VALEDICTORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1360, 23 January 1905, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

1 PRESENTATIONS TO SERGT. AND ; MRS SIDDELLS. Prior to their departure for Wanganui , for which place they left by yesterday’s i steamer, Sergeant and Mrs Siddells were i the recipients of severul presentations, and general regret was expressed by the citi- . zees of Gisborne on the loss the district is sustaining by their removal. At the Magistrate's Court on Saturday ' morning, Mr W. A. Barton expressed deep ' regret at Sergeant Siddells’ departure, - adding, •* As this is the last occasion tnat you will appear before me to conduot a r case in this Court, 1 desire to express my j pleasure at the manner in which you have discharged your duties since 1 have had the honor to occupy a seat upou this Bench. It was with much regret that I learned that you were about to be transferred to another part of the colony. I hope it will be beneficial to you. I take this opportunity to thank you for . the very great assistance which you have t ’ rendered me iu the discharge of my work, j I also desire to add my testimony to the excellent manner iu which you have per--3 formed your duty a 3 sorgeant of police in 3 charge of your district. No person has a r better opportunity of judging the manner a in which a police officer carries out his J duties than the Stipendiary Magistrate. 3 It will always give me pleasure to hear of your promotion in the service, which you will undoubtedly deserve if you continue on the same lines as you have done here, t The duties of sergeant of police are not at c times the most pleasant, but when you 3 have had an unpleasant duty to perform, 3 you have always done it in the most pleasing manner. I wish you and your family health, happiness, and prosperity.” On 3 behalf of the Licensing Committee his , Worship expressed his thanks to Sorgeant 3 Siddells for tho very great assistance he had rendered to the Committee as inspec- . tor of licensed premises. Sorgeant Siddells suitably responded. There was a largo gathering of citizens t * at the Court House in the afternoon at three o’clock, when a presentation of an ’ address was made to Sergt. Siddells and a . purse containing fifty sovereigns to Mrs 1 Siddells. The address was as follows : j “To Sorgeant Siddells, Gisborne.—Dear sir,—The citizens of Gisborne have heard of your projected removal from this district with feelings of regret, and desire on the eve of your departure to place ou record their appreciation of the manner in which your have carried out your duties during the five years you have been in , charge of the police department of Poverty Bay. These duties, sometimes difficult and delicate, have been discharged in a manner to secure the respect of all classes of tho community. Absolute impartiality i has marked all your actions, and whilst i you have at all times upheld law and

order in the district, you have proved a . friend and adviser to those who have needed and sought your help. Wishing yourself and family health and prosperity wherever your lot may be cast, and assuring you of the kindly interest the citizens of Gisborne will always feel in your future, —We are, yours faithfully, J. H. Harding, W. J. Henneesy, T. Adair, J. W. Bright, W. Pettie, G. Lysnar, D Barry, Williams and Kettle, Jones and Gaudin, W. A. O’Meara, J. Blair, Nathan and (Jo, John Shaw, J. Pettie, J. H. Aislabie, Con. O’Connell, W. A. Barton, J. S. Johnston, G. Oman, W. J. Quigley, Jas East, W. Sievwright, J. Manio, Dalgety aud Co, W. J. Hawley, F. Harris, Rees Bros, L T. Symes, L. G. Allen, Barker and DeLmtour, J. H. Bond, W. Smith, "V. Pjke, J. J. Martin, C. Bennett, W. Good, W. Com mon, F. Parker, Cyril White, J. Ormond, W. Miller, J. Coleman, J. R. Quinn, W D. Lysnar, Rev. Paterson, J. l'owuley, J Sheridan, A. R. Muir, G. Matchewaou, J. W. Nolan, F. Hall, F. Francis, T. A. Coleman, E.'_J. Qhriap, R. Caulton, John Luoas, W. Webb, H. Williams, D. Hepburn, J. Somervell, W. Branson, aud M. H. Strachan.

i Short addresses ware made by His i Worship tho Mayor (Mr J. Townlov), aod Mr J. W. Nolan, the latter speaking on behalf of tbs legal profession. Mr Nolan said that Sergeant Siddells was a valuable officer, whose urbane manner made him a general favorite, aud bis true value would not be known until they hud lost him. He hoped that he would meet with the same success in his new sphere of work as he had as a sergeant. In returning thanks, Sergeant Siddells said that whilst iu Gisborne he had tried to do his duty honestly, faithfully, and well, and whether ho had succeeded was for the public to judge. Ho had always endeavored to do his duty to tho public and to the Department. In his capacity as sergeant, one of the most difficult things he had to do with was tho liquor trade, , and he wa» pleased to see both s((sea represented there that afternoon to bid him farewell. (Applause.)

The choir of St. Andrew’s Church and mombers of tho Christian Endeavor Society accorded Sergeant and Mrs Sid* dolls an enthusiastic farewell on Friday evening, and a presentation of a handsome silver cake basket was made to Mrs Siddells. In making the presentation the Rov. Mr Paterson said that he felt very much the loss of Mrs Siddells from the society, as he had not a more loyal and true friend than she had been. Ho realised that tho Endeavor Society and choir wore losing a member that they could not very well spare. Not merely as a Christian, but as a oitizen, she would bo very much missed. It was with much pleasure that he made tho presentation as a token that her services had been appreciafcflfl hnrfl.

Sergeant Siddells, in responding on behalf of Mrs Siddells, said ho was sure that Mrs Siddells, himself, and family felj very keenly parting from them. Ho was pleased to see that Mrs Siddells was held in such esteem, and they would always think very kindly of tho people in Gisborne. Ho trusted the people would meet his successor in tho same way and tender to Sergeant McKenzie and family a kindly welcome. After further farewells had beon taken refreshments were handed round, and the gathering dispersed after singing " God be With You.”