Page 3 Advertisements Column 5

Otago Daily Times, Issue 320, 29 December 1862, Page 3

. Slapping Notice.

PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN BOYD, OF X /THE SHIP PLADDA. . | The Passengers of. ,the ship Pladda, after their nappy and prosperous,voyage lrom •'Glasgowl, to New | Zealand, met on t!)e poop to present their Captain, Alexander M'Neil Boyd, Esq., with, a mark of their :' esteem, gratitude, and respect, and :il>o testimonials to the several officers of the ship. . ■ - - Mr James Aikle in the chair.. - The chairman, after opening the meeting1, and explaining- the object of it, introduced the h&v. James Kirkland, who had bean appointed to present the above. , Rev. James Kirkland :—" The task which you have imposed upon me to-night is one which I both shunned and coveted. Shunned, because it is with great reluctauca that I could command iflyself to speak in deserved commendation of our worthy and esteemed friend, Captain Boyd, in his presence and yet coveted because 1 count it an honor indeed to take part in a transaction which reflects credit)'upon the pasisen^cssi of the Pladda, and a thousand-*" Ad more credit upon its able commander. It is also a task at once Dleasnnt and mipleaswt. Pleasant, because it'is a great pleasure to me, -whan I, as your representative, am fulfilling the duty you have imposed upon me, in placing our capta n in the position which he. so: deservedly merits, of receiving from us a mark of our gratitude and esteem, one thousand times more merited than it is valuable. And unpleasant because I can but very imperfectly represent those qualities, which are so happily combined in him, so gentlemanly sustained by him, and so gratefully esteemed' unl so imperfectly rewarded by us. ' It is often the case, I believe, that masters of ships j receive presents at the end of their voyages, but I am afraid many or most of them, are of another sort than this. As soon as they land, some kind gentleman, at the instance of the passengers, places in their han us, with the etiquette common on such, occasions, a summons to attend the presence of a magistrate, <n order to answer for the n>any cruel impositions by which they designed to enrich themselves,, at the expense of those who were unprotected, and wholly, for the time, without the means of redress. But no such present as this do we intend to place in the hands of Captain Boyd, but one far more cheering- to him, and surely more honorable to us. I am sure it is a most pleasing tiling for all of us to | terminate our voyage inthe PiacWa in such auspicious | circumstances as this meeting indicates. If I speak of Captain Boyd as a man, what Lknow of him constrains me to 'do it in terms-of -direct and detailed enconium, but bobh my inability and the circumstance of his presence make it unacceptable. I shall merely remark in a summed up estimate of his chaiacter, that he is open without levity, generous without waste, humble without meanness, bold without insolence, mild without timidity, and firm without tyranny. But when I speak of him as a captain, I am confident that I express the minds of all present when I say that although we'had had the choosing of one for ourselves, we could not possibly have fallen upon a better, for from all the observations which 1 have baen able to take, I am brought to the conclusion that he is thoroughly skilled in navigation and well qualified for the high and responsible position whiah he holds. Nay, he is even, if I may so so speak, con i-ti-tutionally qualified for his office, and as a proof of what I now advance, I refer you to what has become common with us in the cabin, and which is so evident, that I am sure you may all have seen it, viz., that about five or six hours before a storm comes on, it is to be seen in hid face as in a weather glass. I say, I say, comes from every lip, what is the matter with the Captain? Why he looks so dull and heavy, that we are sure all is not right; Oh, there is"a storm coming on you may depend upon it. I have not been on the poop less than any of the passengers especially in stormy weather, and thus am able conscientiously to bear witness to the well known iact that he has never been missed from his post. One morning about 2 o'clock when it it w..s blowing, a dirty night, I went out to see how all was getting on, and was told by one of the constables that the Captain had retired to bed. I looked astonished when I heard this, not that I was afraid that although he had gone to bed Mr Clark the First Mate was not able to take his place, for the utmost confidence can be placed in him, both by his Captain and the passengers, but because I knew that he cannot sleep if there is any sign of a storm, and how could, it be that he was gone to-sleep when it was roaring about his ears. So determined to see if such was the case, I mounted the poop and there I found him at his post wet and cold, looking now to the sails, and then to the man at the helm, i don't tliink it necessary that I should say much more about him, you have had ample opportunity of knowing him in every respect, and as we have yet further business before us time demands that we make speed.