DEPARTURE OF MR CORCORAN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1775, 11 August 1888, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF MR CORCORAN.

SMOKE CONCUR?. Tlia smoke concert held in the Wolseley Hotel. Winchester, last Wednesday evening in honor of Mr Thomas Corcoran, late stHtionmnstnr there, on the occasion of his removal to Doyleaton, near Chnstchurch, was a great success. We have never witnessed a reunion at which the goodwill of the people W4S expressed in such a hearty, genum •, and enthusiastic raanuer. Considering that the weather was not very invitinsr, tha night being very dark and threatening to run, there was a very good attendance, and the provisions made by the wonhy h at and hostess were excellent. On the motion of Mr Tworaey, Mr W. Deß»i zy look the chair, and the two vice-chairs were filled by Messrs McShme and Jones. After the usual loyal and pi'riotic toasts were duly honored. The Chairman proposed the toist of the evening. He a aid they all knew the obj ct for which ihey had assembled ; it was <o tv'd f*re*tll to their esteemed and much respected stitionraaster, Mr 0 >rcoran —(ohceis)— who would on the following day leave them for Doyleston. Re regretted his »bi iy as a speaker Was not adequate to te'l them the many good qmlities of Mr Corcoran. It was about seven years since Mr Corcoran first ob'iged him. He came there late one dark night; he asked Mr Corcoran to oblige him, and he did, and he promised then thfltha would always ob'ige him, and ho h»d kept that promise. They would all agree with him ihat the man who had kept his promise for seven years was made of the right materia'. (Great applause). Thare was not a more courteous, civi', or obliging officer in the service of the railway, nor one who looked more keenly to the interests of his employee. He gave civility and courtesy, but ho took care to gat money from all for the rai'way, and sliowed no favor to particular frends. He had friends in Winchester, and he had not an enemy in if, and he would mike friends in Doyleflen, for ha could not help it. He wouli ask them to drink health' and prosperity, and long life to Mr Corcoran wherever ho may go. (Great app'ause). The toa9t was drunk with musical honcrp, and Messrs Carston and Jaggars having contributed songs, to the accompaniment of Mr Levens on the piano, Mr Corcoran rose to respond. After having expressed in feeling terms bia appreciation of their kindn«ss, he said the Chairman had been good enough to mention hia civility in his dealings with the cus- ' tomers of the railway. There was nothing duo to him on that account. It was his duty to be civil and obliging, for he recognised that whatever else the customers of the railway got, they . ought to get civility. (Applause). Let ' civility be always practised, and stationmasters would be more respected, the railways would be more popular, and its customers better pleased. He then mude some very humorous and apt remarks with regard to the way to treat certain of those present, and continued to say the way to get on with most men is to stroke them dowu gently. (Tremendom applause). There were few men with whom one could not get on well by inbbing thsm down. It was a pleasure to do something for Winchester, and he certainly would le*ve it with regret. As for obliging people it always gave him groat pleasure, and there was nothing could give him so much pain as to forget by any chance his manners io dealing with the pub'ic. If he ever did so it had cost him hours of regret. He could not lower the tariff for them, he could not alter the regulations or the time-table to suit them better; he could do nothing more for them than to be civil nnd obliging. That was all of hia own property he had to hand—(laughter)—and lie was glad they had appreciated him in . that respect. He felt there was eot a foe within 20 miles of him, and even if a foo came to him he would treat him just as well as a friend. He remembered somebody with whom he had some difference having grain exposed to the weather one night at Winchester Station. In the middle of the night a storm arose, and hi (Mr Corcoran) got out of his bed lo cover the grain. When he had it half covered (he owner arrived, and asked " Are you covering that for me f His reply was : ' " I am covering it, bat nor, for you, for ' you dou't d«Borve it, but I would not see it spoiled." Henceforward that man was his friend. It was said * hen he was sent I to Winchester Ikj h«'l been greatly • favored, and ho beliey-tid it, for there was | uol a .uore civilised village in ?{dw 2bu- I I

and, and if at were ain igician lie would ninke it wealthy and prosperous, and fife it eternal felicity. (Great applause). Mr Dives having nuns;,

