Presentation.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 95, 22 December 1913, Page 5

Presentation.

W. MORANT BAYLY.

A REPRESENTATIVE CATHERINC.

The Mayor (Alt' W. P. Kirkwood) presided over a highly representative gathering at the Borough Council Chambers on Saturday afternoon, on the occasion of the presentation to Mr YV. Morant Bayly. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. B .Hine, MP., W. L. Kennedy, A. Corkill, W. (i. Malone, Joseph Itoo son and Father Treaey.

The Mayor, in his opening remarks, said it was; the history of all towns that old residents left the town and were replaced by newcomers, and while the newcomers were given a good welcome the old residents were parted with with regret. L'p to a lew minutes previously he had been under the im

pression that Mr Bayly intended to leave the town, but he was now able to announce that Mr Bayly had purchased a business in Stratford and would remain among them. (Applause). During the nineteen years he had been in Stratford he had made a great many frineds, and he (the •speaker) was sure all those would join with him in regretting Mr Bayly's severance of his connection with the. bank. The presentation would comprise a handsome illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns. He thought MiBayly deserved anything that might he done. By his cheery and genial manner he had made himself very popular..

The Mayor then read the text of the address, as follows : "On your retirement from the 'National Bank after a continuous service of 29 years, during 19 years of which you have occupied the position of manager of the Stratford branch, we desire on behalf of the customers of the bank and the residents in the surroundings country districts, to testify to l'hC affectionate regard and the high

osteem "ViV-ft'hich you are so deservedly and universal held by all sections of the community. During the many years that you have resided amongst us both you and Mrs Bayly have-been

always to the fore in assisting ah} serving object and in social and cou

mercial circles the people, of .Stratford will ever remember you with feelings of deep gratitude for the many services rendered to them. Both in your official and private capacities you have .been uniformly courteous and obliging and your zeal for the institution you have served'so'fong and faithfully lias not only led'- to K*oUr building up'one'of tike largest and-most successful banking businesses in Taninaki, but has also materially assisted in the advancement and-development of this progressive town and district and the industries upon which it so materially depends. >W\ trust tlmt, .yiMt.aud 3M rs Bayly will have long life, happiness and prosperity wrerever you may go, and we again beg to assure you that you will cany away with you the best wishes and kindliest feelings of the people amongst vkom yptijjave, &°lWg resided." The' address was signed by Messrs W. P. Kirkwood (Mayor of Stratford), W.'Hathaway (chairman of the Stratford County Council), A. Meredith (chairman of the Whanga? inomona County Council), J. B. Richards (president of the Chamber of Commerce), J. I). Healy (president of the A. and P. Association). 11. Dingle (Stratford Co-operative Hairy Co), \V. Richards (Cardiff Co-operative Dairy Co.), E. A. Gray (Lowgarth Cooperative Dairy Co.), and J. B. Hine (MP. for Stratford).

Continuing his remarks, Mr Kirkwood said he need hardly enlarge on the terms of the address. He was sure the terms of it had the endorsement of all who were connected with the presentation. Addressing .Mr Bayly, Mr Kirkwood asked his acceptance of the gifts, and on behalf of the residents of Stratford wished him long life and prosperity.

Mr Hathaway said Mr Bayly had been a true friend to him. Mr Bayly had been to him financial adviser, lawyer, and sometimes apothecary. fn all emergencies he had gone to Mr Bayly. I It was very probable that he (thespeaker) Jiad cheated the lawyers of Stratford; and Dr. Paget. (Laughter). After Mr Joseph Mackay left the district he (Mr Hathaway) was elected chairman of the old Manganui Road Board, and then he was brought into contact with Mr Bayly in. connection with public business. Any troubles which arose Mr Bayly always quickly smoothed over. In his private business lie had dealt only with the National Bank. Mr Bayly was a friewl of bis, lint he ''the speaker) did not make friends very quickly, in 1896, alter bis return from the Old Country, he found Mr Bayly in charge of the bank, and .since then he had found him a most sincere friend.

Joseph Thomas said it was silch as he—people who were always hard up and in need of a few pounds—who could properly testify to the worth of Mr Bayly. He desired to add his tribute to Mr Bayly's good-heartedness.

