Presentation.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 22 May 1914, Page 2

Presentation.

Mr J. R. BOSWELL HONOURED. The following extract from the “Mataura Ensign" giving an account ol a presentation to Mr J. R. Boswell, a former Huntly station master, and son in-law of Mr and Mrs L. B. Harris’ senr., of Harrisville, will be read with interest by those of his old friends who still reside in the mining town: — A meeting of the grain merchants of Gore, at which nine firms were represented, was held in the offices of Messrs J. E. Watson and Co., Ltd., on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr J. R. Boswell, who during the past six and a-half years has occupied the responsible position of stationmaster at Gore. Mr A A Mac Gibbon, who presided, read apologies for absence from Messrs Janies Graham and M. Carr. The chairman explained that they had met to express regret at losing the services of a worthy public servant in the person of Mr J. R. Boswell. Mr Boswell had been in charge of the Gore Railway Station for some six and a-half years, anti he (the chairman) felt sure that he was voicing the 'pinion of the grain and stock men yvhen he said they had had the best cf treatment from Mr Boswell. As business people they had been fortunate in the past in having good men in charge of the Gore station, but he thought Mr Boswell was best of all. Whether the business men were reasonable in their demands or otherwise Mr Boswell had always been so and had done his best for the business pub’ic with the available means at his command. The Railway Department was a carrying •company for the public and it meant a lot to the business public to have a capable man in charge of the conveying bepartment. M r Boswell applied commonsense to his work and left red tape alone. When there was too much red tape in a public department then the public business suffered. It was with regret that they said gooddye to Mr Boswell, but they recognised that his transfer meant promotion, upon which he was to be congratulated. The Stock Agents’ Association and the grain merchants appreciated Mr Boswell’s relations with them and as a small token of their esteem and appreciation he on behalf of the subscribers asked Mr Boswell’s acceptance ■ of a purse of sovereigns and wished Mr and Mrs Boswell ■ every success at Oamaru. Mr Boswell’s health having been'Jrunk with honours, Messrs D. E. McKenzie (Dalgety and Co.) J. H. Smith (J. G. Ward and Co.), P. C. Gray (Wright, Stephenson and Co.), W. H. P, Fleming (Fleming and Co.), and Walter Gee (J. E. Watson and Co.), spoke appreciatively of their business relations with Mr Boswell. Mr Boswell, in reply, thanked the gentlemen present and the firms they represented for the kindly feelings that prompted the presentation. He had only done his duty as other men would have done, but he felt gratified for their appreciation of his services. He found the Gore business men reasonable and if they saw he was making an honest effortto meet their demands for trucks they were satisfied. He had always tried to do his best to meet the wishes of tha customers of the railway. The work had increased very much since he came to Gore. The Waikaka and Switzors branches had been added and the work of all had to be done from Grs as distributing centre. Prior to the enlargement of the railway yard the work had been difficult to handle. They would find iu his successor (Mr Bennett) an j experienced officer and one who | would be as good as any of his predecessors. (Applause. )j Mr Bennett md the speaker had learned their telegrap y tegeth,er many years ago. Mr Bennett had spent a good deal of his time in the North Island and they would find him just as anxious to meet the requirements of the public as he (the speaker) had been. He concluded by expressing his sincere thanks for the present and the speakers’ good wishes (Applase.) ’ Mr J. H. Smith proposed the toast of. Mr Bennett, Mr Boswell’s successor, to which Mr Bennett briefly replied.