VALEDICTORY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9006, 16 December 1907, Page 5

VALEDICTORY.

PRESENTATION TO MR W. H. L. GALWEY. A pleasing ceremony took place in "Messrs Abraham and Williams' Farmers' Room, on Saturday afternoon, when a large number of citizens, representative of the commercial 'interests of the town, gathered together to say farewell and make a suitable presentation to Mr W. H. L. Galwey, who has held the position of manager of the. Masterton branch of the Bank of New South Wa»es for about seven years, and who is leaving to temporarily take charge of the bank s Auckland branch. A large number of apologies for absence wer3 received from person's unable to attend. The Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradme) occupied the chair, and in making the presentation to Mr Galwey, said he : could not exactly say he was pleased to be present on such an occasion, although it was the usual thing to say so. He did not know whether he had ' ever known an occasion in Masterton —and he had been here for a numbei of years—when so many representative citizens had met to say farewell to one of their number. He felt regret at the departure of Mr Galwey, because in him they were losing a inspected citizen, and an able bank manager. The speaker likened a bank manager to a doctor, inasmuch as he, financially speaking, felt the pulses of thi people, and knew, their ills. He also at times found himself in a very delicate position, requiting the use of great tact to sse that justice was ftjfcie on all sides while the interests the bank were conserved. Mr Galwey possessed the quality of tact in a large measure,and had thereby not only earned the esteem of the clients of the bank but the citizens generally. He had known Mr Galwey ever since he came to Masterton, and had always found him a gentleman. His dealings with clients had always been straight, and if he gained the same respect in Auckland as in Masterton* he ought to be well satisfied. The Mayor then presented Mr Galwey with a handsome gold watch on behalf of the clients of the bank and the citizens, and explained that there had been no time to prepare an illuminated address, but this would be forwarded to him later. Mr Galwey, in reply, said he was extremely grateful for the kindness shown to him, and felt that he did not deserve it. Not only on that occasion but during the seven years he had been in Masterton, his business relations with the townspeople had been of a highly satisfactory nature, and he felt that this was due to the public more than himself. The presentation had been totally unexpected by him because he thought it was well-known that he was only going away temporarily. It seemed, however, that some of those present were more ''behind the scenes tuan he was. Mr Galwey here took the opportunity to introduce his successor, Mr A. Paul, of Wellington, whom, ha said, he had known for years as a very able man, and : - expected to find when he returned to Masterton tnat Mr Paul had made a better bank manager than himself. In conclusion, he said he felt deeolv sorry at leaving Master- ; ton, and* hoped on his return to still j merit the kindly consideration which had always been shown to him by the citizens of Masterton. Mr Paul thanked Mr Galwey for his remarks concerning himself, and added that he would endeavour to the best of his ability to uphold the repu-1 tation of the bank and merit the esteem of its Masterton clients.