Presentation to Mr Peter Bartholomew

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 133, 7 May 1892, Page 2

Presentation to Mr Peter Bartholomew

Last evening, a number of the friends of Mr Peter Bartholomew assembled at Mrs Oliver's Hotel, Feilding, for the purpose of making a presentation to him and Mrs Bartholomew, as a token of their esteem on his departure from the neighbourhood. Among those present were : — D. H. Macarthur, M.H.R., the Mayor (Mr W. G. Haybittle), H. L. Sherwill, W. A. Sandilands, 0. Carr, J. Prior, G. Kirton, 0. Bray, A. B. Curtis, E. Goodbehere, F. Allen, S. Straohan, P. Thomson, W. Carthew, W. Bellve, J. Donnelly, W. Heald, W. Bailey, L. Holden, and J. Stevens. Apologies were made for a number of gentleman who were unavoidably absent. The presents were, for Mr Bartholomew, the Encyclopaedia Britannica, complete in 26 volumes, handsomely bound, each bearing the inscription, "To Peter Bartholomew, a parting gift from his Feilding friends, 1891" ; to Mrs Bartholomew, a gold brooch and earrings set with diamonds. Mr Macarthur, M.H.R., who was appointed to make the presentation, said, addressing Mr Bartholomew, that he had been deputed to present him with those books as a token of their esteem and regard on his leaving Feilding. In severing his connection with the town ho still retained the affectionate regard of all who had known him since he first came to fcho settlement. Mr Bartholomew's residence dated from the early days, while the bush where they then stood was unbroken. Mr Macarthur was able to bear testimony to the hearty co-operation Mr Bartholomew was always ready to give in every good work for the benefit of the people. His departure would leave a yoid in their midst which would never be filled. Mr Macarthur concluded by wishing their guest, and Mrs Bartholomew, all health and prosperity in future. Mr Bartholomew, in returning thanks, said their kindness had been so great and unexpected that he was unable to give fitting expression to his feelings. Much as he had been attached to Feilding as a home it really seemed worth his while to leave it for the gratification of finding he had so many friends. The present occasion offered such a contrast to his first visit to the site of the town, twenty-three years ago, with all the improvements that had since taken place, that the incidents of his first journey came up clearly before his mind. With a view of determining whether logs could be floated down the Oroua for sawmilling purposes, he had started from Palmerston at seven o'olock in the morning and reached Mr Whisker's place at about five o'clock in the evening. Here he received directions and continued his journey, reaching the Oroua river just as it was getting dusk. He unfortunately took the wrong turning on Read's line, and travelled on to near where Ashurst is now built. Here he was compelled to remain out, during a wet night in the bush. Next morning he found his way back to Menzie's where he arrived at noon very hungry, having had nothing to eat the previous day. Here there was no food he was told, but he espied a pumpkin, which he prevailed on them to boil. This was his first experience of Feilding, but his later experiences had been pleasant, it had been his home, and he had been very sorry to leave it. Mr Prior said he could not allow the opportunity to pass, being an old friend of Mr Bartholomew, without mentioning the great assistance he had been as a large employer of labor, while duly acknowledging hi 6 great personal worth, in bringing about the prosperity of the town. Mr Kirton, in proposing the health of Mr Bartholomew, referred to their long acquaintance, spoke highly of him, and declared that the sawinillers were the pioneers of settlement. The health of the guest was then drunk with musical honors. Mr W. G. Haybittle, the Mayor of Feilding, spoke in very eulogistic terms of their guest. Mr Bartholomew, in proposing the health of Mr Macarthur, said : " Whether as a man of business or a politician, he had shown great merit and ability; he was the father of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, which had been of snch a benefit to local bodies, and an aid to settlement, and by his experience had won for himself a position in the House of Representatives which no young man whom they might send there could hope soon to attain. The toast having been drunk with musical honors, Mr Macarthnr said : He belieyed even his opponents would acknowledge that he had done what he could for the district, as appeared from the many new friends he made at each election* The health of Mr Sherwill was proposed and duly honored. Mr Sherwill responded, and said that what he had done in arranging for the presentation had been a labor of love. Messrs Peter Bartholomew, Kirton, Donnelly, Goodbehere, P. Thompson, W. G. Haybittle, Carr, and Bray each gave a song, and a pleasant meeting was concluded by a vote of thanks to the chairman.