KIHIKIHI. Banquet to Mr Sloane.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2012, 30 May 1885, Page 2

KIHIKIHI. Banquet to Mr Sloane.

A \ \Mliicioin bauipiet, at which foity gentlemen weio present, was given to Mi Sloane in the Alplu Hotel, on Wedueidaj o\ciimg l.isit. The chair was occupied by Mi (iiesh.un, and the vice chair by Mi Kairell. Among thoso present weie Dr. Illundcu, Captain Kuthorford, Mussis Winstono, A. Kay. J.P., Goodfellow, C. and K. liockett, (irice, Storey, Westney, Cowan, K. Bosauko, and many other loading residents After dinner the usual loyal and patiiotic toasts were given, and then camothv toast of the evening, "Oin Ouest, Mr Sloano." Before pioposmg the toast, the Chahrn in load thi> testimonial, which is now being signed by Mi Slo.mo's many fnends, uul pn'sfnted him on their beh.ilf with a puiso of hfty .soveieigns. Before reading the testimonial, letters of apology from the following gentlemen weie ic.id : — Major Jackson, Mr Xoithcroft, R.M., Rev. K. J. Phillips, Messrs J. D. Hill, Henderson, W. H. Grace, H. Roche, and others, all conveying the writeVB 1 regrets for nonattendance, and expressing their kindest wishes for Mr Sloane's prosperity in the district to which he is going. The following U tho testimonial : — " To Awamutu, 17th May, 1885. "To Mn William Si.o\kk, Chemist and Druggist. "Dk\r Sik,— Your decision to leavo To Awamutu after so long a .sojourn amongs us, cause-, us to realize with feelings of regret that we shall thus lose a fellow resident whom it will be impossible to replace. On this, the eve of your departure, wo av.nl ourselves of an opportunity which will not again occur to testihy to our unanimous and grateful appreciation of your worth and meiits both as a public man and also in your business avocation. With reg.ud to tl.'e fnttuet, those of u> who know yon for the longest pei n>d cm best vouch for the untiring zeal displ iyed by you in th(> dischaige of the various municipal offices with which you ha\e fiom tune to tune bee i entiu»tecl by your fellow cituens. During the peiiod of twenty one yeais piasedbyyou in the Upper Waikato you have spent by far tho creator portion of your time in advancing tho interests and effecting the perm inent vvelfaie of tho dis tuct. In your position of Chan man of the Rangiaohia Highw.iy Board, a post to which you have mi icpeitedly b'-en elected, we feel that you have done very, very much foi tho good of the community at l:>rge, ever to the fore wheie public woiks and nn pro\ernonts were needod yoni until ing energy never flagged until tho accomplishment of the object to which you devoted youiself. In the performance by you of th') nmltifaiious duties of the many municipal offices in which are included tho membership of the Wai pa County Council, of the Licencing Bench, of the Domain Board, School Committee, and many others-, you have never sought your own glouhcation or aggrandisement, but have solely had in view tho welfare of the district in which j you have resided. By this meant you have I afforled a w irtliy example which your successors would do well to imitate. In your piivato calling of chemist and druggist, your science and skill, combined with personal experience in hospital practice, have enabled you to save many valuable lives which would otherwise have been sacrificed. Many of us who now sign this testimonial gladly record the fact that ch lichen have by your successful treatment been saved, even when their maladies weio .so .severe as almost to exclude hope of their recovery. With your poi mission wo will present you w ith the accompanying purse of severoigns, with which we hope you will purchase a Nouvenh of ' Auld Lang Syne,' and which we ti nst w ill serve to lemind you and your family of tho«e who now subscribe themselves your sincere well-wishers." Here follow tho signatures. The Chairman, ma \erv happy speoch, proposed the toast, which was received with loud and continued applause, and diank with musical hoiioury. Mi Sloaue, in responding, expressed his oxti cine pleasure at this spontaneous exhibition i f friendship and kindly feeling by his numeioub fnends. He gave a shoit losuuit.' of his connection with the distnct since his anival twenty-one yeais ago. He gave a statement of the numeious public woiks in whidi he assisted, making many huuiotiioiis remaiks about the st«tte of the luids when hi* fiist came heie, and concluded by heaitil,> thnTikinp hih friends foi their kind wishes for himself and family. luiesponding to tho toast of "The Army and Navy," with which his naino was coupled, tlie vice-ch.unnan said that it was forty yeara »<ince he was first connected with the British Army, and the Lite events in the Soudan showed unmistakeable that thfl aimy w.is as well able to tight and conquer as v\ ci . The harrasing niai-cheH in the deserts showed that the indomitable pluck of the Biitish soldier was as conspicuous as in the days of Wellington. Captain Rutherfoid, in very felicitious terms, lenponded to the toast of " The Volunteers," which tho vice-chairman, in » veiy happy manner, proved. Mr Win«tone proposed tho toast of " The Pre«H," coupled with tho name of Mr R. W. Roche, the local repienentative of The Waikato Times. Mr Rocho replied in suitable terms. The toastof "The Ladies," eouplcd with the name of Mr Rigg, was proposed by Dr. Blundon, in teiins which elicited roars of lauphter. Mi Rigg made a humourous response. The toast of " Tho Host " was propoaod by thfl vice-chairman, and responded to by Mr Field. During tho evoning neveral «ong« and recitations were rendeied. The Chairman sang two Hongs which convulsed the com11 my with laughter ; indeed, ho was ino«t nappy in liis speechr*, and helped to keep tho mirth and fun going. Mr Hibloy's band was in attendance, and played musical selections for each toast. The party broke up at eleven o'clock, after expressing the kindest wishes for Mr Sloane's futuio prospei lty. Mi Field deserves the highest piaiso for the \Ol y excellent dinner he provided, and foi which he had very little time to prepaie ; indeed, it would have done credit to an Auckland caterer. By the way, I forgot to mention that all parts of the Waikato xv oiu repiesented, some gentlemen fiom Hamilton and Xg.iriiiiw.ilna being, piysont.— (Own, Couespondent.)