PRESENTATION TO EDWARD WAKEFIELD, ESQ.

Temuka Leader, Issue 923, 4 March 1882, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO EDWARD WAKEFIELD, ESQ.

An exceedingly interesting and pleasing ceremony took place in the Yolunteor Hall yesterday afternoon, when E. Wakefield Esq., late Member of the House of Representatives for this district was presented bv his friends and political supporters with an address and testimonial in recognition of his services during the time that he represented the district. The address was beautifully framed and illuminated, by Mr Goodman, a clerk in Mr Thomas’s office, Christchurch, The testimonial consisted of one dozen table spoons, one dozen desert spoons, one dozen tea spoons, one dozen table forks, one dozen desert forks, and four salt cellars, all of sterfing silver, and bearing Mr Wakefield’s crest, Besides this a gold bracelet was presented to Mrs Wakefield, and the Waverley Novels and a splendid edition of Shakespere to Master Wakefield for himself and his brother. The presentation was conducted in a manner that reflected great credit on Mr Cox who appeared bo be the leading spirit in the affair. The whole ceremony was characterised by excellent taste and good sense, not even a reference being made in the remotest degree to any difference of opinion as regarded party politics in the past, and there is no doubt but that it has added greatly to the popularity of Mr Wakefield. There was a large attendance and the enthusiasm with which they entered into the spirit of the ceremony was manifested in frequent bursts of applause. Besides the recipients of the testimonials, several ladies were on the platform, and also in the body of the hall.

Mr Oox, on coming forward, was received with applause, and the appearance of Mr, Mrs, and Master Wakefield on the platform was the signal for great cheering, again and again renewed for several minutes. As soon as the cheering subsided, Mr Cox said that he had been honored by a considerable number of the friends and political supporters of Mr Wakefield requesting him to present to him an address and testimonial expressive of their good ishesw towards him, and also of their confidence. He did not intend to say many words. Mr Watefield came amongst them nearly six years ago, and was then almost unknown to them, but since then they had experience of him, and he would say that ho fully realised their expectations. He would ask him to accept the testimonial, which he had been deputed to present, and would read the

address. Mr Cox then read the address which was as follows : “To Edward Wakefield, Esq, “We the undersigned, Electors of Q-eraldine, desire on the present occasion to show our hearty appreciation of your political labors during the period that you have filled the honorable and responsible position of a representative of the people. “It is now some six years since you were first elected our Representative in Parliament, during which time very many and important questions of policy have been discussed and dealt with by the Legislature. “We have watched with attention and interest your Parliamentary career ; have been duly impressed by your personal and political independence, and without reserve are ready to acknowledge that the part you individually have performed in the important woi-k of Legislation has been throughout characterised by unusual energy, ability and eloquence. “ Further, we recoguise in you one who has ever striven to realise that a representative in the Parliament of the Colony owes a first duty to the Colony—to the public at large. Wo also have good reason for saying that no question, or interest needing legislation, has been neglected by you. “We notice with very great satisfaction judging by your speeches in and out of Parliament, that you attach due importance to the passing of a more complete measure establishing Local Government, which we shall ever regard as an essential feature in the Constitution of this Colony. “We sincerely hope that you may live to take an active part in the final settlement of so important a measure. “We now desire your acceptance of the accompanying token of our esteem and eon. fidenee, and in conveying to you our good wishes we desire to place on record the expression of our hope that ere long you may again be numbered amongst our represenatives in Parliament.” The reading of the address was interrupted frequently by loud applause. Mr Cox next addressed Mrs Wakefieldand said with your permission, lady, I have to present to you a token of the esteem in which you are held. Those who signed the address are desirous of showing their good feeling towards you, and have deputed me to present to you this (gold bracelet) as a mark of their regard for you, and in recognition of the interest you have taken in the political well-being of your husband. Men may be strong enough to walk alone in the political pathway, but depend upon it a man is always the better for having a wife who is ever thinking of him, who never loses heart at his failures, who rejoices at his successes. You have faith in your husband, lady, and while you have faith in your husband, you have faith in representative institutions, Mr Cox then placed a massive gold bracelet on Mrs Wakefield’s wrist amidst great applause.

