VALEDICTORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 55, 29 October 1912, Page 5

VALEDICTORY.

TO MR. JOHN LEYDON. An evening of the most cordial nature was spent last night in tne diningroom of the Stratford Hotel, when tne stall of Stratford’s popular furniture warehouse, and a number of personal friends, assembled to bid rare well to Mr. .Joou Leydon, ana success to the incoming propi ietor, Mr. Garret Id. Wilson. After doing justice to cue of Host Abbott’s farramed dinners, a snort toast list was gone through. The toast of “The King,” proposed by the Chairman (.Mr Sioney Cmrk), was first duly honoured.

In proposing the health of tire guest of the evening, Mr Clark said some of them had known Mr. Leydon ror very many /years. It was a most unfortunate accident widen nad practically incapacitated from active uusiness * life, enough intellectually ana physically Mr. Gordon was as strong to-day as lie was in the past. (Applause.) Mr. Leydon’s business was a growing one. Six or seven years ago the staff was small, but now it ran into a dozen, hi the near future, lie trusted it would exceed even twice that number, for , Stratford was a growing town, and there was nothing to hinder the place from becoming tm. centre of Taranaki in more senses than one. Again referring to tne I guest of the evening, Mr Clark congratulated Mr. Leydon on having long ago passed three score and ten years, and having yet retained all nu. iaculues unimpaired. (.Hear, hear.) U spoke Very well for Air. Leyaon as a man. The staff, continued tne speaker, could not very well Jet the occasion pass without presenting Mr. Leydon with some small token of tat respect in which they held their late employer, and Air. Clark then askea Mr. Leydon to accept a gold alnerc chain, at the same time accompanying the gift with every good wish for future Health, happiness, and prosperity. Mr C. D. Sole, in supplementing the Chairman’s remarks, said Mr. Gordon was one of the whitest men, with whom he had ever had to deal, and their business connections had always been everything that was peasant. “Old John”—and he used the term in no sense of disrespect—would be missed perhaps more than any man in Stratford. He congratulated Mr. Leydon on a wonderful recovery from an accident, which the doctors had thought would keep aim in hospital for the rest of his days, find trusted that his health would long continue unimpaired, and that prosperity would attend him' in his removal to Auckland. (Applause.) Mr, Leydon, in response, said the evening was full of many sad thoughts so far as ho personally was concerned. Eleven or tweive years ago he had come to Stratford, not exactly a millionaire, and now ho was quite satisfied, that ho had done fairly well. The remarks of Mr. Sole and Mr. Clark had made him feel very sorry to leave Stratford, and the men who had so loyally helped him, and lie trusted sincerely emit his successor would get along as well as he had done. Mr. Leydon continued, amidst laughter, to refer to the difficulties under which lie had laboured, in knowing nothing of the technical side of the business upon which he had ventured. He had nad good times, bad times, and other times. This they would understand from the fact that while he was in Stratford, no less than nine tradesmen in the furniture lino iiad become insolvent, and the fact that then 1 stock had been dumped on the market, had made it hard for him to live. Still, he had pulled through all right. (Applause.) Mr. Leydon went on to refer in very flattering terms to Stratford as a town, assuring his hearers that there was no place like it in New Zealand for giving promise of a solid and prosperous future. Although he was going to Auckland, he intended to pay frequent visits to Taranaki’s central town. Referring to Mr. Garret F. Wilson, he said he knew that gentleman to lie a careful industrious man, and felt sure that in his hands the business would be well conducted.' In conclusion, he thanked the staff for their handsome present, and wished them one and all prosperous futures. The toast of the incoming proprietor was entrusted to Mr. Joseph McCluggage, who said he had known Mr. Wilson for very many years, and knew him for a thoroughly honest man, and a man whose word was as good as his bond. It was indeed pleasing to think that the business was going into the hands of a Stratford man, and a man whom they all knew and respected. Mr. Me Clue'gage continued that few people realised the immense amount of good that would accrue to Taranaki from the completion of the Stratford-Ongarue railway, and the improvements to the Now Plymouth Harbour. From these, no town would benefit more than Stratford, along the East Road they had practically another Taranaki, thought as yet it was undeveloped, and the whole of that consequent trade must come this way. By the time the railway was completed Moturoa Harbour would he in a position to berth the largest boats coming to New Zealand. The steamers would land merchandise, and they would take away our exports—coal, iron, oil, butter, cheese, to name but a few. When that time arrived the farmers and business people in Taranaki would be on a very good wicket, indeed. , Peeping into the future, he would say that the harbour of Now Plymouth would be the first port of call for the English mails. What did that mean? It meant that the present route from Sydney would he shortened by one hundred miles; it meant a two and a half day trip from Sydney. Thousands and thousands of tourists would come to Taranaki. They would come to Stratford, as the base from which they could host visit the Mountain, and it was convenient for a trip to the Tangarakau Gorge. Ho had seen most of the gorges of New Zealand, hut had come across nothing in the Dominion to compare with it. Tourists could then proceed to the Wanganui River, going up to Taumarunni or down to Wanganui. All this meant foreign capital, and that was the thing they wanted. (Applause.) Mr. Wilson, replying, said it would not be his fault if everything did not go as smoothly as it had done with Mr. Leydon. He wished that gentleman success wherever he might go, and thanked those present for their kindness to himself. (Applause.) Mr. C. D. Solo, in proposing the toast of “Success to the Firm.” referred to the manner in which Mr. Wilson had conducted his stable business. Mr. Wilson was one of those few stahlekeopers who, at a moment’s notice, could produce, when it was asked for, a detailed account. His business, in fact, at the County Stables had been one of the hesj conducted in Stratford. With regard to the new business, Mr. Wilson was fortunate in having the services of such a capable man as Mr. Clark, Ho wished the new linn every success. Mr. Wilson hrieflly responded.

Mr. Leyden proposed “The Staff.” and referred especially to the energetic and capable services of Mr. Sidney Ciar.

Messrs. McMillan and Tiehbon, on behalf of the stall', replied. The toasts of “J ho Ladies,” “The Press,” ami “•The Chairman” were also duly honoured.