VALEDICTORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 5, 22 August 1911, Page 6

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL TO MR W. H. SKINNER. . A, -very representative gathering of New Plymouth citizens assembled at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr W. H. Skinner, who is leaving for Blenheim, where ho has boon- appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands. ' Mr G. W. Brcwno, the .‘Mayor, presided, and expressed regret at the removal of Mr skinner from New Plymouth, although at the same time he was pleased that it meant promotion. He referred to the great interest that Mr Skinner had taken in various movements tor more than twenty years. It was in IoS9 when he (the speaker) had first'come into contact with Mr Skinner. They ' were colleagues from 1889 to 1894 in', the formation of that portion of the Recreation Grounds known as the sports ground. At a later period it. was mainly due to the energy displayed by Mr Skinner that an exchange had been effected which gave ns Western Park as a breatning space for that end of tho town. Mr Skinner was on the first Western Park Board ‘for twelve months, when the conditions of Iris departmental

work compelled him to resign. On every occasion, however, during his leisure hours his work had neon freely -given. Ho also commented on the great and lively interest that Mi Skinner had taken in tho Scenei y Preservation Society, and also ;n tnc Polynesian Society. In tho latter lay a great work, which at the present tinio was hardly rccog used at j l.s true value, but when the history of the colony came to be written the services of Mr Skinner in that direc-

tion would bo recognised. In conclusion, he expressed the hops that it would not be long before Mr Skinner was again resident among them in New Plymouth. (Applause.) ■ V Mr S. Percy Smith, president of the Polynesian Society, referred to his lengthty association with Mr Skinner, whom he had known from youth, and who as an officer under him in tlie Lands and Survey Department had borne the highest possible character.

He sincerely regretted Mr Skinner’s departure, but at the same time realised that it meant promotion. Mr Skinner had boon secretary of the Polynesian Society during the past ton years, and as one who knew sometiling of such matters ho could say that no one could -fill the position as well as Mr Skinner had done. He had been courteous to the public, had pushed the interests of the Society, and had written numerous papers, and these had been incorporated in the Society’s printed transactions, which would he more appreciated in years to come. So highly did the Society think of Mr Skinner that they had decided not to fill the position, but ’to retain it for him until he should., return to New Plymouth in ,a feyv years’ time. \ uMessrs W. A. Collis, Harris, Ford, and- F. E, Wilson also spoke eulogisticalty of Mr Skinner’s work. The Mayor apologised for’ tho ab-

sence of several gentlemen, and, on i behalf of the various iiistitutions, V presented Mr Skinner with a hand- [ somely illuminated address, beauti- * fully bound in green morocco, and ' most artistically illuminated. Each ’ folio was decorated with floral bordI ers, in which clematis, rata, and ycl- . low kowhai wore effectively used, re- - lieved with medallions containing the ’ following views:—“Mountain House,” ! “Dawson’s Falls,” “Mount Egmont,” . “View of Pukekura Park,” “Sports • Ground,” “Band Rotunda,” “Marui wehi, and Polio-kura Palis, Ureuui ’ River,” “Obelisk to Pioneers,” “Pub- . lie Library,” and “Breakwater.” I • Mr Skinner, who was greeted with 1 applause, thanked the speakers for 1 their kindly expressed remarks. ; While he appreciated them, he thought they had over-estimated what he had 1 done. It was the duty of every man to’ do the best ho could for the com- , inanity in which he lived. Ho had tried to do his host, hut felt that he had fallen far short of what ho ’might have done. Mr S. Percy Smith was

the man who had done the great work in the Polynesian Society; he himself had only assisted. He had always taken a great great interest in scenery preservation. His training with his father had perhaps imbued this in him. In this lie certainly was able to help, as ho had a knowledge of various mattes, and with the help of others was aide to carry them through. Ho looked upon the Kaitake ranges as his monument, because, without boasting, ho could say j it was mainly through his exertions, and finally with the assistance of the late Mr E. M. Smith, that they had been preserved. Ho considered that the hardest piece of work he had over undertaken was as secretary of the Sports Ground Committee. , From that beginning the present Sports Ground Committee—a very live body of men—had been enabled to bring the ground into its present excellent state. The Library and Museum had always boon his pets, and ho considered it a disgrace to a town of the size of Now Plymouth that there was not a hotter museum. However, a beginning had been made, and when they, had a suitable annexe to the fire-proof building lie would have pleasure in presenting his valuable collections of pictures, paintings, curios and local history to the town. But lie would not put it where it could go up in smoke. Ho hoped, if spared, to return to Now Plymouth, as he had a’ good many years left in which to battle along as lie had tried to do in the past. At St. Mary’s Church a series of presentations was made to Mr Skinner and family. The Vicar presented Mr Skinner with an illuminated address, signed by the Vestry and many of the congregation.

Mr Shaw, in presenting Mr Skinner with a beautiful oak cabinet, also referred at some length to the many good actions that had been performed by Mr Skinner. Ho was responsible for the enlargement of the church, and had also carried out the task ol collecting all tho data necessary for the memorial hatchments in the church.

Mrs Skinner was also presented with a case containing half a dozen dessert knives and forks, half a dozen fish knives and forks, and a set of fish carvers. The cover of the case boro this inscription, “Presented to Mrs \V. H .Skinner, from St. Mary’s congregation; Aug. 21, 1911.” The blisses Skinner were each presented with gold bracelets, with watch attachments, and the Rev. Mr "Wilkinson asked Mrs Skinner to convey to Mr H. I). Skinner a pair of 15 carat gold sleeve links, for the never failing assistance ho had rendered to the C.E.M.S.