VALEDICTORY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8359, 15 February 1907, Page 5

VALEDICTORY.

CITIZENS' FAREWELL TO MR AND MRS DANIELL.

There was a large attendance of citizens at the Town Hall, last evening, to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs C. E. Daniel], who will leave Masterton, to-morrow morning, on a trip to England and the Continent. Mr E. McEwen occupied the chair, and those present on the platform included Messrs A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., P. Hill, J. D. Cruickshank, P. L. Hollings, J. C. Boddington, R. i Brown, J. H. Pauling, W. H. Jackson, A. J. Hathaway, J. B. Keith, C. A. Pownall, G. Heron, J. M. Coradine, Rev. J. N" Buttle, Mesdames Daniell, Hill, Proctor, Hathaway, and Miss Daniell. After the Chairman had explained the object of the gathering, Mr Brown read apologies from the Deputy-Mayor (Cr Feist), Cr J. C. Ewington, who is absent in Christchurch, and the Masterton Municipal Brass Band, who are also absent in Christchurch. Mr Hogg was the first speaker. He said that it afforded him? great pleasure to be present and join with his fellow citizens in doing honour to one of the most respected residents of Masterton. He felt sure that those who knew Mr Daniell would readily admit that there were few men in this part of the colony who more deserved the mark of apprecii ation of their fellow citizens on the occasion of leaving New Zealand than ! Mr Daniell. He had known Mr Daniell since he came to Masterton from the South some years ago, and to know him was to esteem him. There was one thing for which he invariably i-espected Mr Daniell,. and that was that he was not only af conscientious citizen, but a typical employer of labour. In the Parliamentary Library f in Wellington there was a portion set j apart for works of biography. The best reading among those works was the lives of the British manufacturers and artisans by whose efforts I Britain was kept in the front rank. j Mr Daniell was going Home and would meet some of those manufacturers. He would tell them that, despite the cry against the labour laws of New Zealand, it was possible for an artisan and employer to thrive even in this country. Mr I Daniell had grown with Masterton itself. His progress was like the j town. He had started at the bot- ; torn of the ladder, and he had gradually climbed up. This was due to his untiring perseverance, and it was to his credit. It redounded more to his credit, however, that there had never been, as far as the speaker knew, anything in the shape of a strike or altercation between Mr Daniell and his employees. Only a few nights ago Mr Daniell's employees had entertained their employer at a social, and the speaker thought there was no finer sight in the universe than to see employer and employee on such good terms. Mr DaYiiell had erected many fine houses and shops in Masterton, and they were standing monuments to his fine work. sure Mrs Daniell's services had been invaluable to Mr Daniell, and she had played no small part in helping him to the success he had achieved. The speaker felt sure that while Mr Daniell was absent he would be a splendid immigration agent for New Zealand. He would make known the splendid opportunities this country offered for a man. Another of Mr Daniell's qualities that he would like to touch on was his keen interest in the welfare of the young men and women of the town. He had supported the Technical School, Band, Fire Brigade, and other institutions with which the young people were connected. Mr Daniell had been honoured by his employees and his Church, and to-night he was being honoured by the citizens. He wished Mr and Mrs Daniell a pleasant voyage, and hoped they would come back much benefited in health. Mr C. A. Pownall said he was pleased to be there to pay a small tribute to Mr Daniell's capabilities as a private individual and a public citizen. It was not necessary for him to speak of Mr Daniell as a private individual, as all who lived in Masterton knew him well in that capacity. Mr Pownall wished to speak of him as a public man. As an ex-Mayor the speaker knew Mr Daniell on the Borough Council, and other public bodies. They had often held opposite views on subjects, but he had always found Mr Daniell an honourable opponent. If Mr Daniell had anything to say against anybody he always said it openly. Mr Pownall went on to say that there was a great difficulty in getting men to en-, ter public life. Although there were plenty of capable men, they I could not be persuaded to take a position on public bodies as they were afraid of "treading on other ' people's toes." Mr Daniell did not fear any such thing, and he always worked hard. Unlike many other people, Mr Daniell was not always thinking of himself. He always had j time to devote to the welfare of the town. In conclusion, the speaker j hoped that Mr Daniell would take it as his (the speaker's) honest opinion that Mr Daniell was a fine and energetic man and an honourable opponent. The Chairman then r presented Mr Daniell with a handsome illuminated address and gold watch, suitably inscribed, and Mrs Daniell with a silI ver-mounted dressing-case. The text of the address, which was signed by about 100 citizens, was as follows : "To Chas. E. Daniell, Esq.—Dear Sir, —We, the undersigned, as representatives of the principal public bodies of this community, desire to express to you our hearty appreciation of your long and valuable services to Masterton in the many positions you have been elected to fill. Your able administration of the Trust Lands Trust, as its chairman for eleven years; your successful efforts in promoting education and the training of our young people; your services in connection with the Borough Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the Wellington Harbour Board; your connection with numerous other movements, which have had for their object the advancement of the welfare of the community, have won our highest approval. Thejholiday you are about to take has been well earned, and will, we hope, be thoroughly en joyed. We trust that you and Mrs Daniell will spend a pleasant time in the Old Country, and that you will •

