A GISBORNE PRESENTATION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1300, 24 March 1883, Page 2

A GISBORNE PRESENTATION.

[CObTRtHVTID] A ci*Riot's talc come# to me in connection with the furewoll dinner given by some of the residents of the town to Mr Lavington Hart, lately agent in Gisborne for the Union Steamship Company. The moral involved by the story to which I allude in obviously one which will not fail to impress itself upon my readers with a force which will cause them to pause and reflect before again commiting themselves to the evident vicissitudes of farewell dinners and presents, or, if inclined to run the chances of such epicurean luxuries, at anv rate to protect themselves against the possibilities of “double recover.” Mr Lavington Hart was for some considerable time resident here in his capacity of agent for rhe U.S.S. Company, and in such capacity made many friends. Among these friends was notably a Mr Hrnrii Haaxa who became the aifu' ego, the friend, philosopher, ami I may fairly presume, guide, of Mr Lavington Hart. Like the two scriptural heroes the strength and cordiality of whose affection has been so often quoted to us as an example by our spiritual Pastors and Masters, they were “ beautiful in their lives;” lot ur hope that in their deaths they inav “not be divided.” So ardent was their affection and esteem one for the other, especially one, that

the other resolved that it should he marked by a solid memento, which -should take the form of a tea and coffe< service. The thought was lather to the deed and zealous in the (coffee) service of his friend, Mr Henry Haase went straight away among the residents of the town to moot and give effect to such a proposition. He found willing victims in the persons of Messrs Kennedy and Bennett, T. J. Dickson, and M. G. Nasmith, at the shop of w’hich latter gentleman a suitable plated service was obtained, but not paid for, by Mr Haase. The time for the dinner arrived. Tickets were sold, realising a goodly amount, and with the amounts subscribed by Captain Bennett, Mr Dickson, Mr Nasmith, and himself; for the express purpose of paying for the presentation plate addtd to the surplus ac- | cniing from the dinner fnrid, Mr Henry | Haase declared himself to be in po?scssion of ■ amply sufficient funds to satisfy all demands , In connection therewith; consequently the ( “ goose hung high/’ The dinner was held at i the Masonic Hotel. The cuisine was perfect, [ the wine waa excellent, the givers of the feast were gracious, the guest was modest, and the spirit of good humored revelry ran high, speeches were made adulatory of the guest, inanifeetihg strongly the general appre. iation ; of his feoffee) services, and the deep regret . engendered by his approaching departure. After some speechifying had been got through there came a pause, and then, borne reverently and in becoming solemnity on a . tray, under the fostering and guiding, but, ' alas I non-paying care of Mr Renrv Haase, entered Jfr Nasmith'* fra ami coffee service. Tableau I Tear* ’ ! Cheers '. I ! Arose in awful grandeur the Chairman, who in a few I brief and solemn words which touched the

Very heart of the diner*, alluded to the pure and noble example of the guest and the value of his sermref, past and present, winding up his peroration by begging Mr Harfs acceptance of Nasmith?* fra and coffee service as a lasting memento (Mr Nasmith made a memento, too) of them. Mr Hart, utterly taken by surprise (as of course he would be, Mr Henry Haase having undoubtedly not prepared him for such an event.) in brief words and tones broken by agitation, expressed his Aearl-felt thanks (•* happiest moments,” “taken by surprise,” “unprepared I’m sure '•’) and graciously accepted Mr Nasmith’s tea and coffee service. The dinner was over, the tea and coffee service was sent back to Mr Nasmith to be suitably engraved with the initials, etc., of the recipient, and Mr Nasmith not unnaturally asked for the money which was to have been paid to him for the articles, but here, alas .' a haze arises. Mr Henry Haase declines to descend to the commonplace vulgarity of paying, although he alleges that he has a surplus from the dinner fund, and acknowledges receiving additional subscriptions for the express purpose oj paying for the plate in question. Mr Nasmith refuses to let the plate leave his establishment until he is*paxd for it, and Mr Hart is duly made acquainted with the line of conduct his friend has chosen to adopt. To any reasonable being it would appear that Mr Hart should have repudiated any acquiescence in such a line, but to the utter astonishment of all concerned Mr Hart endorsed his friend’s action, and informed Mr Nasmith that unless he delivered up the plate to his (Mr Hart’s) agent in Gisborne forthwith, he would be sued for it. To this course all parties concerned were willing to agree as they would thus have had an opportunity of cross-cx- j amining both Mr Hart and Mr Haase in the witness-box, but the lawyer employed by MiHart astutely extinguished all chance of that, i Time goes oa, and Mr Nasmith receives a summons at the instance of Mr Hart for the detention of the articles, notifying at the same time that Mr Hart's deposition tctVZ he taken in Napier, thus defying all chances of cross-examination. Seven guineas is added to the valu* of the articles, which with fees and other expenses, makes a total amount of £24 7s, so that Mr Nasmith had no alternative but to deliver up the service, with the additional amount claimed and fall back upon those gentlemen who have already paid Mr Henry Haase, for a second payment, in order to prevent himself being a los-r of the whole amount of £24 7s by the proceedings of that gentleman. The query naturally arises was Mr Hart privy to the proceedings, and was he from beginning to end cognizant of them ? These questions I leave Mr Hart to answer, but 1 cannot lose sight of the fact us I taring upon them that the relations of Messrs Hart and Haase in the matter have been undeni- . ably close and confidential, and without ; by any means going so far as to state that the whole matter is a concerted one, I un- ! hesitatingly say that the colouring so given to it is one which calls for explanation in order to subdue, much more remove, the unpleasant light iu which it ut present appears. That Mr Haase received the money which should have been paid for these articles is beyond a doubt. equally so that he knew’ he received it for that especial purpose. That he did not pay for these articles is also clear, and that he and hi a friend have not only allowed, but forced, the donors of the articles to pay twice over for them, appears to me to be a result wanting in decency and capable of bearing a harsher character. J hear that proceedings of a summary nature are pending in this matter, as the persons interested arc determined tu sift it to its very bottom, and the pleasant relations among all parties com- I mencing so jubilantly in a dinner, are likely to find their termination in the somewhat oppressive atmosphere of a Police Court. This is a result which must be deplored, and which might easily have been obviated by the exercise of a little business like tact and courteous discretion on the part of Mr Lavington Hart, and a more exact promptitude in the ! manipulation of monies entrusted to his care by his “fidus achates ” and confidential agent, Mr Henry Haase. Diogenes. lor Continuation of Nctrs see Fourth Page. |