PRESENTATION TO MR. JOSEPH NANCARROW.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5284, 2 March 1878, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR. JOSEPH NANCARROW.

Yesterday afternoon a number of gentlemen (principally personal friends of Mr. Naucarrow) comprising old and valued residents in the colony, met at the. Occidental Hotel to make a presentation to that gentleman prior to big leaving the colony on a trip to England. , His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. He stated,that he had been rather taken at a- ■ disadvantage in being called upon at a. moment’s notice to preside upon such "an occasion, as he understood that Mr. Hunter, the member for the city, was to have taken the place. He had not the slightest hesitation, however, in’ officiating, as when he looked around him he saw that they were all Mr. NancarrowV friends, and as well acquainted with his good qualities as he' was himself. He ' (the Mayor) had known the gentleman for the last 22 years, and he had every pleasure in ■ ■ wishing him a pleasant trip to England, and a> safe return to the colony again. I Mr. B. S. Ledger then read the testimonial as follows : r . To Joseph Nsncarrowv Esq.. Inspector of T . machinery,, _Dea.r Sir,—Your contemplated departure for. England affords us the pleasing opportunity of expres- ’ sing to you the feelings of estimation and regard in which you are held. Connectedi-as-most of us have - been with you in your official .capacity, w,> have had every opportunity of observing the faithful .ma nner in. which your duties have been performed '; while your unvaryingcourtesy and kindness have won the esteem' and respect :of those with whom' you have been associated. . Asa small token of our regard, we ask ■ your acceptance of accompanying souvenir; and, wishing you a pleasabt f voyage, we hope soon to welcome you back to our shores.--(signed) J. Drausfield (Mayor of Wellington), Chairman; E. S. Ledger, Hon. Secretary, upon behalf of the subscribers.’ ■‘-•.V" j- ( « ' Wellington, New Zealand, March Ist, IS7B. Mr. Ledger,; stated that, the amount collected at present was £l2O, and there were sundry other gists' yet both from > the Northern and Southern parts of the colony; consequently it wag ’ proposed to present Mr, Nancarrow with a purse containing a cheque for a £IOO, and the balance could afterwards be sent to him wherever he directed. > -

The toast of the guest having been drunk, ; /His Worship the Mayor then handed him a purse containing a*'chequeior £IOO, aud in doing so observed that it was only a small testimonial from his fellow colonists. He (the Mayor) could only say that if, he was in Mr. Naucarrow’s position he would feel proud of it. It was a groat credit to, a man like him to be able to Iqave, so. many friends behind him, as there was nothing ' that a man could be so proud of as to feel that he was respected by such a largei (body of/his fellow-colonists, (Cheers.).? , / n

: Mr. Nancarrow,, in accepting the flatteringaddress, together .with the purse„observed that he felt very much gratified indeed at what had been done for him, and could not but express the great pleasure and satisfaction it gave him at seeing so many of his personal friends around him. It was indeed-,pleasing to feel that he had made himself so respected/and it’! would be in especial pleasure to'carry that testimony to'the,many friends hfe had in the mother country.’ Someof the gentlemen prasent) perhaps, oouffi remember the firat'steafner which traded to the 1 colony ;, .when the Nelson arrived in April, 1854, and ran along the coast;,apd he felt proud to.say : th:it he was on board p£ that steamer, and . had been connected with-the coasting steamers ever since. That steamer was sent* Home afterwards, as the proprietors thought it would not pay,, Bat now, what was the result 1: Why, that the colony had 135 steamers—a fleet, the like of which; he had no doubt he would ( pot find around thecoast of [England.' (Cheers.), .The Union £jteam Shipping .Company's fleet in itself was a credit to '.the,' colony, and* showed how well they were’advancing in national progress. . The kindness he had all along received, and: which 1 had exhibited itself upon) that .'occasion, might make them assuredly believe he would never forget New Zealand. In conclusion, he hadi to thank ; them for their flattering testimonials.- (Cheers.)' > ’,: ( Song—“ For he’s a jolly good fellow.” ■ Mr. Nancarrow proposed the!" Health of Mr. Ledger” with a few s brief and appropriate remarks, .a- !•'. vu- ir-i - ,

Mr. (Ledger,;in -responding, referred to the many years he had knovyn' the guest, and to the coastal trips he and other gentlemen present had made near a score, of years a-m. He likewise observed that there would have been many others present bht for? the pressure of business in consequence of making: up the homeward mail, and stated for that reason he had to apologise for The absence of Mr. E. W. Mills, who, being'shorthauded: in the office, could not attend, b ’:; I / t -T- ;

Mr.‘ Seed next ' proposed the.health of his i Worship the Mayor - in ‘a few!appropriate and complimentary remarks,'stating .that he had ■done his duty asa Mayor, and a man. The toast having;been duly honored, ' The Mayor stated , that in .being present that afternoon it was\only part of his public duty, although he was sorry he had , not had, longer' notice of it.' He! thought he had shown the citizens of Wellington that he was alvyays yery.oareful to avoid a political partin regard to any public proceedings during the time he was in office, and if there was one thing ho took credit , to.himself for it was that he had avoided, taking a party view in public matters. But; wherever, large .classes of the community ■ were, gathered . together, they would find he would not. fail ta do hia duty. (Cheers'.) • J ■' Several other toasts followed, and the company "separated with many wishes for a safe and prosperous voyoge to Mr. Nauoarrow. . >