VALEDICTORY AT NASEBY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 37

VALEDICTORY AT NASEBY.

PRESENTATION TO MR J. J. RAMSAY. At the Royal Hotel, Naseby, on Friday evening Mr J. J. Ramsay, who is about to leave for the North Island, was tendered a farewell social in the form of a smoke concert, and was presented with a substantial puree of sovereigns for Ramsay from his friends throughout Central Otago. His Worship the Mayor of Naeeby (Mr J. R. Kirk) presided, and the district was well represented. The Chairman intimated that several of Mr Ramsay's friends deeiroue of attending had found it Impossible to do bo. That day being St. David's Day, sports were "being held at Cambrians. ', picnics were being held at Blaekstone Hill and Lower Kyebucn, a large number of the Naeeby miners were working at the race away from Naseby, and harvesting operations were general. After the loyal toast had been duly honoured, the Mayor stated that Mr Rani- j cay's numerous friends throughout Central ' Otago had combined for the purpose of , ctxpreseinig in some tangible way their j appreciation of their guest's many publio services. It wa« known to most of them that Mr Ramsay had been brought up in the district since his childhood, that he had i received hie education in it, an 3 that dur- : ing the whole of his career he had been ' closely associated with its progress. He i had made good use of the. education he had received in the early days at Hyde, and, after serving ac a member of the com- I mittee of his old aoKbol, had been sent by Central Otago to represfint the district on ; the Otago Education Board. He had been elected & member of the Mount Ida Licensing Committee, held a commission as a justice of the peace, and 'had served also a« a member of the Waihemo County Council and Mosgiel Borough Council. He had a facile pen. and his writings had caused to be recorded the early history of several of the local townships. It wa* in matters .connected with the settlement of the land, however, that Mr Ramsay had exerted himself most, and however widely one might differ fron him in Gome of his views, all could agree in_this: that what he did he dSd -in-. what h"e believed to be the best interests of land settlement, and he threw himself wholly into the work, irrespective of any interests of his own. It was regrettable that one who had done co much in the publio interest should now have to seek in fresh places for other employment, and although some might incline to the thought that Mr Ramsey, from a financial point of view, might have done better for himself with such ability M he possessed., still success or failure must not always be pauged by the amount of the balance standing to one's credit at the bankers. All agreed that Mr Ramsay's ideals and aims had been very high, and that he had been inspired with 'the best motives.— (Applause.) Mr Hugh Wileon, one of -NasebyV oldest identities, and proprietor of the Mount Ida Chronicle, said he had much pleasure m> endorsing the remarks of his Worship the Mayor concerning Mr Ramsay as a man and as a representative. Mr Wileon further paid a tribute to Mr Ramsay's public epir it and social qualities, and .sa.id the district could ill afford to lose such a man, whose name had become a household word with them. He wished Mr and Mrs Ramsay much prosperity and) better luck. than fchev had experienced of late years in Central Otago.— <Ap.plause.) _. i mTj/rT Smith said he had known Mr , Ramsay since he was a boy, and he natl always found their guest a man in every luJdt the word. He ™^*yS?%.\ say was leaving them as he had been of , great service to the district and had «£■ m-udgingly given his time to forward its £ogr geeg ccs gy often at considerable inconvemenrl and cost to himself^ .-('' §«• *«?LJ S Mr Roy Johnstone eaid Mr « a '? B^7^ , work at Blackstone Hill had stamped hun as the right man in the right place. He ( did not tnow how they were going to do when Mr Ramsay left.-(" Hear hear. ) Mr James Mitchell also spoke. Mr Kirk then presented the purse of sovereigns amidst aPP^use, and, assured Mr Ramsay that if it contained *}»« 7"*"* ?! the good wUhes that wentwith it to «tjM be unable to carry it. He trusted that much euccess would attend Mr and Mrs Ramsay and their fami y m their new home —that they would continue in good health. ! be prosperous, and have the privilege of good friends.— (Applause.) Mr Ramsay, in replying, said he would ( be a strange man indeed did he not feel , etirred to his innermost depths by tn*. kind , remarks made about him that evening. , He would like, in speaking that evening, \ first to. thank them from the bottom of his heart for their spontaneous expression of goodwill. He recognised that there must have been many associated with the . presentation who had not always eeen eye to -eye - with him in j public matters. He could look his • fellow, citizens in the face with the know- 1 ledge that though he mieht have erred in public matters, yet looking back over 30 years of more or less active association with publio affairs he knew that he had ever been actuated by motives of which he had no cause to feel ashamed.— (" Hear, hear.") In referring to the fact that he had not had too good luck in • Central Otago, Mr Ramsay said it was not for want of trying. His business had been absolutely killed by the railway, and he was going north for two reasons — because there was absolutely no opening in Central Otago and he understood "there was in the north, and because he would have to giye up public work for a time, and that would be easier amidst new surroundings. He thought, however, that he might s£y to those who gauged a man's success by his accumulation of money, that he did make money when he had a chance. He lost , it. though it was lost throueh no fault of his.— (Applause.) In concluding. Mr Ramsay eaid he could only cay the parting from Central Otago and his many friends was a wrench. He thanked them for his kindly references to his wife. The early I boys of inland Otago had to "scrape" for their education. He was 10 before he saw a schoolmaster or sat at a desk. He had much difficulty in acquiring even the most rudimentary education, -and he had felt, ' and always would feel, his educational , limitations. If he had to live hi& life over again he could wieh for better facilities in that respect, but if they* were to be got at the expense of the old association* he would hesitate to accenj; them. The oldtime miners were the pick of Britain's manhood. Their ideals were high, their energy unbounded, and their courage dauntless. Their spirit of sturdy independence and self-reliance was exhibited in the huge undertakings^ they tackled and the work Jhey accomplished. — (Loud applause.)

Several toasts were then honoured, including " The Guest," " Prosperity of Central Otago," and " Prosperity" of Naseby." Mr Wilson sang "The Braes o' Mar," and recitations were given by Messrs M'Neil, Davey, and Ramsay. At the conclusion three cheers for Mr Ramsay and An additional three for Mrs Ramsay and family were heartily given, after which the singing of "Auld lang syne" brought a pleasant gathering to a close.