Mr Cox next addressed Muster Wakefield and said that those who made the presentation were desirous of giving him and his brother a present also. They were too young yet to fully realise the nature of the presentation, but he hoped the day would come when they (the Masters Wakefield) would wake up to understand it. He wished him (Master Wakefield) to understand that he was getting these books because he was the son of his father, and he hoped he would never forget the Occasion.

One of the books was then given by Mr Cox to Master Wakefield amidst great cheering, Mr Wakefield then came forward, amidst deafening cheers, and said that]a man who launches out in politics must expect to meet with a good deal of buffetting and failures. A public man may have many faults, but no ene knows ins failings better than himself, and consequently he may expect to meet with reverses and disapointments. But there were times when these annoyances were compensated for by the manifestation of good feelings, and he felt that the present occasion was one of these. When he stood there and saw so many kind friends present that evening to express their satisfaction with his past political career, ho felt that his efforts had not been in vain, and it compensated him for disappointments which he may have met with. He was out of politics at present, and intended to enjoy his holiday, and would not therefore refer to any political question. But though he was out of politics he would still do his duty as a citizen, and watch carefully the public events as they oocured,as it behoved every colonist to do. He thanked them very sincerely for the address, and for the terms in which it was couched. Better language or belter taste could not be suggested than that in the address. He thanked them for the reference made to his own actions and for the delicacy with which all reference to the political strife of the last election was omitted. He hoped it was all forgotten by this. He accepted their address and testimonial heartily, as it showed him that it was an expression of theirjapproval of his political career. He thanked them for the kindness with whieh they had always treated him. There had always been a bond of union between himself and his friends in Temuka, and he felt now that it would never be severed. He had not abandoned all hopes of distinguishing himself in the politics of the colony yet. He was not a political wreck, but a barque taken into dock to be refitted up for launching forth again with the first favorable winds. (Great cheering*) He had now to speak

on a subject which touched him more than what referred to himself, mid that was the presen ation to his wife and children. Mr Cox W'S qmte right in saying that a man could have no better supporter 'to guide and direct him than a good wife. He believed he could never have gone on so well only for having a wife who cheered him, and encouraged him when he was doing right, and was not backward in giving him warning when he was wrong. He would assure them that Mrs Wakefield fully appreciated the honor they had done her, and would esteem the presentation which they were good enough to give her. If anything could have added to the pleasure which he felt in being the recipient of so much kindness, it would be the presentation made to his boys. He hoped to see the boy who was present yet occupying a seat iu the Parliament of the Colony (great cheering) making himself useful, and a much better man than his father. He had brought him with him that day r not expecting that he would be the recipient of a presentation also, but in order that he might be present, and see what took place He would take care that as he grew up he would fully understand the nature of the presentation, and teach him that a bond of union existed between himself and his friends in Temuka. He believed the boy understood very well what was going on. He was very fond of books, and he knew very well that he had received something that was good for him. In conclusion he would thank them once more for the address, and for the kind words in which it was couched, and would assure them that he would never forget his kind friends in Temuka. (Great cheering.) Mr Cox next called for three cheers for Mrs Wakefield, which was enthusiastically responded to The liev, Mr Barclay said he had a pleasant duty to perform. He was sure they all were satisfied in hearing the well known eloquence of Mr Wakefield, but they would be neglecting their duty if they were to separate without passing a vote of thanks to Mr Cox who had made the presentation. He believed that no one in the district was fitter to make the presentation than Mr Cox. He was the first representative of the district, in fact he was the father of their representatives, and therefore there was no one who was better entitled than he was for making the presentation. He believed Mr Wakefield thoroughly deserved the presentation that was given to him, if it was not for any tiling else but the gentlemanly manner in which he conducted the late election. He believed he stood 50 per cent better with the people of the district now titan he ever did before (great cheering), and he hoped they would soon again see hi in-in Parliament. He had been recently in Christchurch and met two gentlemen from Wellington there, who expressed great regret at the absence of Mr Wakefield from the House. They said it was a pleasure to hear him speak in the House, not so much for his oratory as for being a sound thinker and a political student. (Great cheering). He would now conclude by moving a vote of thanks to Mr Cox.

Mr Cox having briefly acknowl dged the compliment, the proceedings cams to a close with three cheers for Mr, Mrs, and Master Wakefield.