PRESENTATION TO THE EXMAYOR, J. DRANSFIELD, ESQ.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4540, 8 October 1875, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO THE EXMAYOR, J. DRANSFIELD, ESQ.

Yesterday afternoon J. Dransfield, Esq., was presented with a testimonial emanating from the citizens, in recognition of his valuable services to the City of Wellington during the seven years he held office. The presentation took place in Messrs. Bethune and Hunter's room, and amongst those present we noticed the following gentlemen : —His Worship the Mayor, W. S. Moorhouse, Messrs. Hunter, M.H.K., Pearce, M.H.R., Bunny, M.H.R., Levin (Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce), R. J. Duncan, Geo. Crawford, E. W. Mills, E. W. T. Wright, Gilligan, McDowell, L. Levy, S. Levy, J. Buchanan, Dyer, Vennell, L. Moss, J. Hughes, A. Young, Watt, Yon Der Hyde, M.H.R., &c. On a table in the room stood the present, which is a magnificent candelabrium of solid silver, standing two feet nine inches high, and weighing 1530z5. The design is exceedingly chaste and artistic, being a grapevine rising in a twisted column, from which spring six branches. These are studded with vine leaves and bunches of grapes in frosted silver, and the whole design is worked out with exquisite taste. There is also a set of cutglass dishes, so that when required the candelabrium can be converted into an epergne. At the base the following inscription has been engraved :—" Presented to J. Dransfield, Esq., on his retiring from the office of Mayor of Wellington, in December, 1873, after having presided over the City Council and the Town Board for a period of seven years." The article was manufactured by the Goldsmith's Alliance Company (Limited), late A. B. Savory and Sons, Cornhill, London, and its value is estimated at £2OO.

Shortly after two o'clock the ceremony commenced by the Mayor taking the chair. Mr. Moorhouse said : Mr. Dransfield, as Mayor of the city of Wellington—for in that capacity, I presume, I have been honored—l have been asked to present to you on behalf of a numerous circle of friends, who, I believe, fairly represent the citizens, this handsome piece of plate. Although it is of no extraordinary pecuniary value, still, I think, it may be regarded as a gratifying testimonial of the esteem in which you are personally, and, as a public man, held by the citizens of Wellington, and particularly by those gentlemen who are present to-day. I may say for myself that having recently succeeded to the high public office so lately held by yourself, I have had numerous opportunities of ascertaining in detail the value of the services you have rendered to the Corporation and the city—(applause)—and I am bound to say that it affords me very great pleasure to testify to the extent of your deservings, which are more than could be hoped to be realised by an ordinary man. On the part of the friends now present, and the citizens generally, I think I am justified in congratulating you upon your high pesition in this city, and in expressing the hope that your private career may be as successful as your public career, and as prosperous as you deserve. I also, on behalf of the citizens of Wellington, venture to express the hope that you may long continue to give them the benefit of your advice and assistance, and I have very great pleasure in requesting your acceptance of this memento of your excellent public services. (Applause.) Mr. Dransfield, who was loudly cheered on coming forward, said : Mr. Mayor and gentlemen,—l feel very much gratified by your kindness in so substantially appreciating any work which I may have done during my term of office for the benefit of the city, and particularly do I feel obliged for the kind remarks which have been made by my successor. Although I do not think _ the present is a proper occasion for speechifying, I will venture to make just one or two remarks upon a matter on which I should like to speak. If I have been successful in the discharge of the duties of Mayor, as it appears you think I have, it has been mainly attributable to the fact that I had a long tenure of office, and I fear that the present system of election will have a bad effect, because gentlemen who may be elected to the office will in many cases serve only for a single year. Now, my experience is that it will take any man all that time thoroughly to get into harness, and thus he will be of little practical use to the city. I would venture to suggest—and the suggestion may be taken for what it is worth—that such an alteration should be made in the law as would make the Mayor elective for at least three years. There are many other subjects which I should like to speak upon ; but I do not look upon the present as a proper occasion for j making a long speech, and I have to again thank you very heartily for the honor you | have done me.

The proceedings then terminated. The testimonial is on view at the establishment of Messrs. Shaw and Sons, of Lambton-