PRESENTATION TO MR. AMOS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 700, 14 June 1878, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR. AMOS.

A very pleasing ceremony was performed at the Star and Charter (}ote.l last evening, when Mr, U. Amos, late foreman i:; the locomotive department of the railways, \\ as the recipient of a testimonial and purse of sovereigns from the railway employes. .Between 40 and oO of thos--eagaged in the various railway departments were present, and Mr. T. Powell was voted to the chair. The Ohairmmi expressed his regret that some more competent person had not been called upon to iiLI the chair. Though lie did not belong to the locomotive department, he took as irreat an interest in the obp.et for which they were met together as anyone present, lie then read the testimonial, and presented it and the purse of sovereigns to Mr. Amos, and said that though the purse of sovereigns might be a very pleasant travelling companion, he felt sure thai Mr. Amos would prise the tuathnonial most, as ho would be able to hand it down to his children as a lasting proof of the high estimation in widen lie was held by the rail way c,:uib »!■'■■■< iA' the district. He expressed hia regret chat Mr. Amos' connection with the railways had terminated, but added that it would no doubt bo pleasing to Mr. Amos to lind that wherever he might go lie would cany with him the woii-wishes (if ■■ill connected with the Railway Department. It afforded him very great pleasure to make the presentation of the testimonial and purse of sovereigns to Mr. Amos, The testimonial, which had been beautifully illuminated by Mr. T. George, of Dunedin, and was neatly framed, was as follows :—■ To George Amos, Esq., Locomotive Foreman N. 'A. Railways, Oamaru, Dear Sir, —-Wo, the' uudcrsiyaiecl railway nnijtoyte beg to offer you, prior to your leaving the district, this testimonial and th.accompanying purse of sovereign*, as a shyli' expression of the esteem and regard in which you are held amongst us. Daring your t.cre of office hero for the last four years, y-ui have by your straight-forward and g'-ntl. - manly conduct earned tit a respopt and gone! wishes of everyone with whom you haw come in contact, and have always show:yourself the ih*t. to take an active part in eveiythiiig which tended to promote the interests of us all.

That i"!ig life and future prosperity m:\\ a't.;mi.l you is the earnest prayer of ymi. siucevely. Tile testimonial btsro v 1 vu uijjimturos m a '.'■ ry i;u'j;e number of the railway (••;/- ;//"!/.>■. ami with its accompanyiu • gifi was 'subscribed for by over lOv l persons employed on the railway*. Contributions were, also received from a largo number of merchants and cithers, who were de«irp',!s (;f simwim; their appreciation of Mr. Amos's services during the time 113 has been connected with the department.

Mr. Amos, on rising, was loudly cheered. He said he could hardly find words to express his thanks for the handsome presentation which had been made tfj him. Until he was about, to part from the service, lie. did not know that the railway employes entertained such good feelings towards him. When he looked round, he noticed that there were very few left of those who were in the service when the railways vera tirsc- opened in Oamaru, some three years and q, half a/ro. They had then little idea that the department woqld grow to siifih dimensions as it had now assumed within so short a time. He did not remember anyone who had worked with him with whom he had ever had any serious disagreement. He might at times have spoken harshly \a of those undav him, lie' trusted that any hatsli remarks, which he might have uttered had long been forgotten by tho.se to whom they wcro addressed, as ■ they had been by him. He would highly prize the testimonial which ho had received, not only on account of the good opinions and wishes which it expressed, j but because it did not emanate alone from the locomotive department, but from j thp traiiio and perui.ineui way departments also. To, the Chairman, who had I acted fqr some time with him in thp loco- [ motive department, he was cspeciaijj

