FOXTON.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 97, 22 September 1877, Page 2

FOXTON.

[Fbom- oub ©W: GbsSß^PialJ^Sfi^r ; Qn^Fnday'\eye^g'l^;''iliei^' ;: 'v^ ; .¥' small' gathering of gentlemen, at Mr Whytes Ekrter,' So^tM gti^ge^'p^ '• sentihg Stir John' : HUliary, late ferry- 1 man at the OPoSton, Ferry, witEf » silf er i watch and j^ld* litiey", o*hiM ijad" been subscribed for by the inhabitants df Foxton and the travelling public. Mr A!. : Gray was VolJedtcr the chair. . Chairman iii addressing^ theTeci£* : .piept s~aidy 1 rise on behalf o? the sub* scribers, find- 1 hare great pleasure m saying .that I am not only expressing nryvo^i feßßiigs but aisd those of others who -hajfle Eberaftly expressed their, ap* preciation of your services, ior the last niflfe years as: Ferryman ofthte Foxtbi* Ferry, for your attention tfnd carefulness to aH. classes during that term, and m losing- yotr as a Ferryman, I am'jsure the ptfbßc have lost a good servant. Tire gift that J aw f about to' , present ta you is > siirer Huntfcg w4^?« ■ gbrd-seal and Key, and m handing yoVthe souvenir. I wish you> every prbsperity ia the fotua'etfnd that you may ; lire long, to wear it. Mr Hfiiiarvin a few appropriate words Teturned thanks for the handsome present; saving that he would value the watch more than' he .did the Ferry, Kef had now been* a •servant of th» public since January, 1868, when he managed the" Ferry for MtfAmos Burr. Thetfin>lß6& he tendered for and* procured the situation' of Ferryman .for two. years. In 1871 he petitioned for' it, which petition was backed by the signatures df lixty-seven-

Settlers. The same year he stretched the first rope (which was a flax one) across the rireV, #hich, m the following year* the Grof ertimerit replaced by a wire" one. The same year, 1872, he crossed the 'first mail coach and placed anew* large*punt on -the river. . "^atcE ipi handsonfe sdfek lever huhti^J^&V with the following ' inscriptioh Vengriyied inside. . " Fxec^hted>to John HilliMj by the ihhabit»hts of Poxton and the tnvetr ling ipttblic for his attention and courtesy ,-at the Foxtpn Ferry daring the v last nine yean. , Angtut 18[7T. < Miin*watd; 2fe# Zealand." Mr Whyte said he q«ite endorsed rill that the Chairman had sttid, he could have wished -that it had; been a handsomer present, but .no doubt^that m after days it would^remuid Mr Hilliary •, ofcibe manner m which his senses had feen iippi'eciated bythe public. He hopeoVthat tnewafch would keep as good >> timeas hehad been.accustomedtodopt theiFerryi ( After a vote of thanks to the J Chairman the meeting separated.