^ In short if you had made voyages in almost any other ship, you would be more able'to appreciate his kindness and care. There are few occasions of the kind in which the fignger cannot be pointed at some blemished spot ia the Captain's conduct, or in which, the feelings of the passengers are not roused at some injustice, but as far as 1 know there ia not such a thing either on his or our part. His great desire was to live at peace with all on board, and to do whatever lay in his power to keep peace,' and promote our happiness, so that all things might go on harmoniously, and every one be happy and healthy. Alex. M'Niel Boyd, Esq, Captain of the ship Pladda, you have now the near p'-ospect of setting us upon the shore of our adopted land, attera happy aud prosperous voyage, during which nofc a siugle d?ath has occurred, and to leave us, to return with j your ship to that country which we still fondly call our home. And we could not let you pass from our midst, without giving you some manifestation of the placeyou hold in our esteem and brotherly affection. For this end we now address, and, as I have said, we might be constrained to speak to you in terms of direct and detailed enconium; but this we refuse to do with the simple apology- that we do not suppose you wish it. Permit us then to say, and, in saying it, we would seek to reflect credit on those gentlemen who are your employers, and in whose confidence you are amongst us, that you are just such a one as we delight to honor. Your superior endowments, your industry and conscientiousness by which you have striven to foster' our 'happiness and our health. The patient labor and rich success with which you have conducted us to the end of our journey, and the lively interest which we are sure you entertain "regarding our welfare, have met in U3 with due appreciation, and called forth our highest respect. And that respect is mellowed into brotherly regard when we remembered the kindness that has pervaded e/ery performance of your duty toward us, while your courteous mannerSj and your modest and unassuming deportment have enshrined you in all our hearts. And now that we have seen you to the end of jour journey, sacrificing in many respects comforts peculiar and necessary to a Captain, in order that you might give place to us; we'cannot forbear to express our admiration of you,and to thank- you.from our hearts for all your kindness.' With a view to expiess these our sentiments in a form somewhat more substantial than this address we liave prepared for you a small present of which we now beg the favour of your acceptance. And perhaps it "may be useful to you amidst your arduous toils, when' your spirit feels solitary and sad, to look upon it and remember that you have still a place in our Christian sympathies and brotherly affections. And now, we leave you with our most earnest desires for your welfare and success.' We say, every one of U3 say?, the Lord speed you. Many the Angel of the Covenant go before as a cloudy and a fiery pillar. May He conduct you in safety thrbutjh all your perils on 1 rod and your perils on sea.' May He cover you with his feathers from the fowler's share and the noisome pestilence. , May He preserve and prosper you amidst all the dangers incident to your line ot life. And as a captain of such a chip may 3?ou more ' and more hi perfected in your profession, and by the blessing of our gracious God directed, helped, comforted and. crowned with spiritual and temporal success. And now, before I place in your hands this presenj which I hold, permit me to read to you the testimonial which accompanies it, and the inscription which is intended to be put upon it." TO ALEXANDER M'NEIL BOYD, Esq., Master of the Ship *' Pladda-" Sir, —We, the undersigne-J passengers, feat it to be our duty and privilege before leaving the ship, after our agreeable and satisfactory passage, to express our admiration'of your conduct as a seaman and your bearing as a gentleman. Your constant endeavour lias alwas been to promote the comfort of the passengers. >n the hour of danger we have seen you at your post, and felt that # security .which re- i liance on your thorough experience and constant watchfulness cculd alone give, us, whilst the efficient ' aud iudicious discipline you introduced jfor the pro- : motion of health in the. various climates tlirouuh which, we passed and.,whicli have been so successful, through the blessinsr of God, that not a single death has occurred out of four hundred and six, slides us that you have our welfare constantly at heart. ''';- ' We beg your acceptance if this v silver jug-and plateas a sincere mark "of our respect,, and/we are - only sorry that the pecuniary value ,80; inadequately: represents the feelings of the subsciibera, bukjvs conr * aider its moral value enhanced froni the'che%rful- :;i nej»T«tli vrJttchtheyaUcoutri^t^tU^imtw^'-1;'