Mr T. C. Fookes said that as probably the oldest Friend of Mr Bayly's in the room he desired to say a few words. He had known Mr Bayly for twenty-nine years. Twenty-nine years ago Mr Bayly was on "exchange" for the .National Bank in Wanganui and ho (the spenkcnwas in an office there also, and they met daily for the space of six years. Subsequently he (Mr Fookes) came to Stratford, and ho was very glad to see Mr Bayly again, and their friendship had become the better cemented the longer he had known Mr Bayly. He ami Mrs Fookes had to thank Mr and Mrs Bayly for a great many kindnesses. He could testify to the good work Mr Bayly had done for the hank. The big business now done by tL* bank wa« ixeellent testimony •to

the hard work Mr Bayly had done for the bank. He was courtesy itself, and at no time was anything too much trouble for him. Even after the bank was closed for .the day be would do lanything at all in the way of business. He had not spared himself and had probably worn himself out by his efforts for the bank. He had well earned his retirement and leisure. "Whatever he takes up," Mr Fookes concluded, "I hope it will prosper him and 1 hope Stratford will have him for a citizen for a great many years to come."

Mr W. Richards made a few remarks jas representing the Cardiff Dairy Co., which, he said, was the first factory in I New Zealand to start business on the '■ co-operative basis. The Dairy Co. had Lfllways. found Mr Bayly painstaking anr! conscientious in the management of fhe comp ; w:'s affairs. Personally he dealt with thenar^"— }& believed he was one of the bank's fir&r&Hents in

Stratford, in the first place the ban started business in a small buildi.n

about ten by eight, situated near the bridge. Mr ' BaylVihad done a great deal to further the prosperity of the district.

Dr. Paget said that as a. very old personal friend of 'Mi- Bayly he could riot let that occasion pass without placing on record his great regard for him. As friends of Mr Bayly they could congratulate him on entering a business in which his abilities would have more scope. If he took into that busiuess the energy and enterprise he had displayed in the affairs of the bank when the business'had to be built up from 'the beginning, he would succeed completely. (Applause).

Mr A. Meredith said that he also was one of the bank's earliest customers, and could testify to Mr Bayly's unfailing courtesy. On behalf of the residents of Whangamomona County he wished Mr Bayly long life and prosperity.

Mr J. B. Richards said the present business of the bank was a monument to Mr Bayly's energy, foresight and business capacity. The circulation in the veins of wealth must be somewhat like the circulation of blood in the veins of the human body, and it followed, therefore, that those men who looked after financial business must be particularly capable and particularly attentive. The business of the bank was aniple testimony that Mr Bayly had exercised great ability and attention to business. He was firmly convinced that Mr Bayly would carry these qualities into the business which he was pleased to learn he had acquired; and he hoped his old friends and old clients of the bank would give him a full opportunity to display those abilities to their fullest extent.

Mr George Calvert, Strathmore, saici that Mr Bayly had always been kind and obliging in his case. Often he had taken such action as enabled him (the speaker) to deal leniently with clients of his, whom, otherwise, he would have had, at certain times, to press for payment of accounts.

Mr Bayly was loudly applauded on rising to respond. He returned thanks for the handsome presentation and for the many kind expressions of regard. The presentation came as a surprise—lie did not expect it as a result of anything he had done for the bank. He bad merely done his duty to the bank. He had always tried to do the best he could for the bank and for the clients

lof the bank. His reward lay in the present good connection of the bank. The National Bank bad been called "the poor man's bank." The experience in Stratford bad shown it to be 'such, and he bad always striven to 'keep it so. He opened the bank single-handed on December 18th, IS9-I, in Mr Newton King's building, having one small room with a shop window. The business then was very small, but it had steadily grown. Twelve months iafter opening a junior was sent up to assist him. The present site was acquired in February, 1897, and the building had been added to as the business requirements demanded. He had often been asked to take part in public affairs, but he had always re-

fused, in order to keep himself Tree to do his duty to the bank; but every 'public movement he had helped quietly. He concluded by announcing that he had purchased Mr W. H. H. lYonng's business. Negotiations, lie said, had just been concluded that day. Tha Catherine then broke ni> with i » ™ heartv cheers foj Mr and Mrs Bajly. I