indebted for the zeal lie had displayed in the performance of his duties. To Mr. Powell was due a, very large amount of the credit for the manner in which the work of the department h°d been carried out. Referring to the cause of his retirement from the service, the speaker said that he had been called upon, without his wishes being in any way consulted, to proceed to Timaru. He had remonstrated against his removal from Oamaru, and asked for the reasons for tlie adoption of such a course; but the only reply he had been tvble to obtain was that it was for the good of the service. X.r 1. dug satisfied with such treatment, he had sent in his resignation, lie had been connected with the service for six years, and had brought out arid built the first locomotive introduced into Otago. ile h.id never received ar.d promotion, such as he thought those in the service were entitled to look forward to and expeul: ; bur ite had been called upon, after having as he thought settled down in Oamaru. to break up Ins home and accept, with all respect to Timaru, a promotion of a doubtful nature—in fact, to srbi'er a reduction ; and thus, too, without any reason being given for his removal. This treatment he had resented, preferring to quit the service altogether. He iheu spoke of tlio kindness and good-will which had always been shown toward-: liiiii by those connected with tho rail ways, and asked that the same kindly foeling uiight be extended to his successor, Mr. Sym, who h.id, ho believed, also been removed very much against his wishes. He would prize the testimonial which had been presented to him, as it was an evidence of the good understanding winch had existed between himself and those in (he service. it would be a character for him wherever he went. He had not yet settled where he would go ; hut no matter where he might go, he would ever remember the kindness which had been shown him by the railway ar./iloii:'.-:. .(!,-. Auv.s concluded by thanking 'he whole of the subscribers for the presetr.;-'. 10.-i which had been made to hint.

Mr. Loriug, on *ii.-!s:-.'lv of the Tr.Mlii: i Department, oxpi-e.v.ed regret i.ha.f. ..!r. I A)!i<is' connection with th t - railways had i been severed. Mo spoke of the good feel- i ing liicii hii.d always existed iwiv.'eon t.in• Tr:illic Department and. Mr. Amos, and j said ho did not remember a single inst;inv ! of any mrp'.uasiuess having occurred S between them. With all duo respect in j ">U'. Syni, ho thought it would be a long lime before they ohtahwd a beii'T ova more enevgv-iic foreman of this locomotive department than Mr. Amos had been. Mr. Loving also memi im d ihai-. Messrs. Alitor and M'l.it.yiv and himself had had the honor of carrying prss''tigers on one of the Uainaru lijvs long n, fore, any of i-imm were on-jii for Irallie. This was when he (Mr. Loving) was employed under Messrs. LSrogdon and Sons. Mr. AL''K;v"l: ; .iiu, the Treasurer, mentioned that very little elfort had been made, to obtain subscription:;, the object not being so much to obtain alalia stain of money as an expression of the good-will which was felt towards Mr. Amos. Hut money had como in very freely, and tin: purse, which had been presented t.. Mr. Amos contained L 52. Subscript ions were si ill. being received, and he had no doubt a largo additional sum would be presented to Mr. Amos, Mr. M'Xeni-ie, station-master a; Palmei'ston, also expressed re-ret th;.A Mr. Amos was quitting the service. Mr. Morrison said lie had been deputed by a number of the. merchants in town to e mwy their regards to Mr. Amos, and : iX[:>;t:;a their regret that iie was leaving ; the railway service. ; Mr. Sym, having been called ,1)1,11, said that very much against his imdinuri.iu ho had been transferred to (iamaru, hut being hero ho wo'ihl strive to work I in harmony with those under him, an welt as with those in the other departments. j The healths of Mr, and Mrs. Amos were then drunk enthusiastically,.and the ' toasts were responded to by Mr. Amos. ; The following toasts were also drunk i and duly responded to: — ; ' The Tronic Department," coupled with the'names of Messrs. Sym and 31'intyro ; "ThcM'vrmaneiit Way DepartU'.'-Hiyd' e.mpled with with the minico -.if Messrs. J„\:wdl and Dawson; and ''The Press," coupled : with the names of the editor and subeditor of the Evi:xixu Mail, Messrs. Jones and Mitchell. A number of songs were sung' dnrine; . ::■: evening, and ultogollior a very plea■ani evening" Wii.j spent.