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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 318, 8 January 1909, Page 4

respeowi by the life. Church, ot the groat lie had felt that this present was to lie had no difficulty in underthe parishioners' appreciation the ia*v. Coivile, for lie himself had warmly appreciated his services, lie had been asked to say to Mr. Coivile that this was not a present from the church officials, hut Itoui the parishioners. and that they hoped he was not leaving them "for good." They desired also to present liim with a return ticket to Auckland, to ensure his coming hack to see them. (Laughter.) The procuring of the preseat had been such a hurried ail'air that they had not been j able to have an inscribed plate affixed, but it was Imped that Mr. Coivile would have this done upon his arrival in Auckland, where he would also be given a list of those who subscribed towards tincost. The speaker again stated his pleasure at this expression of appreciation, and hoped that it would so impress itself upon the recipient as to make him very eager to come back to New Plymouth from time to time. Mr. \Y. D. Webster then handed to the Rev. C'olvile a very handsome and complete dressing-case and travellingrug. trusting that the gifts would serve to remind him of. his friends in New Plymouth. Mr. Webster also expressed the hope that they would from time to time have the pleasure of hearing their departing friend preach here again. (Applause.)

The Kev. Coivile. in replying, said it was always a painful pleasure to ha\e to return thanks for a gift in the shape of a testimonial, because the pleasure of receiving was greatly mollified by the pain of parting, which was the actual reason for the gift, lie felt Hie greatest pain in leaving New Plymouth. Ever since lie came here, a stranger in a

strange laud, he had experienced the] utmost kindness ami hospitality from everyone. He especially mentioned the kindnesses received at the hands of the vicar. His stay in New Plymouth had been three short months of the greatest pleasure, and this present, lie thought, was made more as a continuance of the people's, great kindness to him than on account of anything he had done to deserve it. (Voices! "No.") lie cnuld assure them that he would always greatly value the gift and the list which .he was to receive of those who had contributed; but more than all lie would value that return ticket. It would ever be in his mind. and. (I«d willing, he would be willing, to come back whenever he be asked. As a stranger in their lnuM from a strange country, he keenly felt the warm welcome, the continued kindness, and the Iwcking-up he had received in New Plymouth. Never in his wildest moments of* enthusiasm had he thought of such a great reception, such a great start-off. or such a great send-off as he had had. and whatever happened during his slay in New Zealand, he would never forget the first three months, which had given him such a .grand start-oil'. It. was. perhaps, superfluous to remind hi- hejirers that he and the other Englishmen came out here to help the work of the church. They didn't come in a superior sort of way to show the colonials how things ought to be done—far from it. ile would be ashamed of himself, his country, and his fellow-clergymen if that were the. case. They came out here to learn, as well as to teach. The lirst thought in his mind when he left Home, and since, was that he was here to learn: „UUgPt new-ideas; tu *ee the way a different set of people looked at the things they had been accustomed to for ages; to get out of a groove: to broaden the mind and thought. In England they were apt to run to one typo and to become too clerical. Out here it was possible to (become to some extent secularised, so to speak, and it was a . good tiling. Unles- a man were a fool 1 he must learn something during his stay in a new country, and he trusted that by Cod's help he had learned something here that would he a source of increased power to him in his teaching and preaching. He -did not want them to 1 think him "too pulpity/' but he would like to say that, after all. in every department of life, the thing was greater j than the man. So with religion. It was not fair to rely on one's person- I alitv. although personality and popu- ! larity were undoubtedly a help. But religion was greater than the man. Ihe Hew F. (J. Evans. i;i a few further words, remarked that the Kev. Colvile's father hqd been one of his besi , friends when iii England many years ago. and it was remarkable that when 'ill-health compelled him to a>k for assistance. Jie should be given the aid of the son of his old friend. Mr. Stanley Shaw moved that the thanks of the meeting, on behalf of the parishioners, he tendered to Messrs. \Y. 1). Webster and C. E. Raker for having taken the initiative in this ail'air. and thus giving the parishioners an opportunity of testifying in this small degree to their appreciation of and regard for the Kev. Coivile, He was expressing n very general desire when he hoped that he would come back to New Plymouth later on. Mr. Webster briefly returned thanks.