PRESENTATION TO MESSRS: FITZHERBERT AND BENNY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5005, 9 April 1877, Page 6

PRESENTATION TO MESSRS: FITZHERBERT AND BENNY.

An interesting ceremony took place on the 20th March in the Provincial Buildings, Messrs. Fitzherhert and Bunny being presented with testimonials at the hands of the late Provincial Government servants, in recognition of the esteem in which they were held as gentlemen who for a long time had hold high offices in connection with the administration of the affairs of this province. There were about fifty gentlemen present, Dr. Johnston occupying the chair, with the Hon. W. Fitzherbert on his right hand, and Henry Bunny, Earp, on his left. Dr. Johnston said: Messrs. Fitzherhert and Bunny,—As one of the oldest servants of the late Provincial Government of Wellington, 1 have been requested at this very pleasant interview to represent the members of that service. I may inform you that when the province of Wellington was abolished, and with it of course our small civil service, there was a very general expression of opinion that some memonalshoukl be presented—small but lasting —to mark that interesting event in our history. Of coarse we did not expect to bring forward a testimonial of any great intrinsic value; hut we determined to do better—we made up our minds that this should be a genuine

spontaneous expression of opinion. We wished to express our appreciation of the vigor with which you have carried on the Provincial Government of Wellington for the last six years, and also of your courtesy—your courteous demeanor towards all of the officers with whom you were brought in contact. For my own part, my duty has always been a pleasure to me, and I expect it has been the same with gentlemen who have occupied positions in other departments. There has never been any officious interference with the officers, and their wants and requirements have always been attended to with punctuality and despatch. In raising this testimonial then,— which, as I said before, we had no idea of making extravagant—we determined that no one should be solicited to subscribe, that everyone should put down his name or not as he chose, whilst we kept it distinctly within the limits of our own service ; and the result of our ideas has been the production of these addresses, which I think are most chaste and creditable specimens of colonial art. Together with them we have been able to add what I believe will be a very handsome souvenir to hand down to your families as heirlooms. Of course, in this small town we had not an opportunity of having the inkstands made, so we were obliged to send to England for them. I hope now therefore that you will accept them as if they were in reality present, and on their arrival they will be at once handed over to you. ' Having made these remarks, I have now the pleasure to read the addresses to you as follows : “To the Hon. Wm, Fitzherbert, C.M.G., late Superintendent of the Province of Wellington, New Zealand. “ Sin, —The undersigned officers of the late Provincial Government of Wellington cannot consent to allow the abolition of the province of Wellington to take place without expressing to you their thanks for the courtesy aud consideration which they have always received from for you a period of nearly six years, during whicli you have presided over them as Superintendent of the province. They beg you to accept the accompanying silver inkstand as a token of their esteem, and hope that it will always bring to your mind pleasurable recollections of the time that you administered the affairs of the late province, and that you may long have to occupy the high aud honorable position which you have since been elected to fill.” [Here follow 91 signatures.] “To Henry Bunny, Esq., M.H.R., late Deputy-Superintendent of the Province of Wellington, New Zealand. “ Siu, —Provincial institutions—with which you 'have been so long connected, and under which you have for the last six years assisted in administering the affairs of the province of Wellington—having been abolished, we, the undermentioned officers of the late Provincial Government, take this opportunity of expressing to you our sincere thanks for the kindness and consideration with which you have always treated us, and beg you to accept the accompanying silver inkstand, not for its intrinsic value, but as a mark of our esteem, and a memento of the time during which we have served under you. We trust you may long enjoy life and prosperity in the discharge of whatever duties you may be called upon to undertake.” [Here follow 91 signatures.] The Hon. W. Fitzherbert, in reply, said ; Dr. Johnston and Gentlemen, —I have written my reply to your kind address, thinking it better on such an occasion than addressing you in any words that I might utter on the spur of the moment. I feel deeply affected, and esteem this spontaneous mark of your approval of very high value. Her then read the address as follows : “Dr. Johnston and Gentlemen, — “ I thank you cordially for the address you have presented to me from officers of the late Provincial Government of Wellington. It is illuminated with much taste, and conveys to me a handsome token of your regard, and, moreover, contains many kind words and wishes, all which I shall treasure as a valued possession. I cannot take official leave of you without assuring you of the high esteem with which I regard the staff of officers who served under the late Provincial Government of Wellington, for the uniform zeal and ability with which they conducted the public service of the province. They need not be ashamed of their work. “WILLI AM FITZHERBERT, “ Late Superintendent of the Province of Wellington.” Mr. Bunny then said ; Dr. Johnston and gentlemen,—l give you my hearty thanks for the handsome address which you have been pleased to present to me, and also for your cordial expressions of regard for me. I can only say in reply that I entirely endorse every word contained in the written reply of Mr. Fitzherbert. I shall certainly hand your testimonial down to my family, in order that they may see that I was the possessor of your confidence. lam only too proud to accept your present. Refreshments were then placed upon the table, and glasses filled with champagne. Dr. Johnston in a brief speech proposed the health of Messrs. Fitzherbert and Bunny. The Hon. Mr. Fitzherbert, in returning thanks, said : I thank you very much for the kind manner of your reception of myself and Mr. Bunny to-day. It is gratifying to me, I assure you ; and it is jvith great pleasure that I drink all your very good healths. I only hope that in your future career, whether it be in the service of the colony or as private settlers, you will be prosperous and happy. (Cheers.) Those present having done honor to the occasion by doing justice to the refreshments, the company separated.