THE PRESENTATION TO MR BIRCH.

Evening Star, Issue 4297, 4 December 1876, Page 2

THE PRESENTATION TO MR BIRCH.

To the Editor. Sib, In your local of last night intimating the presentation of a purse of sovereigns to myself, it would be supposed that the testimonial was given for past public services, ouch is not the case, and it becomes me to explain the meaning of this kind act on the part of my well-wishers. Some time back a nmn named Hooper, who was the conductor of a temperance paper yclept ‘ The Liberator, ’ animadverted in, to my thinking, libellous comments on my conduct in laying the foun-dation-stone of a new house at Ravensbourne. His remarks were calculated to raise the indignation of any man possessed of the least atom of independence. Feeling insulted and aggrieved, I raised an action in the Supreme Court for libel, which action was decided against myself by a jury of twelve intellectual men, who, along with Mr Downie Stewart, I exonerate, so far as my judgment leads me to believe, as their having had no clear uuderstandingof thecase. The judge distinctlystated in his summing up that “public men ” were “ public property, and their actions amenable to criticism. My numerous friends took a" different view from that of this intellectual jury, and, behoving that my character was aspersed and maligned, raised a sum of money sufficient to defray the law costs, which sum was presented to me yesterday by Mr John Sibbald in the name of the subscribers, to whom one and all I return my most sincere and grateful thanks. I should feel obliged by your publishing the remarks of Mr Sibbald at the presentation, which I append.—l am, &0., i Thomas Birch. Dunedin, December 1. Ur Sibbald, on rising:, said: Gentlemen, yon axe all aware what has brought ns together to-day; it is not to commemorate St. Andrew's Day, but to meet our old friend Mr Thomas Birch in social entertainment and to pay him a slight tribute of our respect on the occasion of his again iv«nm«nf. ing business on his own account. It is now close upon twenty-four years since I met for the first time in my life, and that was in the Bash road between Dunedin and Pert Chalmers—l my way to Dunedin en my first arrival in the Colony, and he on his way to the Port to inspect our gallant ship the Chrth* and the new arrivals. And perhaps it might not be out of place at the present time to mention a few incidents connected with Cii« ship and her passengers. The vessel had been built expressly for the coasting trade of New Zealand ana AusStralia by Messrs Boss, of laverkeithing* near ueen's Perry, Scotland s hut. being toolwge for le then existing trade here, she was ultimately disposed of to the best advantage by one of the partners—Mr Boss, of Boss and Bilgonr, of this city—who were both also fellow-passengers with myself. The passenger list nufnbered in ml, old and young, only sixteen souls—six male adnltfe, three mothers, and the rest children. Three out of the six adults have represented the City of Dunedin in the local Parliament, the fourth represented’ tlie provincial town of Invercargill beta in the lobal and

Colonial Parliaments. The Hon. Joe. Patterson, being one of us. has been on the Ministerial Benches of the Colonial Government. But yon ore not to suppose for a moment that these men were the only talent in Dunedin. There were men of greater ability, determination, and 3filf-deninl then living in Dunedin. At that time the first Provincial Council and the representatives for the General Assembly under our glorious colonising constitution had been elected lust previous to our arrival, and composed of men who have not ceased to represent ns with great ability from that to the present time; but the ruthless hand of fate has laid low our most cherished institu ions. However, we yet hope to see them soon resneitated with new life, vigor, and greater ability, Onr friend Mr Birch has not been one of the least conspicuous in our society, but one who has always been more or less brought forward as one of our representative men, having represented this City as a member of the City Council, been, three times Mayor of the Cir.y, twice retuAed to represent the City in the Council, and once in the Colonial Parliament; he, has also been three times to and from Gvea* Britain. Twice he held the appointment of Emigration Agent in the old .country, and no doubt there ore many hundreds settled here who bless his name for the advice and useful instruction he gave them previous to their departure from the Home country, and because of their unparalleled success in this, their adopted country. It is the having pursued a career of usefulness like this that acids lustre to old age and soothes the downward path of life with pleasant reflections of having contributed something towards the welfare of his fellow-men. The only public position which our old fiiend Mr Birch now holds is that e( Justice of the Peace, which he holds with honor, and its duties he performs with justice and equity. It is deeds like these that have stimulated bis old friends to contribute and present him with the testimonial which I now hold in my hands in the shape of a purse of about 130 sovereigns, which I now in our own name present to you, Mr Birch. I know that all our friends join me in wishing you many years of health, prosperity, and usefulness. And may your days, like those of the patriarch Job, in the later time be greater than the beginning. _________________