Farewell Speech by Mr Comer.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3928, 2 August 1881, Page 2

Farewell Speech by Mr Comer.

The Moanatairi men were all, with the exception of Messrs Hudson, Vivian, and the trucker, paid off to-day, and afterwards the manager (Mr Comer) called the men together, and briefly addressed them. He said he had been manager of the Moanatairi for over seven years, but on looking around him he could see some who were in the mine before he was. He had now to hand over the charge of the mine to Mr Hudson, who was to take charge. During the whole of bis term of office they had all given him satisfaction. It had always been his rule in the mine, first, to look after the interests of the company, and give the men second place in his thoughts. When he took char«e of the mine he was ambitious to clear off the load of debt which was then retarding it, and as many of them knew, he had of en risked his life in the service of the company. As to the work done, facts speak for themselwpl» Over 100,000 tons of quartz had Ise<yi crushed, and this, too, mostly from snaall leaders. While getting out this stuff some miles of tunnels, &c, had been driren, and yet the monthly expenditure varied very little. He bad been a miner for 43 years, and had worked his way up from the lowest standard. He vhad spent ten of these on the Thames, and he was proud to say there were not better miners to be found anywhere than those at present around him. In the present state of the mine, he was sorry to say, it was his opinion that it would take a deal of gleaning to get a dividend. He considered there were too many men already on the field, and advised all those who could to leave before things got worse. Their conduct while under him had quite satisfied him, and he was happy to say with regard to the gold he had not the slightest suspicion ol any one of those present having at any time acted dishonestly. (Hear, hear.) They had always drawn his attention to any leader which he had missed sight of. (A. voice : "It .would be a very small leader that would escape your notice." (Laughter.) If the Moanataiari should ever start work ogaiu, he hoped the directors would take them all on again. He heartily thauked them all for the confidence they had reposed in him, and in leaving them hoped they would always stick to Mr Hudson, who had always been his friend, and who, he felt sure, would stick to them.

Several of the men then spoke very highly of the satisfactory manner in which they had been treated by Mr Comer, and said they were sure all their mates would join in wishing Mr Comer success wherever he went. After Mr Hudson had spoken a few words, he called for three cheers for Mr Comer, which were heartily given. Cheers were also given for Mr Hudson, the Moanatairi mine, and the bosses of the shifts, special mention being made to the names of Messrs Anderson and Taylor.