DEPARTURE OF LIEUT. COLONEL LYON.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 417, 16 January 1875, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF LIEUT. COLONEL LYON.

A number of gentlemen assembled in the Hamilton Hotel on Wednesday evening, with the object of presenting an address to Lieut. Col. Lyon on his departure from the district. The address will be followed by a more substantial sign of regard in the shape of a piece of plate, the short notice of the departure of the gallant gentleman from the district precluded its being forwarded in time for presentation in the Waiknto. The following address was read by P. Leslie Esq. We the Settlers aDd other Residents in the District of Waikato, cannot pprmit the occasion of your departure tn pass without testif\in<r our great regard for yourself personnlly, and the high appreciation we have of the manner in which you have conducted your public duties since assuming the command of the Colonial Foicesin the Waiktito We cannot but feel that your firmnt ss and determination .it. ci it ical moments, and the careful consideration which, you have always shown for tin 1 g' neral welfare, hsive been in a gieat measure the means of securing the maintenance of that peaceful state without which the progress of the district to it- present advancement and pro-perit}' would have been impossible. Whi's« rejoicing for yonr sake that the cnusp of your departure ispiomotion in the set vice, w o sincei ely lament for oui selves the loss we sustain. We nlso beg to ass-vie you of our deep regret at the departure of Mrs Lyon fr >m the Waikito, wheie for a peiio.l of five >eais, she has endeaied hfiselfto a Lirge circle of friends and gamed the inspect mid esteem of nil. W'p beg to offer fOlf 01 your acceptance the accompanying small testimonial as a tokpn of the regaid your friends hee feel towards you, and we are confident that you will not measure that regard by the small intrinsic value of the gift. _ Wishing Yourself and Mrs Lvon every blessing wp hecr

Kay, J. R Vialou, K. W. Hammond, Gh W iJceie, D. Petguson, S, T. Seddon, P. F. JJe^uincey, J D «i , llill, J. Uune, T. Wilson. Colonel Lyon replied as follows :—: — I beg to return my most sincere thanks to the settlers and residents of the Waikalo district for the most kind and sub stantial manner with which they have expreaeed their feelings with regard to my public conduct, and to myself personally, since I have had the honor to hold the command of this district. It is most gratifying to t hink that tho way in « Inch I have performed my duty hus been the mean*, in a small measure, of conducing to the peace and prosperity of the Wnikato, and is appreciated*" by the settlers. ,It h with much regret that I take leave of tho«e with whom I have been so intimately H&socitited for the last five years, and I cannot allow this opportunity jo pass without cx pres*i ng. to i he eel tiers i nd residents of the Waiktito how mujh I have felt, and always slfaTT do so. the very great kindness with which I have been invariably treated, and tho very great oourtesy shewn me onfall poea«iOHS. T4ie difficulty of -replying for myself in fitting language it great, but it U comparatively easy to that) of responding to the complimentary terms in which you have referred to Mis Lyon. To know that she has been so highly appreciated and esteemed by you will in after jears form a pleasing and endearing reminisence of our residence in Waikato. After the presentation some wine was introduced. Mr Leslie proposed the health of the Col. and* Mrs. Lyon. , 001. Lyon returned thanks and proposed the health of* the Waikato settlers and volunteers. Capt. Runciman responded, Captain Steele also responded to the repeated call for tho pioneer set* tier.