FAREWELL DINNER TO MR E. J. S. ECKFORD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1518, 12 June 1886, Page 2

FAREWELL DINNER TO MR E. J. S. ECKFORD.

On Wednesday evening a number of friends of Mr £. J. S. Eckford, Manager of the Bank New Sonth Wales, Temnka,, entertained him at a farewell dinner previous to his departure to take charge of the Blenheim branch of that Bank. The dinner was entrusted to Mr Taylor, of the Qeraldine Hotel, and was served in his very best style. About 50 persons sat down. Mr W. Postlethwaita occupied the chair, and on his right was the guest of the evening. Dr Fish occupied the—-rice-chair. Several gentlemen from Teinnka and Timaru were among those present. Letters were received from Mr Tworaey and Mr McSbane, apologising for not being able to attend. After the substantial dinner had been well diacissed the Chairman proposed tha toast of “ The Queen, the Prince of Waits, sod the Royal Family," which was enthusiast!* cally responded to. The Vice-Chairman proposed the toast of “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers.” It was a subject he would like to talk about, but if he did so ha would be entting the ground from under the feet of the gentlemen who had to respond. For bis part he was proud of the Qeraldine, Terauk*, and Timaru volunteers, and be was certain that if the day ever did come when they would be wanted for aotive service, it would he seen that they would do their duty. He coupled the toast with the names of Dr Maclntyre and Mr R. H. Pearpoint. ' Dr Mclntyre stated that it afforded him great pleasure to bo present that evening, and to have an opportunity to say “ Good-bye ” to their old friend, Mr Eckford. He was a gentleman they could ill afford to lose, but in saying “ Good-bye he wae pleaded to bays to congratulate him on his promotion, {|a was proud to respond to the toast of the volunteers, as he was sure that if eyer they were needed they would not disgrace their colors. .

Mr Pearpoint felt a little diffidence in replying to the toast of “The Yolun* tears,” ss he was only a yoang member himself. He was sure, however, that if ever the volunteers were called upon they would do their best (or their Goan*

try. Anybody -.must ■ know that volunteers had lo give up a good deal of their time to become efficient. He was pleased to be able to point to the manner in which the Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand forces, had spoken of the volunteers at the late encampment »t Oamaru. The Chairman stated that the next tor at he had to propoao.was one of very great importance that evening, viz., “The Health and Prosperity of the Gneat of the Evening,” (Applause). Mr Eckford had coir been among them for over seven ye<.rs, and during that time had made maay. friends. They might rest assured that friendship was pot gained without a man doing something to deserve it, sad Mr Eckford. had done a great deal for all parties in. that district. Hr Eckford had been a good good friend to many in this way Very often in past yesrs when money was plentiful, the Bsnks urged people to take up money, which they did not know' what to Jo with, and when the pinch came they had had to dis<.‘"ige it at. a sacrifice. Mr Eckford had never done this. When clients had gone to him he had given them the beat advice that lay in his power. He never urged them to take up loans which would cripple them bye and bye. He had in fact acted the part of a friend in every sense.of the word. He bad not only helped the members of the commanity, but every work of progress in the district always found in.him one ot Its best supporters, T He (the Chairman) did not know of anyone who had done more to advance the 'agricultural and pastoral interests of . the district. He was now going away, ■ but one great satisfaction was that ;it was a step of promotion, and be was. worthy of it. (Loud applause). He would now a*k them to drink the toast in the manner which it deserved. The tests was drunk amidst great •otbusiasm and musical honors. Mr Hawkins sang “Tonight we’ll merry be." Mr Eckford, in replying to the toast, said be sincerely thanked them for the manner in which the toast had been received. He hardly thought be deserved all the praise that bad been mentioned. He had only done his duty as a banker. The policy of his Bank was, as they knew, a policy of great liberality to the, farming community. He did not think anyone present could mention an instance of the Bank in that district pushing them. Sometimes he had te 'perform a duty which was not a pleasant on*; He would like to express the indebtedness he felt to several gentlemen in that district. He had received many kindnesses from them all, and although going far away he should always look back with pleasure to his many pleasant days in Geraldine. He wished them all “ Good-bye, ” and hopsd that if be shonld come back to Geraldine be would find tbsra all in greater prosperity than ever. (Continued applause.) Mr Tosswill proposed ‘.‘The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests.” This, he thought, was a very important toast, aa these interests were, in bis opinion, the backbone of the colony. ■ He did not know sufficient of these interests to speak on them, aa be way only a lawyer, but he could tell them that the interests of the lawyers depended upon the .prosperity of the farmers. He had great pleasure in proposing ttie toast, coupled with the names of Messrs B. H. Posllethwaite, A. Allen, find J. Kelland.' Mr B. H. Posllethwaite expressed his sincere thanks for the way in which the toast had been received. They all knew the hard times the farmers hid had to pass through, but he trusted that now they bad reached the bottom, and were upon an npwnrd move. He thought the only thing was for the farmers to stick together, and to work hard to-remove the depression. He believed they were now on an upward move, and he. hoped if ever he had to reply again to the. same toast he would be able to say they Were out of the bole, and on a fair way to prosperity, Mr A. Allen said be did not' think the depression had been very severe, and if all put their shoulders to the wheel they would be able to get along. In the absence of Mr Holland, Mr Levis responded. As the . others had said the times were hard, and it necessi-

