PRESENTATION TO MR. P. J. NERHENY, AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, 31 July 1913, Page 27

PRESENTATION TO MR. P. J. NERHENY, AUCKLAND.

: (From our own correspondent.) There was a large gathering at the Town Hall last Tuesday evening, the occasion being a public meeting to do honor to Mr. P. J. Nerheny, in recognition of his services to the city in public positions. Mr. J. Trevethick presided, and a number of leading citizens occupied seats upon the platform. Apologies for their absence were received from his Lordship Dr. Cleary, the Hon. W. Beehan, M.L.C., and others. Among those present were Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, and Rev. Fathers Ormond, O’Malley, O’Doherty, and the Marist Brothers. 1. . The chairman said' that the meeting had been called at the request of those who-desired to see Mr. Nerheny’s services to the city of Auckland fittingly recognised. The number present that evening indicated in what great esteem Mr. Nerheny was really held. The man they were honoring that evening was one who as a citizen had been actuated by the very highest ideals and a spirit of self-sacrifice. A man’s true worth was really measured by the standard of his usefulness and the Influence that he was able to exercise for good. Mr. Nerheny, it might almost be said, was a man who did good by stealth, and blushed to find it fame. Mr. J. J. O’Brien, in the course of his remarks, said Mr. Nerheny richly deserved a public recognition from the citizens of Auckland for the services he had rendered the city. Speaking personally, he could say he had frequently had business dealings with Mr. Nerheny, and had always found him straightforward, honest, and high-minded. He was, moreover, a generous man, whose advice and purse were always open when the occasion arose. Mr. Nerheny was a man of strong convictions and great force of character; a man of ripe and sound judgment, possessed of tireless energy, with a capacity for getting through work which, very few men could excel. They might not always see eye to eye with him on public questions, but they would unanimously agree that whatever he did he was actuated by the loftiest motives. Dr. Florence Keller, who was received with loud applause, said she thought it could be truly said thatservice was the fruit of love, and there was no doubt that the man they were honoring was giving his services for love of his city. Meetings such as these, in fact, should be held more often in honor of men who were truly doing valuable work for town and townsmen. When she was elected to the Hospital Board she was told that she would find a valuable friend in Mr. Nerheny. She was also told ‘to keep a sharp eye out’ for the same gentleman.’ She had kept the sharp eye on their friend, and it had not taken her long to discover his real worth. He was never slow to unsheath his lance whenever a question of right or wrong arose. Dr. Keller concluded by relating several cases of great personal and financial assistance which Mr. Nerheny had given to people with whom she had afterwards come into touch professionally. The Deputy (Mr. John Court) said he would yield to no one in the respect and esteem in which Mr. Nerheny was held. They knew the circumstances which had led to this gathering. A meeting had been held in the Chamber of Commerce, at which it had been decided to make a presentation to Mr. Nerheny. Perhaps the greatest compliment which could be paid to their guest was the fact that no canvassing was done. Subscriptions were purely voluntary, and the response had been so ready that the committee found that not only could the idea of a presentation to Mr. Nerheny be carried out, but it would also be possible to make presentations to both Mr. Nerheny’s daughters. In addition, a resident, who did not desire his name to be known, had asked that a travelling rug should be presented to Mr. Nerheny on his behalf. " Mr. Court paid a fine tribute to Mr. Nerheny’s work on the City Council, and then made the presentation of a gold watch and chain and embossed address to Mr. Nerheny, and also a gold bangle for each, of Mr. Nerheny’s daughters.

Mr. T. W. Leys, in supporting previous speakers, said he was sure that the presentation to Mr, Nerheny would be a source of strength and encouragement to him in his public life. He agreed with Dr. Keller that the citizens were too often inclined to accept as a matter of course the services of public men. Anyone who knew anything of the working of civic machinery must realise the sacrifice entailed of both time and money by members of public bodies. Mr. Nerheny was one of those men who worked without thought of reward, and that fact heightened the public appreciation of his services. He was a man who desired a fair field and no favor, who could take hard knocks as well as give them, and who could always be depended upon to make a good fight for the principles he held dear. That was the type of man one liked to honor. Mr. H. Rhodes, secretary of the United Friendly Societies’ Association, said that for those who took -part in Friendly Society work, it had to be a labor of love, and Mr. Nerheny, notwithstanding his numerous public duties, always managed to give up one or two nights per week for Friendly, Society work when required. The Auckland Society was in a better position than any other society in New Zealand, and this fact was in no small measure due to Mr. Nerheny’s services. Mr. Long referred to Mr; Nerheny’s connection with the trades union movement of this city. He was one who had never hesitated to help the weak. It was at a critical period in the history of the Tailoresses’ Union that Mr. Nerheny had consented to come forward and accept the presidency of that union, and it was in no small measure due to his untiring efforts that the union was now on a most excellent footing. Speaking as a member of the Sailors’ Home Council, Mr. E. Phipps said that for 19 years Mr. Nerheny had been a worker on the committee of the home, and the assistance he had given was simply incalculable. Mr. Nerheny, in acknowledging the honor bestowed upon him, said the presentation was one of which any man in New Zealand might feel justly proud. He took the presentation as a tribute of esteem, which he very deeply appreciated. He ventured to hope that no act of his, in private or public life, would ever render him unworthy of it. No man could receive a greater honor than to be the recipient of the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He thought he could claim that it was where he was best known that he was best respected. Mr. Leys had spoken of him as a typical Irishman. Well, he was proud of it. He had left his native land at the age of ten, but he had always retained his love for his country, and that love was, perhaps, the real reason of his ideal to always do by his fellow citizens as he would have them do by him. Mr. Nerheny thanked those who had spoken so kindly of him, and in acknowledging Mr. Court’s remarks, said he hoped in due course to see that, gentleman conclude an honorable public career with a term in the highest ' position the city had to bestowthe Mayoralty. Mr. Nerheny concluded by saying that in public life he realised he could never do more than attempt to live up to the motto—- ‘ For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.’ During the evening songs were given by - Mrs. J. Hansen and Mr. J. H. Egan, and a cornet solo by Mr. G. Sinton. The gathering concluded with cheers for Mr. Nerheny, the Misses Nerheny, and the DeputyMajor.