return renewed in health and vigour to again take a leading part in the the public bodies of the town." Mr G. Heron wished Mr and Mrs Daniell a pleasant voyage and a speedy return. Mr Pauling said he had known Mr Daniell for about six years and during that time he could see that Mr Daniell had played an important part in the development of the town. He was a straightforward man, and the more one fought with him the better friends one became with him. Mr Keith said he was very pleased to have had.the opportunity of being present. He would not speak of Mr Daniell as a private individual, for it was not usual to give a private person a public send-off. Mr Daniell was a public man. As Mr Pownall had remarked there was a dearth of public men. People said that they had no time for public affairs, but Mr Daniell was] a very busy man, and he could always find time to attend to public affairs, especially in the direction of education. . Mr Coradine said they were under a debt of gratitude to Mr Daniell for giving them the opportunity of expressiong their appreciation of his valuable services to the town. The speaker congratulated the Chairman for initiating the movement When he first met" Mr Daniell he formed a favourable opinion of him, and he had no reason to change that "opinion. As ia former employee of Mr Daniell's he could speak of him as a good employer. He wished he could sing so that he might .sing of Mr Daniell as "a jolly good fellow." That was how he felt.

The orchestra Tthen took up the refrain of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," which the audience joined in singing.

Continuing, Mr Coradine said he had nothing to add beyond the hope that Mr Daniell would have a pleasant trip, and when he returned he would find them all there to compete and work with him as business men in the future. Mr Cruickshank, President of the Chamber of Commerce, said he was pleased to have the opportunity of expressing his opinion of Mr Daniell. He had been associated with Mr Daniel! for nine years on different bodies, and they had always worked in harmony. He hoped that the many works which Mr Daniell .had initiated, including telephone "communication with Wellington, increased accommodation at the Railway Station and the improvement of the Northern approach, would be completed when he returned to Masterton. He hoped that Mr Daniell would return from his trip renewed in health, and vigour. Mr Hollings said that as a public man he, like Mr Pownall, could appreciate Mr Daniell's services. He felt sure that Mr Daniell appreciated the gathering that night. He would like to refer to Mrs Daniell's sacrifice. She had to do without her husband's company on many evenirgs in order to allowjhim to give time to public business. He considered that the sacrifice of those who stayed at home was the greatest sacrifice, and he°was glad to see that the public were recognising this.and were mak ing Mrs Daniell a suitable present. Mr Jackson spoke briefly of Mr Daniell's connection v>ith educatioral matters, and mentioned particularly his scholarship proposals as a member of the Trust Lands Trust, and his services to the Masterton Technical School. He would join with, previous speakers in wishing Mr Daniell a pleasant trip, and hoped he would jjreturn to carry on his good work in educational matters. Mr Daniell briefly replied. He said there was no need to remind them that he was that night a very proud man! To have the esteem of the public, as shown by the gathering of citizens, was indeed gratifying to him. He considered that the\ effect of all hejhad heard that evening would give him a higher standard to live up to. He referred in grateful terms to the effect of his wife's influence in his work. In referring to the scholarship fund in connection with the Trust Lands Trust, he said that a Briton did not like to be a pauper, and parents were not now asked to sign their boy's certificates to obtain the scholarship funds. It was only necessary now for the boy himself to sign the voucher. He had always taken an interest in technical education after seeing its effects at Home. He took the opportunity to appeal to parents to visit the Masterton Technical School and see for themselves what was being done in the town in the direction of technical education. He had stood for his first first election 30 years ago in the Old Country, and he had won it. He had been only beaten once in an election, and that was for the Masterton Borough Council. He had years ago advocated the high-pres-sure water supply, but the people of Masterton did not appear to want the water then. Yet they had it now. He Said he had always aspired to be Mayor of the town, and he added that he would be Mayor yet! His wish was to see all young men make themselves - useful citizens. They had a right to be on public bodies, and why should they not be? asked the speaker. He hoped the gathering that evening would have the desired effect on all young men. He again thanked those present and ■said he hoped to come safely back again and enjoy their company. (Applause). On the motion of Mr Daniell, a vote of thanks was accorded to the Chaiman.

The gathering broke up after singing the-Natqnal Anthem. Prior to thejmeeting the Masterton South Brass Band rendered several selections outside the hall, while an efficient orchestra, under Mr J. Candy, rendered items between the speeches.