PRESENTATION TO MR C. W. S. CHAMBERLAIN.
Between 30 and 'r0 representatives cf mercantile houses and prominent citizens met on the 10th inst. for the purpose of doing honour to Mr C. W. S. Chamberlain. wh6 relinquished the position, of Collecror of Customs at the Port of Dunedin at the end of, last year. The chair was occupied by Mr W. Gow, and apologies for inability to be present were read from the Mayor (Mr J. London) and others.
The Chairman said hu feelings towards Mr Chamberlain were of the heartiest possible kind, and he was probably one of the oldest acquaintances of their guest in the city. In 1868 he had known him in Hokitika, and Mr Chamberlain was then, as now, one of the most popular men in the mercantile community. The committee which had undertaken to get up a little public testimony of Mr Chamberlain's worth as a public officer and citizen had been placed in an embarrassing position, as those who subscribed desired to give more than the amount fixed upon for each subscriber to contribute, and no testimonial he had been connected with had been subscribed to more spontaneously or heartily, which fact spoke eloquently of the esteem in which th«.ir guest was held.
Sir James Milk, who was called upon to make the presentation of an illuminated address in book form and a large silver salver, said he felt honoured in being selected to represent the commercial community on such an occasion. He had known Mr Chamberlain for 40 years. They were both young men then, and never dreamed that the time would come when they would be set aside with advancing years from active work and would have to giv« place to younger men. When he knew Mr Chamberlain that gentleman was a junior officer in the Customs, and his (Sir James Mills's) father was senior officer. Their guest had been 28 years in Dunedin, and of that period he had been eenior Customs officer for 20 years. As a Customs officer their guest was called upon to exact the uttermost farthing for the State, but in the carrying out of his official duties he had always been courteous, and had made many friends in the commercial community. They all regretted Mr Chamberlain's retirement from business life — (applause), — and he could assure him that he carried with him into retirement the highest respect and esteem of the commercial community. There was a small surplus over the amount required for the purchase of an illuminated address and silver salver, and with this something el«e would be purchased and presented to their guest, who, in addition to his Customs duties, had held many other public offices. Mr Mills then read the address, and also the inscription on the silver salver. The address, which was in book form, was bound in niger calf and handsomely illuminated by Mi<ss Joachim, and the illuminated lettering and decorated leaflet work was executed in Mr Ha-wcridge's best manner, the whole work being artistic and costly. Accompanying the address was a large silver salver, which bore the following inscription: — "Presented to C. W. S. Chamberlain, E=q.. on the occasion of his retirement from the position of Collector of H.M. Customs, Dunedin, as a, memento of the esteem in which he is held by the mercantile community 10th February, IQOB " Mr J. Moloney briefly referred to the excellent manner in which Mr Chamberlain had carried out his official duties, and Mr D. E. Theomin followed in a similar strain. after which the gueefs health was toasted in bumpers, accompanied with the singing of " He's a jolly good fellow." "\lr Chamberlain, who on rising was xe-
ceived with" a round of -applause, assured his Dunedin friends that he was deeply impressed with tha kind .manner in which ne had been treated, and he was- glad to know that, notwithstanding-" many personal deficiencies, he, had *seme qualities that his friends appreciated. IJe had been in the public service for 44 years, end felt the need of retirement before becoming too old, and had decided to remain in his home' in Dunedin where he had lived so long. He again thanked- the subscribers for their artistic presents. — (Applai"=e.) Sir James Mills extended a cordial welcome to Mr W. Sibbald, Mr Chamberlain's successor, and that gentleman suitably replied, expressing the hope that he would succeed as well as his predecessor had done in doing his duty to the State and to the business community.
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Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 17
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748PRESENTATION TO MR C. W. S. CHAMBERLAIN. Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 17
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