TAKAKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 171, 21 July 1877, Page 4

TAKAKA.

! Al©Q_i*sß_*^___^T.] _~_ i,V*^ 1 ■• '*■ '■ -^**^- * i On the 12th iostaat a v yen?. large of^^t-te^ayWs and th-iir families of Ta^sa aud the surrounding neighb^hopd7rnßfc-i§|j.7,6be Takaka schoolroom, for_.tjio purpose of presenting Maasra. William Page and Joseob Packard-, t wl|h ; eopsiating 'Of & ""silver £Qa y and y cciffae ser^^e lo* eaoh, as a tangible ack^owledgjraent $f j". whioh Takaka Road Boards during '-a period of 14 yeara aod- 12 years respective!^ The ypij, [ia^ejfta.ting. cßr.emottsL.w_s i_!» a-giirs'.te^N by, a. gopdt .and .jsubstantial tea, nearly 100 sitting down ihereto. The tea tables, after being, considerably lightened of their load of good things, room was made for a large addition of friends who had .. heen. unavoidably detained at home by ' the " precious cow milking and pie feeding," and other domestic pieces of Aaainess. - Tho having h.*?@». ..du.ljS .. placed: at- eitfd-'of a table, and the elect ushered into chairs opposite their respective g*B9V Mr 1 •- Haiidcljck informed" thi , -asaembled comparay thai Me . Wilmofr-C[ B". Cave had, consented to ba thei*^ chairman for the. eyeuing. After a few, preliminary remarks the, ,ohairma_ireaa a letter from^M«.H*Lewis, segretting that ha wasaoa^le^to attend, butexi warm terms his congr%^la<j tions to'Mß9_Brs Ifage and Packard upon their valuable .services, being acknow-j v^e-gtf-i*- bf /tharlmerd .^haoks. elthmigfetßo- iatrin^c valaa of , thje. eeatuEo.ajala Jae^maaee; would not the rat^atjyjiiah tb'airJriendß "^Slued the time and labor j^hey had devoted to the .good oY^ the distriot. Mr Lewis specially 1 iti '^hfcfr w !^a^e had carried out the arduous, and, sometimes .anyihiag^bat' •^gr^bla jdytias of^ ChaiEfiittn for sol . j - The chairman then , proceed ed to j give an account of a little he had seen .of the road making in Chioa.Sdhth: India,- Ceylod, Sonth s Africa, and ! ; Jamaica, but dwelt niqre particularly 'npon the exoenenfi Macadamisad roads .0? Ceylon. , .-Mr Cave sard that imt ported Coolie labor, and the wonderful assistance of elephants capable of.draw;h*g;fci-» tons pf metal, jup. steep hills jwere valuable adjuncts to road making in that colony. He farthef stated that notwithstanding the low state of the public purse, and the high rate of ; .which were amongst the various difficulties that the -Takaka Road Board members had to contend with, he felt sure that all those then present would join him in expressing unqualified approval of the services rendered and the- progress visible in making highway, the heavy trafile j "of, this com-, paratively new district,,, update =... the direct supervision of their friends Messrs Page and Packard. He then calbd,, upon , JMft Haadcock, as) member of tne'Presentation Qommittee, to read the following address from the ratepayers :-r- . '"Gentlemen— ln the name of tho ; ratepayers of Takaka and Motupipi we present yOu these testimonials', consist-.; iog of ajtea and. coffee service; bearing' a. au^ab^e; inscription, as a slight ao--l^nowj|adgment of services rendered -to the district — by Mr Page for, four teen; and by Mr Packard.fortwelve years. The period of so long membership might well entitle the recipients to a much more magnificent gift ; the testimonials are not intended for their money value, but as a hearty expression of goodwill and esteem to you gentlemen who have spent so much valuable time in .the service of the public, the gift being chosen with the idea of being useful as well as ornamental. Tbe presence of so many old and respected fellow settlers, eacn onQ witnessing, by being present, their hearty concurrence in these proceedings, doubtless enhances the value of itheae small gifts to each of you .gentlemen. We hope these testimonials will be acceptable, and,, may Takaka never be in wan i of goodimen lo take an active, part on the Board, or the ratepayers.., be behindhand ih acknowledging such valuable __d esteemed aervioesi" Mr Page, in returning thanks for the unexpected, gift from his friends, assured them thathe-felt very proud of tha acknowledgment 0? Services rendered during the past fourteen years., and should be veiry happy in possessing' co valuable an heirloom to leave behind him as a memorial for his children to i remember that bis services had been so much, appreciated. He desired to bear testimony to the willing co-operation of other members of the Road Board with whom he had worked. Mr Packard assured his friends that the time he had given, and the work he had done, were both renderod purely for the good of the district, and consequently for »he comfort and convenience ot all living in the district. He should with much satisfaction look upon the gift, which he very gratefully received at their hands, as a token that they desired to express their hearty approbation of what good he had been enabled to do in and for the neighbor-hood-during the last twelve yearß. He also, said that when he was returned unto the God who made him, tbat testimonial would be lelt to remind bis sons of the way in whioh his work had been, acknowledged. Ha would have liked: to detail some of the great difficulties that had been encountered, but feeling too sensitive aud almost overcomeby the happiness he then felt, any farther words from him he hoped would be excused afe lhat time.

Hearty cheers, at the requestof the *ch^irmapTw_r9 "jth-p lor the two t'tTO I^ l^6,m for efr wiFoa^ho-doqbUoaa had oheejrfully bdi^lf-A_ii2i-^i__priTed them r selves of many preciqiiß,houra. home" -' ' • Vo%§* ot .thaQ_:B : lwaeß iinanimougJy accorded to the members of the preaent..atip^cjommiJitea. j. to, the. ladies" wflo lHad p|;o^id,d fehefcekini. finilli.tb.t_ie chairman. In concluding this interesting and gfatlfjr^|ifter : 6ainme^ dppeal&a* to" the audience io remember _ frqm whonjj.,camQ tbe talenteythat .jhejy "had'ao Appropriately acknowledged anjd lauded in their friende, Messrs Page asd Packard, "and called upon all present to join in praising Him above from whom all ble-MS&fiaw,- by. singing the Doxology.