THE PRESENTATION TO MR BIRCH.

Evening Star, Issue 4298, 5 December 1876, Page 4

THE PRESENTATION TO MR BIRCH.

To the Editor. Slß,— l find in this evening’s Stak a letter from Mr Thomas Birch drawing attention to a local in a former issue of your paper having reference to a presentation of sovereigns to himself, and stating that the said looal misrepresents the grounds on which the presentation was made. According to Mr Birch, it was not made on account of his public services, but in order to recoup him for losses sustained in unsuccessfully suing “a man named Hooper” in the Supreme Court. In proof of this assertion, Mr Birch asks you to publish Mr Sibbald’s speech on making the presentation. In looking over this speech I do not find the slightest allusion to Mr Hooper or the action in the Supreme Court; but Ido find the following:— “ Our friend Mr Birch has not been one of the least conspicuous in our society, hut 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 City, twice returned to represent the City in the Council, and once in the Colonial Parliament; he has also been three times to and from Great Britian. Twice he held the appointment of Emigration Agent in the old country, and no doubt there are many hundreds settled here who hl'.ss his name for the advice and useful instruction he gave them previous to their departure from the Home country, aud because of their unparalleled success in this, their adopted country. It is deeds like these that have stimulated hfsold friends to contribute and present him with the testimonial which 1 now hold in my hands in the shape of a purse of about 130 sovereigns, which I now in our owu name present to you, Mr Birch.”

Looking at these statements, I am inclined to think that Mr Birch has been a little rash in attempting to explain the motives of his friends in this matter. It would have been well bad he listened more attentively to Mr Sibbald’s speech, or carefully read it before handing it over for publication, as it appears he has received LI3O from his friends without knowing the cause of their generosity. There is just another conclusion that may be arrived at iu this matter. Mr Birch may have received two sums of 130 sovereigns each—one iu recognition of public services, and the other to defray his law expenses. Mr Sibbald’s remarks may apply to the former, while Mr Birch's letter relers to the latter.—l am, &c W.M.B. Dunedin, December 4.