PRESENTATION TO MR R. COCK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8108, 12 May 1906, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR R. COCK.

FOR PUBLIC SERVICES RENDERED.

A representative gathering of burgesses attended at the Town Hall ori Friday afternoon for the purpose of presenting to the late Mayor, Mr R. Cook, a very handsome illuminated address, subscribed and signed by 108 burgesses of New Plymouth. The Mayor, Mr E. Dockrill, presided.

Mr J. S. S. Medley, the initiator of the movement, asked Mr F T. Bellringer, Town Clerk, to read the address, which was couched in yery flattering terms.

The address was bound in morocco, aud the inscription and general appearance were admirable indeed.

His Worship the Mayor made the presentation. He said lie felt greatly honored at being asked to perform this duty. The position just vacated by Mr Cock was the highest it was in the power of the burgesses to bestow, and this lasting mement > of the esteem in which he was hold by his fellow citizens' would doubtless be a valued treasure, and an heirloom to hand down to future generations, as an evidence of the regard in which Mr Cock was held by the oitizens amongst whom he had lived and worked. All knew ho» the late Mayor always threw himself, heart and soul, into his work, and into any movement having for its object the advancement of New Plymouth. Witk the other signatories, he hoped that good health would be restored to the Mayor in a short time. He referred to the very amiable and hearty manner in which Mrs Cock had assisted the retiring Mayor in the social duties devolving upon her as Mayoress. Those who had worked with Mrs Cock were full of praise of the very pleasant, yet earnest manner in which she had performed hor duties. Mr Dockrill concluded: " I personally, and on behalf of those who have signed this address, hope that you and Mrs Cock may live long to enjoy the good opinion and the very good feeling of those amongst whom you have liyed all your life. (Applause.) Mr Cock, in rising to reply, was evidently much affected by the manner of the presentation. He thanked them all for the kind sentiments exDressed in the address, and His Worship the Mayor for his personal kind references. He said he hid been born in Taranaki, and lived here al! his life, having never been beyond New Zealand. It was natural, then, that he should be heart and soul interested in New Plymouth and its welfare. Mr Cock gave it as his opinion that people really interested in the advancement of a district, from a public point of view, generally found time to take a share of the work on public bodies. He mentioned his seryices given as chairman of the New Plymouth Recreation Grounds Board and the New Plymouth Harbor Board, m tact, he believed he had been chairman or trustee of nearly every society in the town. (Applauso). Whilst he found himself compelled to retire from some of these positions, he would be always ready to help the people in any way that lay in his power. (Applause). Of course, he had at times " trodden on people's toes" and on the toes ot his nearest friends, but he had never shirked his duty to the community He had been trying for some time to persuade the Government to let the Borough Council see the railway deviation plans, so that they could see what width the overhead traffic bridges were to be. Narrow ones would be useless —they must be the full length of the streets. Ho thanked them for the kindly references to Mrs Cock, and stated that he and the late Mayoress had done all they could to carry out properly any entertainment of visitors that fell to their lot, without allowing any monetary consideration to stand in the way. It was now necessary that Mrs Cock should have a rest and a trip for the purpose of restoring her health. Then, if at any time the public needed his assistance, he would be with them. In conclusion, he thanked Mr Medley and the Mayor for their kindness, and proposed a yote of thanks to Mr Dockrill for presiding •' 1 The gathering then dispersed.