Major Young proposed the toast of •'Agricultural interests." He was the first to start ploughing betweeo Timsru and Rangt tat*, 28 yeart igo, and he era* ployed the fir-t steam threshing machine thtt ctuie to South Canterbury. They uied to gt-t up ploughing matches in Winchester in olden the; days, but farmers will do nothing to benefit themselves now. He remembered the time when grain was Hi a bushel,' and the) paid Is 6d a bushel for threshirg. He hoped to see good timet return, for the farmers, who were the backbone of the coon try. He proposed the toast, coupled with the names of M ssr6 Q lino, McSbane, and Gray. Mr Dives next sang, and had to respond to an encore. Mr Quion said farming wm • very poor way of. making a living for the past few year*, »» prioes were lew and freight* high. The prospects were brighteoing now. Better prices gojt for, froaan meat, and wheat was rising, slid it was about time. He felt now the wontwm over. He had not had a great deal to do with Mr Corcoran, but he always found him civil and obliging. He deserted aped it, too, for his public spiritedneas,, He was always ready to assist in any moyement, fVhen three years ago the Russian ■care was on, he used to go every oigAit—rain or hnil, fine or cold—to Temuka to attend the, meetings to establish an Irish Volnntour corps—(cheers)—and he believed he would lay down his life then or »,dw, to protect this colony. They were losing a most efficient public servant, and a thoroughly honest colonist, but it would be Doylestou's gain, aod he wished him every success wherever he went.

Mr MoShane atid ha could only sty fwming was very poor, but Tory independent,; Farnrrs need not care for anybsdy so long as they kept th» bailiff from the door, and got a decent suit for Sunday, and that was all lhay need expect. The cockatoos were always looked down upon, but they were the backbone of the country. Mr Corcoran taught them bid habits, tie was ready to oblige a* any hour, He never rvfused. He was the moat obliging man he ever came across. Mr F. K. Gray said he had a little to do with Mr Corcoran, and he was the most obliging imn he aver came across. He wished it was to Temuka he had been removed, for it did'not matter if one came a little late Mr Corceran was there to receive cne with a genial smile. (Cheers), , Song, .Mr Gray. Mr CJuiun proposed "The local trades end industries*," eoupled with the names of Messrs Haar, Caraion, Harrison, ana! T. Connol y, and in doing so paid a high compliment to the tradesmen of "Winchester. , "*■«?'• Recitation, Mr Tworaey. Mr Haar thanked them for drinkiog the toist, ard expresjed regret at Mr Corcoran leaving them. Mr Caraton said if tbay all took a hint from Mr Corcoran, and were civil and obliging like him, ho felt Bare theywOufa be more happy. ■■'■'■'■ Mr Harrison said one °f the characteristics of Mr Corcoran was that there never was a aubscriptioa list aent round on which his name Jid not appear. He was ,*a|y lib-ral wit'i his purse, very liberal in h}# nvnd, and very libaral in everything. When a subscription list/went round tie never asked what sect it was, for there was nothing sectarian about him. He helped everything,- and' he sincerely wished him success in his new home'. i

Mr Thomas Connolly said be' could not say anything without damaging what had already been said. Mr MeShaoe aaid Mr Corcoran led them into bad habits, but he hoped they would get a better man. It was only a. hope, and he was afraid it would not re realised.

Song, Mr McShane (encored). Mr J. D.Jones proposed the toast of " The Iress.' 1 If the Press were abolished th re would be nothing but tyranny and oppression in the lind. One thing about Mr Corcoran was that he treated all alike. Any dandy in the. Civil servic* would be civil and obliging to the wealthy, who would ride up in their four whoelers, but Mr Corcoran was just as civil anl obliging to the working men in moleskins as to the swe'ls. It was not sham praise they were bes'owitig on Mr Corcoran ; it was real genuine praise, and there was not a man in the district who was not a real trusty friend of hia. He remembered going to the station for letters after ..hoars once before Mr Corcor»n came, and' the stationy master directed his attention to a placard that effije hours were from 9 till 5. Mr Corcoran would give letters at any time, and it was a great convenience to the working men of the district, who could not come ir> time. It was no wond»r Mr | Corcoran had friend*. He proposed, the r toast, soup'ed with the names of Messrs Twomey *svd McCarthy. Mong, Mr Deßauzy. The toast having been responded to Mr Corcoran proposed the toast of "The host and hostess,' who set an example to all the country in tbt way of hotel minagemeit. It was greatly doe to their inluence that Winchester was r the most beautiful and civilised village in New Zealand. Recitation, Mr McCarthy, Major Xpujg responded to tie! toast, and siid he would alwayf do hie best to satisfy people. He oldest hotelkeeper in Canterbury,'-■»« he: waiS/giajTto feel he had earned ft certain amount of respect. , Messrs Flint, Dayis, and McCarthy contiibuted songs, and Mr Corcoran proposed the health of Mr Deßenzy, thoir Chairman—(chrfers)—who hud com) of an ancient race, afid whose hand was always in his pocket (o liejp any good cause. I Mr Deßenzy ackoow'edged the compliment, and the proceedings wound up wftV the singing of "Auld Lang Syne." Mr and Mrs Corcoran left Winchester last Thursday by the express traio. There was a v«ry large crowd to see them off, and the cheering continued while the train was ia sight. Many of Mrs'O'brcorau's lady ftiends were' moved to tear*. It would be impossible to give expression to the regret the people; of Winchester feel at the;removal of Mr Corcoran.