give to that gentleman as a mark of their esteem and - sympathy for him in trying circumstances, 1 which are of so recent occurrence as not to • require further mention, assembled in the 3 lower hall of the Athenaeum yesterday afternoon to witness its presentation, which was [ made by the Rev. J. H. M'Naughton, of 1 Anderson’s Bay. The testimonial took the r form of an elegant tea and coffee service and salver, at L 76, and was accompanied . by the following address, handsomely en* i grossed by Mr Weston : ■' „. To T fenry Sorley, Esq., M.D.C.M.—Dear t oir, You will doubtless have learned from the ? newspapers that a short time since a meeting of f your patients and friends was held in the lower t hall of the Athenaeum for the purpose of hold--1 ing a conference in reference to the decision in the case of Hunt v. Sorley. The result of that . meeting was that a resolution was unanimously passed that those assembled regarded the deci--2 sion arrived at as erroneous, and that a sub--1 stantial proof should be given you iu appreciar tion of your professional skill. e Some of your patients have known yon as one - of the leading practitioners in Victoria, and it e is therefore with feelings of deep regret that t one of your standing in the profession should have been so treated. Sir, wo cannot allow your character to be assailed without raking a s v °ice in your defence. With this object, and (. that the world may know how we appreciate l your high professional attainments, we beg to y present you with a testimonial which we have ’ taken the liberty of obtaining in the shape of a * tea service and salver, knowing it is not the ■ costliness of the gift but the motive you will regard. With kindest wishes for your continued prosperity amongst us aud for the welfare of your esteemed family. ; Jas. M'Naughton, c Chairman, Testimonial Committee. " Dunedin, May 18, 1874. Dr Sokley, in acknowledging the gift, assured the subscribers that it was a very ac- - ceptable one—the more acceptable because r of the form it had assumed. He prized it far beyond its money value, because ho could ' preserve it as a lasting memorial of the sympathy of a large number of his fellow-citi- ’ zens with him, under circumstances of a very r irritating nature. The trial to which he had ’ recently been subjected was one which . scarcely any person bad any hesitation in j characterizing as unfair in its issue. He ap- ! pealed to every impartial person to say whet ther it was fair, in a case of such importance b as Hunt v. Sorley was, where the reputation of a professional man of long standing was r at stake, and a c-'se iu regard to which there was so much conflicting evidence, that a decis sion should have been so summarily arrived i at. The result had neither been to ruin his 1 professional reputation, nor to injure his 3 practice ; but, on the contrary, to evoke the ! kindly feelings of his friends, and to show that their number was greater, and their at- £ tachment stronger, than ever he had ima--3 gined. They had given substantial expres--2 sion to their friendship and sympathy in the e very handsome service which had just been s presented to him ; and he begged to return i to one and all of them his very best thanks. —(Applause.) 1 —— s I 1 0 ) e e s e a 1 e » e a e L 0 I B 1 fc !1 S P f I r i i 3 B > 1 S I s t fc » 1 r t f fc f > i i