Departure of Mr A. Barnes.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 340, 20 August 1889, Page 3

Departure of Mr A. Barnes.

A PRESENTATION. Mi A. Bsbkxs (teller in the Gisborne branch of the Bink of New Zealand) left by Sunday's steamer for Auckland, whither he has been transferred. A large number of friends went down to the wharf, and some out in the launch, to bid farewell to Mr Barnes. But the moat public testimony of the esteem in which that gentleman was held in Gisborne, was made on Saturday evening, when a large number of influential citizens invited Mr Barnes to a meeting in the Argyll Hotel dining-room, and presented him with a gold watch and a purse of sovereigns. Among those present were : His Worship the Mayor (Captain Tucker); Mr 3. W. Matthews (Manager Bank of New Zealand. Gisborne branch); Mr Parker (Bank of New South Wales); Mr J. Bright (Gisborne Agent L. and M. A. Company); Dr Pollen ; Messrs Nolan, Day, Cbrispand others, representing the legal profession ; Mr A. W. Croft (Deputy Official Assignee) ; Mr Dougherty (Agent U.S.S. Company) ; Mr W. E. Akroyd (Secretary Gisborne Stand inn Company); Mr F. J. Please, representing the oil companies ; Mr T. Morgan (Principal, Gisborne School) ; Mr H. M. Porter and others representing the I Insurance Companies ; many other leading basiress men and citizens; Mr Stevenson and others representing the country settlers, and Mr Stopford the Coast people. Mr Bright moved that His Worship the May or take the chair. This was carried by acclamation, and on rising,

The Mayor said : I suppose that the meaning of my being asked to take the chair is that we shall at once enter upon the business for which we have met together. lam glad to say that on this occasion we can combine business with pleasure ; a pleasure that is not altogether unmixed with regret, as moat pleasures of life are. Life, it is said, is made up of meetings and partings, and we are met here on the eve of one of the pan ings. f While we shall always recollect Mr Barnes With feelings of pleasure, yet we sha’l regret bis absence—regret parting with him, but nope that the parting will be very much to his benefit. lam glad to see so many of Mr Barnes' fellow citizens met here to give expression to that regret and to their hopes for his future welfare. lam glad that Mr Barnes’ exemplary conduct has met with the reward which is not always meted out to the like exemplary conduct; and that those persons assembled here wish to make to him some mark of the sense of the respect in which they hold him. Now, praise to the face (one of the American writers says) is open disgrace; therefore, Mr Barnes being present, * will not say in bis favor what one might •ay. No words of mine could be so high a compliment to Mr Barnes as the fact of so many of the citizens of Gisborne being here—the fact speaks for itself without any further remark. I have been entrusted with a case — containing a gold watch and a purse containing sovereigns, and I felt that they were a Strong temptation— (laughter)—but managed to resist it, and they are here. I felt -a further inclination to appropriate the watch as a remedy against unpanctuality.— (Laughter.)— [The Mayor had been late in attending.j One of the newspapers suggested that I should be presented with a Waterbury, and this handsome watch would do very much better. (Laughter.) To get out of temptation as rapidly as possible I must discover Mr Barnes [who had seated himself In an obscure corner], and ask his acceptance of the present in the name of all those persons present—as a memento of the estimation in which they hold him (applause), wishing at the same time, and feeling confident, that elsewhere he will behave as he has done here. (Applause,) I think really that is the strongest expression of our regard for him that I can make—that he will be as good a man elsewhere as ha has been here. (Applause.) I must also ask of him to accept this testimonial, which I am glad to see is filled up with names. (Applause.) The following is a copy of the testimonial:— •* We, the undersigned friends, and residents of Gisborne, desire your acceptance of the acBig gold watch and chain as a mark igh esteem we entertain for the alities which have always characur actions both in public and in J during your nine years’ residence nlst regretting your removal from you may feel assured thafour hearty good wishes will attend you wherever the cause of duty may lead you, and we hope that this souvenir may recall to your mind many happy,days spent in Gisborne, number of friends you still retain there.” On rising to reply, Mr Barnes was loudly applauded. He was affected with emotion, and there was a tremor in his voice, but he made as neat a little speech in reply as could possibly be expected from a more practised •peaker. He said he hardly knew what words to use to express his deep sense of gratitude for the kind expressions that had been made and for the magnificent gift that had been bestowed upon him. He felt he was unworthy of such special marks of their favor, but he was glad to think tha his connection with Gisborne had been so much appreciated, and that PP his , departure he was carrying away With him such a high testimony of the regard in which he was held by the people of the giatrict-. Wherever he might be his memory would always carry him back to the many pleasant days he had spent in Gisborne, Of which this testimonial would ever remain a memento. He was not a good speaker, and could not there fittingly clothe in language the thoughts that were within him, but be thanked them in the best way hs could for the honor that had been done r m ?• - fi w °uld ever think of his many friends io Gisborne and hoped that be might always ba able to give the same satisfaction as was Indicated that he had here by the meeting there evening. (Loud applause.) Mr Bright said it would be impossible for him to supplement anything the Mayor had said by way of expressing their appreciation of Mr Barnes. His own acquaintance with gat gentleman was not confined to Gisborne. peWJ* very g‘*d on coming to Gisborne to find that ne had one such friend here. ’ Now that Mr Barnes wgs going away, lie (Mr Bright) was very pleased to say that he bad made many more friends in Gisborne, but Still when Mr Barnes had gone there would .. be one missing. Mr Bright then proposed a toast in honor 0* Barnes, and before the glasses were grained, the company sang “Bor he's a jolly jjpod fellow.” ’ Mr Nolan said he had known Mr Barnes u> his younger days. His first experience of him was in an athletic contest, Mr Barnes was a long way behind him at the start, but at the finish the reverse was tbe case. He (Mr Nolan) had heard no more of him until M came to Gisborne, and he could say he had klwaya found Mr Barnes as manly a fellow h*re as he was when he was victorious in the gace. . M r W. Para,ll gave a song—“ The English, Itfch and Scotch,” the company taking up the chorus, r Mr Matthews said he had only a few remarks to make in reference to Mr Barnes, and they were : I have known him, since he has been in Gisborne, to be a thoroughly reliable and trustworthy officer, and well worthy of the appreciation you have shown (Cheers.) »• Mr Barnes was urged to give s song, but SSked to be excused, end said instead he would propose a toast, and drink it, too—- “ Health and prosperity to you all,” The proceedings cono'uded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne, and hearty handshakes with Mr Barges.