PRESENTATION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2149, 14 January 1881, Page 3

PRESENTATION.

On Wednesday evoning in the district aohoolroom, Tai Tapu, was hold one of those social gatherings which tend, when carried out with kindly feelings and properly conducted, to cement and unite the peoplo of any neighborhood. A number of the Wesleyan friends from Greenpark and Tai Tapu, with their wires and grown-up children, the bachelors and their lady friends, met together to present Mr Donald, recently from Edinburgh, with an illuminatod address before leaving for his home. The occasion was inaugurated by a sumptuous tea, kindly provided by the ladies, foremost of whom were Mesdames Dolion, Herriok, Forbes, Mangels, Tanner, Peryman, and Gerken. After tee* the formal meeting took place, presided over by Mr H. W. Peryman, who explained the purport of their meeting together, to do honor to a dear friend before leaving for the Old Country. He then called upon Mr Dobin to make the presentation, who, in a few wall-chosen remarks, and with deep feeling, asked Mr Donald to aocept this small token of their esteem, consisting of an illuminated addreßS, admirably executed by Mr Goodman, of Chriotchurch, and framed by Mr Fisher, of Heroford street. The address was then read as under : Tai Tapu, Canterbury, New Zealand, January, 1881. To John Donald, Esq. Dear Sir, —Tom- numerous Woslayanfriends, / residents in tho Tni Tapu and Greonpnrk districts, ' Canterbury, Now Zealand, desire on this the eve of your departnre for your homo in Kdinburgh, to expresß to yon their great delight and unbounded pleasure in having hod dming your short visit t;o New Zealand, your kindly presence amongst them, cheering, encouraging, and advising them, to choosa and continue in the good old paths, so beautifully marked out and defined in the Holy B.blo. We desire moat lovingly and gratefully to thank you for your fatherly ad/icn and encouraging words at all times so affectionately and earnestly expressed, and although sorrowing that wo may not see your face any moro on earth, we fervently pray that we may by-and-bye meet in Heaven, where there shall tie no moro partiug. We also pray that our Cod and Father in Heaven, who so mercifully

and wonderfully preserved and unstained you amidst shipwreck and dangers on your voyage to New Zealand, will take care of yon and protect you on your homeward journey, and restore you with renewed health and strength to your loving family and friends; also that you will kindly accept this address as a token of our affection and'Bßbaem. .„.,...,, Signed on their behalf, Yours sincerely, H. Delieu, J. J. Herrick, J. Macdonald, G. Boas, J. Carter, E. Delieu, junr., R. A. Forbes, S. Carter. W. Moor, H. W. Peryman. J. Mangels, T. Barnett, F. Gerken, L. Morgan, M. Barnett, B. Q. Crocker, H. N. Tanner, E. Wills. Mr Donald, who on rising to reply was received with great applause, said—Never in his life (now in his sixty-flfth year) had he received so much kindness from, as it wore, strar gera. He could not have had more shown him if he had been living amongst them all his life instead of a few months. He accepted with heartfelt gratitude the expression of their good opinion of him, and while he lived he would ever remember this era in his old age, and should he be spared to reach old Edinburgh, it would be his pride and privilege to show to his family and large circle of frisnds the address he was honored to receive when in Tai Tapu, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Th» Chairman then called upon Mr McDonald, of Green Park, to make another presentation, who stated that he should adopt his good mother's advice, "Let your words be few and well chosen," and had great pleasure in asking Mr Donald to accept a lady's work-table top, ingeniously made of the different kinds of New Zealand wood, as a present for Mrs Donald. Mr Donald replied with deep emotion, and said fiat owing to the fulness of his heart he conld not express to the friends his great thank i. On behalf of his wife he thanked them most heartily, and stated that no man could have a more devoted wife, and he should have great pleasure in handing it over to her on their behalf, and also that it was his intention to place the presents in some public place in Edinburgh, so that the friends at Home could see what colonial talent can do. In i esponso to a toast —" The Health and Welfare of Mr Donald's Family "—ably proposed by Mr Herrick, The Bev. J. S. Smalley sincerely thanked the ladies and gentlemen on behalf of Mrs Donald and family for the presentation and the kind words spoken of them, as he was so nearly related to the family, he should not say as much as any one else might have done. Mr B. Forbes, in a concise and effective manner, proposed "Prosperity and Vitality to the Christian Cause throughout the World." Bev.. J. S. Smalley responded in a telling and emphatic speech. Mr Moor, of Christohuroh, in a well-timed addresi, proposed "Success to the Colony of New Zealand." Mr W. S. Perryman, as one born in the colony eulogised it as one of the finest countries" in the world, physically, morally, and religiously. After a cordial vote of thanks to the ladies for providing the tea, and to the chairman for presiding, were passed, the meeting was closed by Mr Donald engaging in prayer, and the Bev. J. S. Smalley pronouncing the benediction.