PRESENTATION.
A meeting took place on Saturday evening last at the Devonshire Hotel, Mintaro, for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr. John Hutton, who is shortly to leave the Mintaro railway station, having been appointed to a Government situation elsewhere.
Mr. T. Priest, J.P., occupied the chair, and said that he had known Mr. Hutton for some considerable time; in fact, since the railway station at Mintaro had been opened, and whilst holding a situation under the Carrying Company. He had found him civil, obliging, and attentive to the interests of all. Mr. Hutton’s removal would be a loss to them, but he hoped he was going to better himself. He had gained the confidence and respect of all there, and although he was a young man he believed he would, no matter where placed, act as he had heretofore done.
Mr. Cunneen expressed regret at Mr. Hutton leaving the district, but hoped it would be Mr. Hutton’s gain, and he believed he would be respected wherever he went.
He had great pleasure in presenting Mr. Hutton with a silver watch and gold albert chain, which had been purchased by a few friends, in token of the esteem in which he was held by them.
Mr. Hutton returned thanks for the gift, not for its value, but for the kindly feeling they had towards him in so doing. He hoped that his future conduct would be such as to merit a further continuance of their respect towards him. He again returned thanks.
Mr. H. Jolly said he considered that when young men were considerate, steady, obliging, and persevering they deserved praise, and he believed it was the case with respect to the young man present. There were plenty of young men in the colony who were too fast and disobliging; they fancied that they had seen all the world, and that they were above ordinary mortals. But they found from experience that it was different with their guest of that evening. No flattery was needed, and praise should be given where due—and in this especial case it was deserved. The testimonial was not perhaps of great value, but it was a reward for merit deserved, and he hoped he would never part with it, but hand it down to his children as showing the respect in which he had been held, and as an inducement for them to do right themselves. He hoped that he would prosper in the future; his friends would be glad, his family would, and his own heart would rejoice also.
The Chairman then delivered an address to the young man, recommending him to follow up the same course he had previously ta[k]en, to avoid everything detrimental to his character, and by so doing it would be a faithful return for the confidence his friends had placed in him.
