PRESENTATION.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 604, 26 May 1876, Page 2

PRESENTATION.

Mr W. R. Mitchell, long known and respected in the city, being about to pay a visit to the old country, the members of the Fire Police, of which body he has been captain for some years, requested him to meet them on Thursday at Mr Beatty's Q C.E Hotel, for the double purpose of bidding him farewell and making him a presentation expressive of the esteem and respect he has so worthily earned during his long connection with them. There was a large attendance, and his Worship the Mayor was voted to the chair. His Worship in taking the chair, said it gave him very great pleasure to be present that evening. He understood that Mr H. B. Alport, the senior officer of the force, had been deputed to make the presentation, and he would nowcall upon hm to do so. Mr H. E. Alpor', the senior officer of the force, said that he had been long connected with Captain Mitchell,both in business and in the fire police, and.they all knew the energy he threw into everything he undertook. Without discipline they as a fire police would become a disorderly mob, and it was due to Captain Mitchell that they had reached the state of efficiency they had done. He trusted thai during the absence of Captain Mitchell they would all pull together, and that on hia return he would find them still hearty in the cause. He need not say that in losing Captain Mitchell they lost an indefatigable officer and member. The members of the fire police had deputed him to present to Captain Mitchell a small mark of their esteem in the shape of a gold pencil case, bearing the following inscription :—" Presented to Mr W. R. Mitchell by the members of the fire police. May, 1876." He trusted that the voyage Captain Mitchell was about to undertake would tend alike to his enjoyment and his health, and that on his return he would find them in the same state of efficiency in which he left them, and anxious to give him a hearty welcome back. [Cheers,] He now bagged Captain Mitchell to accept this small mark of their esteem and regard. Captain Mitchell's health was drunk with three times three.

Captain Mitchell, in responding, said he took it as a great compliment that his Worship the Mayor was in the chair, because, as the head of the Municipal Government of the city, it was a recognition of the efforts of the fire police as a body. [Cheers.] In municipal affairs generally, he thought Christchurch had reason to be proud of the way in which they were governed, and they, as a fire police, had worked remarkably well. [Cheers] I' waß *° them as a body a great feeling of pleasure when they found their efforts recognised by the public. It was due to the admirable manner in wh'ch the members had worked together that the force had held its own, and achieved so high a position as it had. They had, it was true, not medals for war, but their efforts had, he thought, been productive of establishing law and order at fires. [Cheers.] He thauked them most heartily for their kindness to him that evening, and desired to take this opportunity of returning his thanks to the members for their hearty co-operation onjall occasions. To the officers working under him he deßired to return his thanks for their courtesy and assistance, and also to the officers and men of the regular police force. To the member of the Fire Brigade committee also thanks were due for the way in which they had worked with them. Mr Superintendent Harris also had co-operated with him most heartily, as well as the Fire Brigade, and they would all agree with him that Mr Superintendent Harris was the right man in the right place. [Cheers.] In travelling through the United States he might be able to bring back some information which would be useful, and he might say that he did not think he should find many volunteer bodies working more efficiently that the fire police and the Fire Brigade. He trusted when he returned they would permit him once more to join with them, and he would now conclude with Rip Van Winkle's toast;—" Here's to your goot health and your family'c, may they live long and prosper." [Cheers.] Mr W. J. Fisher rose to propose the next toast, that of his Worship the Mayor. [Cheers.] They all knew his Worship the Mayor, and there was no need for him to make a long speech. The toast was drank with musical honors and three times three.

His Worship briefly responded, expressing the pleasure he felt at being present that eveniDg. They had all known Captain Mitchell for many years as a good citizen, and beyond this, he Lad worked in a noble manner in the furtherance of the objects of the Popular Amusement Association—-

| Cheers] and Captain Mitchell had been a devoted worker in the bringing forward of those very delightful evenings which some years ago were given at the Oddfellows' Hail The annual sports on Anniversary Day too, owed much of their success to Capt Mitchell and theirlatelamented friend Mr Geo Gordon. He had also worked most assiduously in the interests of the Orchestral Society, and had also filled high and distinguished offices in connection with the Masonic body in the city, where he had earned the respect and esteem of all brethren of the craft. They all knew what Captain Mitchell had done for the fire police: hehad there earned for himself the confidence of the City Council and the men under his command. As to himself, the citizens had been kindly pleased to overlook many failings on his part, and appreciated the efforts made by him in the public interest. He purposed to retire from the office of councillor in September, and from that of Mayor in December, and to devote his time to the discharge of his duties as a member of the Drainage Boaid, where he hoped to discharge his duties to the satis faction of the public. [Cheers.J Captain Mitchell said that before leaving home that evening he had received a letter from the City Council, thanking him and the fire police for their services ; so that they would see that they were not unmindful of them. | Cheers! A letter of apology was read from Mr A. Gee for being absent, and also from Mr W. F. Warner.

Mr B. C. Bishop proposed the next toast, viz, the " Health of Mr Superintendent Harris." [Cheers."] Mr Superintendent Harris had been always ready to aid the fire police in every way, and he thought that every one present knew that Mr Superintendent Harris deserved everything that could be said of him. f J heers ] The toast was drunk with musical honors and three times three, with one extra for Mrs Harris. Song—" Nil Desperandum" —The chairman. Mr Superintendent Harris responded to the toast in a few eulogistic words as to the services of the fire police in conjunction with the fire brigade, and thanking Captain Mitchell for the manner in which he had worked with him during his long term of office. Song—Mr F. J- Smith. Eis Worship the Mayor then proposed the senior officer, Mr H. B. Alport, expressing his conviction that the force had done well in selecting Mr Alport to fill the vacancy caused by Captain Mitchell's resignation. He was very sorry to receive the resignation of Captain Mitchell as a fire inspector of the city, and he had that day appointed Mr Alport as a fire inspector of the city. Under the" Act of Assembly the fire inspector had power to order the demolition of any building he might deem necessary, and such building under the Act was deemed as being destroyed by fire, and the fire insurancß companies had to pay as if destroyed by fire. The toast was drank with musical honors. Song—" There is a flower that bloometb," Mr H. A. Davis. Mr H. E. Alport bristly responded, and proposed the health of the viaitorp, coupled with the names of Messrs Garforth and Suffield. Song—Mr J. Grey. Messrs Suffield and Garforth responded briefly. Mr G. Beatty proposed the next toast, that of " The Health of Mr P. A. Bishop, ex-Fire Inspector of the City." The toast was drank enthusiastically. Song—Mr H. B. Alport. Captain Mitchell proposed—" The Press," coupled with the health of Messrs Grey and Hart. He regretted that one of those gentlemen was going to leave tbem, and they would wish that gentleman God speed where he was going. [Cheers.] As to Mr Hart, he was glad to say they were not going to lose him. | Cheers ] The toast was drunk amid loud cheers. Messrs Grey and Hart briefly responded. Mr Alport proposed the health of their "Host, Mr G. Beatty," which was duly honored, and the meeting broke up, having spent a very pleasant evening.