THE VOGEL TESTIMONIAL FUND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4851, 9 October 1876, Page 3

THE VOGEL TESTIMONIAL FUND.

On Saturday evening a large number of gentlemen met to take further steps in the matter of presenting a testimonial to Sir Julius Yo'/el prior to his departure from the colony. There was a good attendance, and the Mayor occupied the chair. In opening the meeting the Chairman explained that at tlm previous meeting two conclusions had been arrived at—first that a testimonial should be presented to Sir Julius Vogel, and that it should be presented to him in some public place, but whether at a dinner or lunch it was not decided. I he question to be settled that evening was the best way in which to carry out the matter successfully. He suggested that there should be two small committee appointed, the one to take charge of the testimonial fund, and the other to make arrangements for its presentation. He read out a list of subscriptions already received, amounting in all to about £3OO, and made up principally of gifts from Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co,, Kmll and Go., and G. Hunter of fifty guineas each, from Messrs. Moorehouse and Stafford and others of twenty guineas each, and from Messrs. A. Young, Moeller, Roxburgh, ' and others of various sums. The announcements were received with cheers, and Mr. Hunter explained that he had pretty good reason for saying that several other gentlemen, whose names he mentioned, would subscribe quite as liberally as those whose names were already down. Mr. Moorhouse accepted the advisableness of the committees being appointed, and suggested further that it would be well for the committees to obtain the services of some competent, energetic, well-known person to take upon his shoulders the responsibility of conducting all correspondence, attending to clerical work, and generally carrying out in a vigorous manner the details of any plan agreed upon by the committee. He (Mr. Moorhouse) had been in communication with some private friends in other provinces, to ascertain whether there was in those provinces a disposition to ■loin, and he hoped he should get favorable replies, because a testimonial coming from the dolony would be more graceful than if it were to come from a particular locality. However, he had no time to conduct this correspondence, ■and what was required waa a man of mm* "to

take the matter; in; hand and do nothing else till the whole thing was disposed of. Of course such a person would have to be paid, but it would be a judicious expenditure: Speaking on the general question, Mr. Moorhouse said he thought there should he no difficulty in getting up a testimonial which would be worthy of the man to whom it was to be presented, if people- would only look at the matter fairly and in a business-like way for the nonce, putting sentiment aside. There could be no doubt that there were very few persona in the colony who had net benefited by the genius of Sir Julius Vogel. If a person wished to increase his,business, he was willing to pay for its being extended ; then, if people found that their businesses had been largely increased by the Vogel policy, it was only fair, from a business point of view, that they should do something to mark their appreciation of the services rendered.. He was of opinion that did time serve thousands of pounds .could be collected. Mr. Hunter spoke to the same effect, and said he too had corresponded by telegram and: by letter with persons in other provinces, and thought something would. be done. Replying to a suggestion that it would not be well to give people in the other provinces an excuse for jealousy or declining to be led in any matter by Wellington, Mr. Hunter said nothing of the kind had been done. He had communicated with private triends in a confidential manner, and had not said anything to beget a feeling such as had been indicated. Mr. Tribe quite agreed with what had been said by Mr. Moorhouse in reference to the appointment ef a paid secretary. If a person were paid, the committee could hold him responsible for the proper discharge of his duties, but a volunteer could not be called to account for laches. The first thing to be done, however, was the appointment of a committee to look after the raising of the money, and to whom might be relegated the duty of selecting such va person as Mr. Moorhouse had indicated, although it might not be at all easy to get such a man. He moved that a committee be appointed to look after the testimonial fund, consisting of Messrs. Hunter, Moorhouse, Young, Krull, George, Rankin; Moeller, Black, Roxburgh, and Taylor. This was carried unanimously. It was resolved to invite the heads of the various friendly societies to co-operate, and to do nothing in the way of making arrangements for the presentation until their advice had been taken. Several other matters were disposed of, and the meeting then adjourned till Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock. It transpired during the meeting that Sir Julius Vogel and family purposed leaving about the 19th inst., and that therefore anything to be done must be done quickly.