Presentation to Mr. H. Cullen, Eiffelton.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1, 5 January 1905, Page 15

Presentation to Mr. H. Cullen, Eiffelton.

One of the most enthusiastic gatihorings aver held at Eifffeßon (says tihe ' As'hburtan G<uardiam ') eventuated t/here <flti< Tuesday evening, December 30, w-'hen a farewell social was tendered to Mr. Hugh (Julleh and family, wlho are leayihg after a long sojourn in the distinct tio tiajke .up tlheir residence at Alford Forest. The schoolrpom t wheure flhe^ gathering took place, was artistically idaoorated, asid the seating accomm'odatioji was taxed to itts 'utmost caipacity. The audience was rejpresentetive ■of tiJie distnrwt, many being present from AsJibtirton and elsewhere. Ifr opening an excellent coiu;ert progrgmme, which precedett a presentation, Mr. A. M<x>re, who presided, nraide a btief speech in which he traced his as&ociatflqfti with "tfteiT guest and family for some years. At the conclusipn of the concert Mr. J. McLachlin, M.H.R , »aUd that although he hall att&n)ded at fcfome ilrvqcfrtv.enieti'oe, sftill he was more thtfn pleased to be preeetnt. In oommon with thpse a.ssembleti he regretted tihe depart/lire of Mr. and Mr&. Oullein from the district ; b»it} when it was considered fhjat the guests of the( evening intended tjo better their circumstances 1 , no ore could cejmsfure t|hem for severing their connection with a sectv>'n of the community among whom lihey had sio long ras'Jderi. He felt sure he was only voicing tKhe sentiment of all assembled i,n regretting the departure bf tjie Cullefti family from the districts and expressing a hiope that tlheir fcuture wouLd be marked with aiuccesb. Tihe .speak«r here (pjaiti f a tribute to the kindly qualities of Mrs. CUlleyi,, wttHo was always ready to assist her neighbors in time of trouble ior sickness, and who hajd at all times beeto a worthy partner of her mHich respected husbanld. He was pleased to see the Misses EHen ajnd Aanie Cullen and Mr. P. Culi&n present that evening. They were khown as ' Cullen's orchestra,' having been at all times ready to place their talents gratuitously at the seqvifce of organisers of concerts and entertainments m t/he district. He felt that Miei'r departure widulld be keenly felt. He had miuch ple,asUre yi presenting to Mr. OullCn, on behalf of frietnds and aJdmirers, a hiartd'Siome giold albert chain, as a bin'all tldiken of the esteem in which he was held. T,o Mrs. Cullen he hajd alsio plealsjure in handing an avermantel minor, afWd it was his wi^h that both recipients wo|iJd li^e hang arid ansjoy gaoW health arid prosperity arid each other's society for many years to come. Mr. and Mrs. Culleji would n)ot, he felt slure, receive the gifts for the mere Intrinsic valjue, blut fear the accomipanying exipresisilon of goodwill on the part of the subscribers. The sipeaker then reaH the follbwuig letter from the Right Han the Premier :— 1 Dear Mr. McLadhlan,— It is wiUh /pleasure tjhat T lear!n trtom ytfu that it is intended to make a presentation to my old friend, Mr. Hiugh Qullon ; aliti it is gratifying to tow, as at Kuroara a,nd the West Coast, he has at the Eastl Coast proved himself a deserving CiODohi'st, and deserving of the esteem of all those who haw 'had the pleasure of his acquaintance. My great regret is that I shall be ifnable to be wvtih y,o(u, and as an old fnoh'd to pers"onally join in wiallii!nig Mr. and Mrs Culleji avid their family every hafypiness ajfd prosperity in theiir new home. To yqurself and those assenilble/d, I wil* y.oHi one and all a happy Ohjistnias and a briigflito tVn/d pr"osper:cKts New Year.' Mr. Uullqn, in thtaiiking the domoxs on bahalf of Mrs. Ciillein and himself, said he would haVe Ho make use of an old haakneyed phoase in laying Vba.t the u«nex|>ected a,ndi''Kanda(ome treatmemt he had received at their hands ha)d,. in a meas/ure, robbed him of wprds in wihifcjli to convey hitsi thanks. He couHd assure them that the gifts tendered him that eveming were accepted ih a way that had movejd the sdi'bstribers t)o athow ttieir appreciation of tflie past services he aiid his family had rendered t}he district, and that those gifts wolild be highly u-easiured ih days to come was unnecesfe'ary on his part to meiittoti. In comcliusvon Mr. Cullen said tie deslireJd to pprblicly acknowledge the receipt of a dheqtue for £(50 that Had becin terideted to Mm by Mr. J. C. N. Grigig^ as .a,n appreciation of a service to tihe district he (the speaker) was not awaTe of. Mr. D. Thomas, who hati known Mr. Cullen for upwiar|lsl of 35 years, also -add*! his meed of praise, and slaW tflnat it was a,n evidence of the esteem in which their g,uest was held to ftn'd among those present the Very Rev. Father O'Dcrtnell aWfd the v-ifta-r of Lpwcliff.