tated a‘struggle to get through, but if a T man were willing to work, and work bard, he thought he could pay 20s in the £ pound yet. It was no use people getting down hearted and giving in ; they must try to make it pay. Mr Cox gave a song. Mr Bartrum proposed '‘ Trade and .Commerce,” coupled with the nhmes of Mr Pesrpoint and Mr Dunjop. Mr Fearpoint in responding .to the

toast .‘said that trade and commerce were;

closely allied with the agricultural and - pastoral interests. Some people seemed to think that the storekeepers we'e not aftected by the bard times, but the bankers were just as hard upon them as upon anyone else. One good result of this was that it tended to make a . man more careful. Mr Dunlop could only repeat what had

. been said by Mr Pearpoint. There were bard times all over the world, bnt he was f very pleased to see there waelikely to be < a rise in the price of all kinds of goods. Ho bslieved the day was not far distant when there would be a revival of . trade and commerce. He looked forward to

Kimberley being a big outlet for the. produce of New Zealand. He was sorry to '} see good men like their guest leaving the district. It was a great boon to a community to have a person in the . district who was as able to give a word of advice as Mr Eokford bad always been, still they were glad to hear to hear that Mr Xckford’s removal was a step upwards, . . ' MrColtman said he bad a toast to propose in which they were all interested

mora or less, namely “ The Banking In- ' tereit.” The community could not afford . (close Mr Eckford ; they had nope too - . lossy men who took at intersst in these institutions as Mr Eckford had always - done, with so much credit to himself and benefit to others. He would couple with • the toast the names of Mr Hawkins (Mr JClkford’s successor) and Mr Flint. ' Mr Hawkins said that as (hey all kpow a h a pkarls position watf not . alf ays an enviable one. During the good times bankers got oh very well, but during the hard times they got a good . nqaoy rubs and knocks which they were , aompel'ed to take no notice of. rested a great deal with the people when a tinker went to $ new place as to whether h* would have a pleasant time there or jo(. H® could assure the people of Geral4|ihrth*t during the abort time be had

been in the district he had received the greatest hospitality. He thought the people of Geraldine were the moat generous and hearty he had ever net.

Mr Flint said be was a stranger in Gerhldine, and did not know much about the agricultural and pastoral interests, but decidedly the interest of one was the interest of the other, as losses by the farmers frequently led to losses by the Banks. He thanked them for the way they had responded to the toast with which they had coupled his name. Mr R. Skinner proposed “ The Local Bodies," coupled with the names of Messrs Pearpoint, Postlethwaite, and Mundell,

Mr Pearpoint could assure them local bodies would do their "best for the ratepayers they represented. They often got grumbled at, and some grumbled now for the work they were doing, namely, providing work for the unemployed married men in the district. They had, however, looked at it in this light ; the Government had promised a subsidy of £ for £, and they thought they would have been very sMipid Indeed if they did not take advantage.of it, and rather than let the ratepayers suffer they had determined to spend it. Mr Posllethwaite said he had been connected with one of the local bodies for only a short time, and it was no bed of roses. A man should do what he thought was right notwithstanding what other people thought. Mr Mundell would just like to say'with regard to the local bodies that when the ratepayers put a man in to represent them they should allow him. to have.the freedom of his will, and assist him instead of coercing him. He had noticed at a late ratepayers meeting there had been a good deal of coercing, but be was pleased to see that some of the Board had had the courage of their opinions. If a man had not an opinion of his own, and was willing to carry it out, he was simply a tool in the hands of others. He hoped the ratepayers would take ’.the hint and not coerce their members. With regard to the Town Board they were going to carry out their ideas to the best of their ability. Mr Pearpoint stated they had determined to spend the money—he would say they were trying to spend it to the best advantage. They were doing so in the matter of the asphalt. Mi Flint gave a song. Dr Pish proposed the toast of “The Ladies," and in doing so stated that, like a friendlof his, he never could understand the ladies. He had been married many yea»s, but he did not understand them yet. He could not understand their unselfishness, their kindness, and goodness under the burden of life, for he considered the burden of life tell upon them. Life in his opinion would be a very poor affair were it not for the ladies.

Dr Macintyre, and Messrs B, Pish, jun., Webster, and Hawkins, breiefly returned thanks on behalf of the ladies.

Mr Mundell proposed “ The Press” in eulogistic terms. Refore sitting down he would just like to say a few words about the,guest of the evening. There had not been a word spoken concerning Mr Eckford that was not fully deserved or that was too much. He did not say Mr Eckford was the best man in the district, but he was one of the best, and he wished him the very greatest prosperity, aud hoped they would see him again in Geraldine.

The toasts of “ The Chairman,” “ ViceChairman,” “ The Host and Hostess, ’’ were duly honored, and a very pleasant evening was brought to a close with singing “ A old Lang Syne,” and “ God Save the Queen.” Mr Eckford left on the following morning for Blenheim.