PRESENTATION TO MR JOHN OLLIVIER.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 744, 7 November 1876, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO MR JOHN OLLIVIER.

A. ceremony, which was of a very interesting character, took place yesterday at Morton’s Hotel, when honor was done to a gentleman whose name in Canterbury is as familiar as household words, viz, Mr John Ollivier. The presentation was intended to have been made some time ago, and the portrait of Mr Ollivier, which shape it was intended to give to the testimonial, was painted by Mr T. S. Cousins, but was, together with the address, destroyed by the fire in Mr Firth’s shop in the Triangle. Thanks, however, to the zeal of Messrs Briggs and Sawtell, a second portrait and address were prepared, and formed the presentation of yesterday. By a singular coincidence Mr W. S. Moorhouse, with whose early political career Mr Ollivier was intimately connected, and who is one of the warmest friends of that gentleman, was in Christchurch, and though asked at a moment’s notice to occupy the post of chairman, acceded to the request most cheerfully. There was a very large attendance of subscribers, the large room at Morton’s Hotel being filled with representatives of all classes of the community. The portrait, which was painted by Mr T. S. Cousins, is a splendid likeness of Mr Ollivier in one of his most genial moods. The frame is of massive gilt, with foliated corners, and reflects great credit on Mr Firth, who framed it and the address. The address accompanying it was illuminated by Mr J. Goodman, is in old English text with foliated capitals in colours and silver, the border being formed by a delicate pink line. The workmanship of this is very good indeed. The address was as follows;

“ To John Ollivier, Esq.—Dear sir, —A few of your many Canterbury friends desire to present to you the accompanying portrait aa a token of the esteem and respect in which you are held. They gratefully acknowledge the unremitting efforts you have made to promote the public good, both as a private gentleman and in your several official capacities; and they sincerely hope you have yet before you many years of the useful career which you have so long and so successfully followed. “ Signed for and on behalf of subscribers, “ Henry Sawtell, “ 0. E, Beiggs. “ Christchurch, 6th Nov. 1876.” Mr Moorhouse took the chair, and said in opening the proceedings that he had accepted the position very cheerfully, though somewhat unprepared for it; because there was no man in New Zealand that he knew and respected better than John Ollivier. The more he saw of his dear old friend, the more he respected and felt drawn towards him. Of his relations to the people of Canterbury he need not speak. Whenever there was anything to be done for the good of the public, there was John Ollivier [Cheers, | A sterling friend in political need, a true friend in matters of private difficulty, John Ollivier was well known alike in Canterbury and out of it. He well recollected Mr Ollivier and himself going to the Assembly as representatives of Canterbury, and now he found him just as hilarious as ever, just as ready to be the leader of any fun as any young man of his age or under. If he had his time to come over again as a public man, he would never wish a truer ally or firmer friend than John Ollivier.

(Cheers,] He had now the honor to present to Mr Ollivier the memento of the esteem and the high appreciation of the people of Can terbury of the worth, integrity and social gifts of their old friend John Ollivier. [Cheers.] He trusted that it would long remain as a heir-loom in his family, and be cherished as a memento of the high standing the founder of their family occupied in the province. He now asked Mr Ollivier to accept these marks of esteem, and he might say that he had never seen so artistic a portrait as the one now before them. [Cheers | The chairman then presented Mr Ollivier with the address and portrait, and the latter’s health was drunk with three times three. Mr Ollivier said that he felt almost a proper representative of the day which had just passed, viz, the sth November, and this because he felt so deeply, but could not express it. It was a great source of pleasure to him that one of his dearest friends should come into the room by accident, and have been selected to present to him that splendid mark of their esteem, He need not tell them how deeply he felt the warm-hearted-ness which had prompted the gift. He had endeavored to do his duty as a private citizen, and in the various positions in which he had been placed, so as to win the respect of his fellow citizens. This he believed he had done—[cheers] —and it was one of the proudest moments of his life now to receive at the hands of one of his oldest and dearest friends such a mark of the esteem of those he had lived amongst. [Cheers.] He should take these splendid gifts into the bosom of his family as an exemplar and incentive to his family to do their best to win the esteem and respect of those they lived amongst, as he had done. He hoped they would excuse him making any lengthy remarks, as his heart was too full. He thanked them cordially, and all that he could now say was that their gift would be treasured as one of the proudest memorials of his long career in the province and the colony. [Loud cheers.] Mr Moorhouse then gave the health of Mr Sawtell, who had taken so warm interest in the matter. The toast was drunk amid cheers. Mr Sawtell briefly responded, urging upon Mr Ollivier’s friends the necessity of having a large picture of Mr Ollivier, which should be hung in the first public hall erected in Christchurch. The chairman then gave the health of Mr Briggs, who had taken a very active part in the getting up of the present gathering. Mr Briggs had been a worthy coadjutor to Mr Sawtell in this matter, and deserved very great credit for the way in which he had worked. He desired to couple with the name of Mr Briggs the toast of the press. Mr Briggs briefly responded. Mr Ollivier then proposed the health of the artist, Mr T. S. Cousins. They had before them a splendid piece of artistic work, in the shape of the picture, and the province was to be congratulated upon possessing a gentleman of such rare talent as Mr Cousins. [Hear, hear,] The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr Ollivier then rose to ask them to drink the health of his and their old friend, William Sefton Moorhouse. [Loud cheers ] He need not say more than to ask them to do this, as he felt sure they would do it as he should, with the greatest heartiness. He gave them the health of William Sefton Moorhouse, and God bless him. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk amid loud and continued cheering. Mr Moorhouse responded, in a very eloquent speech, in the course of which ho said that any success he had achieved in the political world, or any service he had been enabled to render to the province, was duo to the advice and energy of his old friend John Ollivier. After paying a high tribute to the members in the Assembly for Christchurch, Mr Moorhouse expressed his opinion that the new regime now being instituted would make New Zealand even more prosperous than she had been before. After spending a very pleasant afternoon, the party broke up.