PRESENTATION TO MR. WILLIAM BAYLISS OF EKETAHUNA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5156, 15 October 1895, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR. WILLIAM BAYLISS OF EKETAHUNA.

A very pleasing ceremony took place at the Eketahuna Eoad Board Office on Saturday, when Mr William Bayliss, the late Clerk of the Board, who has held that oftice sisco the inception of the Board, was presented with some valuable books of travel and history as a memento of his long connection with the Board. Mr Thomas Parson, who mndo the presentation, said that Mr Bav- <■ liss was an old and trusted servant of the Board, and had always performed his duties faithfully and well. Punctual in all his engagements, generally accurate in all things, Mr Bayliss was an example that might woll be followed. Ho regretted that there we not more members of the Board present, as he felt sure they all would heartily JJF endorse all that he had said, He W, had known, for some time, that he was to have the honor of making this presentation, and on his way to the office that day the thought occurred to him that on occasions such as llio present, a little flattery was generally indulged. He was ' sure, howevev, that in regard to Mr Bayliss there was no need of flattery. His work and character spoko for themselves, and he felt that it would be difficult to say more than Mr Bayliss deserved. He had long held the opinion that the Board had very much underpaid Mr Bayliss for the services he had given. It was an , { . impression rather too common, he ' [thought, that the clerical work of the Board was a small matter, hut any ratepayer who would take the [trouble to look into the affairs of the :Board would soon be undeceived, Mr Bayliss, by resigning his office, "• had left a gap which it would bo difficult to fill. In conclusion he could assure all present that he t>. meant every work he had said, and hoped that Mr Bayliss would live <■ long and prosper in the career of a Jm farmer, which he had chosen. (Applauso),

Mr Hare said that be had not . known Mr Bayliss so long as the last speakor, but he was glad to endorse ajl that had been so well paid by Mr Parsons. He had always found Mr 4 Bayliss ready and willing to giye him nil the information in his power, and he was sure that Mr Baylies had carried out his work in such a way as to give satisfaction to all concerned.

Mr Bourko also paid a tribute to Mr Bayliss. He said that he had at all times found Mr Bayliss straightforward and courteous to a degree', Ihe speaker then jocularly referral- ■ to a time when the late gicrk, in his ' capacity of Returning Officer at one of the ward elections, bad given his casting vote against him (Mr Bpurke). However, he thought all ■ tbo more pf him for that ;he had no doubt givou his voice to the operand better man. " ' Mr Greville said it would not, he Jf> hoped, be thought ont of place if he had a few words to say. He was ■ suro that from one end of thoßußh to the other Mr Bayliss was held in # universal esteem. Mr Bayliss had ■'* indeed been a faithful servant to the ratenayers; much ln'ow so than most of theni M 'the. opportunity >f'. knowing. ttwasasMv.Pai'sonsh#:-. said: people thought tiiattheclencal . work pf 'the Board was very lightcould be done iu a few days a

week, but this was a great mistake, Mr Bayliss bad done more than his bare duty; from his (the apeuker'sf own knowledge, ho could say that the business of the Board and the interests of the ratepayers claimed nil Mr Bayliss' attention. Ho had loft a good record and had won tho respect of all with whom ho had fie in contact. "If I were asked," 1 Mr Grovillc, "fo say who I light to he the most popular man in the Bush, I would say Mr Bayliss. If I were asked who was the most highly esteemed, again I would say Mr Bayliss." _ In responding Mr Bayliss said thai it was not often that he wns at a loss for words. After tho many kind things that hud been said of him his language seomed to have been lakon away from him. Although the present had been referred to as a small ouo and of little value, ho esteemed it highly for what it represented and also as of value in itself, He felt that it was a recognition that his endeavours to carry out all mutters relating to the Board to the best of his ability had been appreciated. He could assure them that to a great WOxfent tho work of the Board had been a labour of love and be had taken a hearty interest in it, Every project for the advancement of the district had been of tho greatest

interest to him, and it had always been a pleasure when such project ' A» carried to a successful issue. It "'fas with great regret that he had decided to saver his connection with tho Board. He (lid it, however, because the feeling had long been growing on him that he wanted a change. He thanked everyone for all their many kindnesses to him. He would always cherish feelings of regard for the ratepayers of this district and for the members of the Board under whom ho had worked, nnd would derive great pleasure from the thought that his bumble efforts had met with their approval. Tho books presented to Mr Bayliss wero all well and handsomely bound nnd consisted ot " Macaulay's History of England " (2 vols.); Stanley in Africa; Livingstone's Travels, otc, etc. Inscribed in each were the words : "Presented to William Bayliss by the ratepayers of Kketahuna district, 12th October, 1895."