CAPTAIN HODGE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 467, 30 April 1890, Page 6

CAPTAIN HODGE.

FAREWELL PRESENTATIONS. (FROM our own correspondent.) Coromandel, April 19. A very pleasing ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon at the Kapanga mine, when Captain Hodge, who is leaving for England, was presented with a handsome gold watch by his employees in the Kapanga and Coromandel Companies’ mines, as a mark of their respect. About sixty of the men were present, and the timepiece was presented on their behalf by Mr Noah Clymo, the underground boss of the Kapanga mine, who made a few appropriate remarks, to which Captain Hodge suitably replied before formally handing over the control of the two mines to his successor, Captain Argali. Three cheers wore then given for Captain Hodge, and the men resumed work.

During his short stay in Coromandel Captain Hodge seems to have made himself very popular, and lastnight an entertainment was given on behalf of the School of Mines, at which an illuminated address was presented to Captain Hodge by the Committee, expressing their thanks for his exertions as President of the School during the past two years. The presentation was made by Mr J. D. Colebrook, the senior Vice-Presi-dent, and the following is a copy of it:— “To Captain Hodge, President Coromandel School of Mines. Dear Sir, —On the eve of your departure from New Zealand for the shores of Old England, the Committee of the above institution, of which you are the executive officer, feel it incumbent on them to express their appreciation of the great interest you have always evinced in matters pertaining to mining, particularly as regards the work of the School of Mines, and for the encouragement offered to the students of the institution by the fact of your so liberally providing prizes on diffei'enb occasions, which have had a marked effect on the well-being of the school and on the advancement of those attending the classes in connection therewith. We trust that you and Mrs Hodge may have a pleasant and speedy voyage home, and that at no distant date we may have the pleasure of welcoming you in our midsb again. We hope wherever your lob may be cast, that health and prosperity may attend you and yours. Signed by the vice-presi-dents, Committee, auditors, hon. secretary and treasurer of the School of Mines. Coromandel, New Zealand, April 21st, 1890.”

At the conclusion of the foregoing Mr Cadman, M.H.R., then formally presented Captain Hodge with a beautifully illuminated and framed address on behalf of the business people and residents of Coromandel generally,and also a brooch for Mrs Hodge. The centre piece of the brooch contains a handsome piece of golden quartz, obtained from Mr Vizard’s claim at the Tiki, and nicely polished. The following is the inscription on the address:—

“ Captain Francis Hodge. Dear sir,— On the occasion of your leaving Coromandel we are desirous of expressing our opinion of the signal success which has attended your exertions in the Kapanga Company’s mine, and we trust the time is not far distant when a similar, if not better result, will obtain to the Coromandel Company. Having identified yourself with the mining interests of the district, more especially by the encouragement you have afforded tho young people in our School of Mines during the time you have resided in Coromandel, we feel that we are about to loss a useful citizen, bub we entertain the hope that your experience of our district, its climate and its vast mineral resources awaiting development, may in the course of time lead you, not only to venture among us again, but also to induce others who are interested in mining affairs in the 4 Old Country’ to visit and inspect our gold fields for themselves. We feel confident that if English companies, in appointing their managers, were to choose only gentlemen of practical experience like yourself, there would be less complaint of loss of capital on their part together with cerresponding mistrust of our mineral wealth, which generally attends an unsuccessful venture. We request your acceptance of the accompanying brooch, containing a sample of golden quartz obtainable in Coromandel, as a small ‘souvenir’ for Mrs Hodge. Trusting that where’er your lines may be cast in the future neither Mrs Hodge nor yourself will ever have cause to regret your sojourn with us in Coromandel.” 50 signatures are appended. Captain Hodge also distributed the prizes he had promised some time back to the successful pupils of the School of Mines. There was a very large and enthusiastic attendance, and the proceeds of the entertainment will be a good lift to our little school here.

The entertainment concluded with a farce, in which MisH Gatland received great applause for the excellent way in which she personated Penelope, a servant girl.