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A BANKER'S RETIREMENT.
COMMERCIAL FAREWELL TO MR. T.
N. .WOOD.
A larje .ind representative gathering a*
somlildl at tiie Port Adelaide Town Hall
on T ne-day morning at tlie invitation of
tlie ilavor (Mr. ,). Sweenev^ to do honour
to Mr. T. X. Wood, who is retiring from
the service of the Union Bank, after -Jo
years service, hi of which have been spent ;
in 1'ort Adelaide as local manager. j
Alter tlie loyal iotisl, the Mayor pronns- I
ed the health of 'The ciiest.' They were '
ii-.-t tlu'io lo -ay goodby, because Mr.
AVuocl. alter nearly 45 years' connection
ivith the banking institution, 'bad deter
mined to settle down into private life and \
continue to re.?idc in the district. lie i
vms pleased to see si:ch a representative
tM'.heuii:-. There was not, a rivioViit. in
i'oil Adelaide who did not appreciate Mr. j
Wood's sterling iiualilics, and many could 1
tesliiV to his business (iiialilication.-. Their I
hope 'was that buth Mr. and Mrs. Wood j
would continue in good health and pros
perity. (Applause.)
Mr. \Y. }-. Webb, in supporting, heartily
joined in the good wi-hes expressed by the
Mayor. iUr. Wood w«s not only a tho
rough business man, but ivn.- possessed of
considerable legal knowledge.
Aid. Malin referred to Mr. and Mrs..
Wood's charitable? work on behalf of tlie
poor of Port Adelaide, and trusted, now!
he had been able to retire, lie would take
an active trail in municipal life. (Hear,
hear. )
Mr. ,T. W. Cairo said Mr. Wood had
been for many years one of the mainstay*
of the District Trained Nursing Society,
and it was a great loss to the society when
two years ago he had been compelled to re
linquish the position of tnsusurer.
Mr. W. O. Archibald, M.P.. wished Mr.
and Mrs. Wood every success and pro
sperity. After such a lengthy experience
of banking, the incrwusiny prosperity (|t
Port Adelaide must have come very direct
ly to his knowledge. (Hear, hear.)
Air. E. N. Dewhirst supported the toast
on behalf of his fellow-bankers. His recol
lection of Mr. Wood Trent back -10 years
ago, when in his boyhood he had the 'plea-
sure of meeting their guest in the then
little town of Wallaroo. In all the cir
cumstances in which he hsul met Mr. Wood
in bunking matters lie had always been
a friend. He had now retired,
and he thought :it an opportune
moment, for he considered it a verv great
mistake on the part of bankers who were
able to. retire at a reasonable age. to still
remain' at the post until they reached that
point in Jife where brain and physical
power had given way to such a degree
that they were no longer able to enjoy
the rest which might be better realized in
altered and better conditions. lie be
lieved and hoped Mr. Wood would live to
enjoy many years of restful lite. (Hear.
hear.) Mr. Wood's advice in municipal
matters -would be of inestimable value, and
he hoped lie would accept the bint which
had been thrown out. I3y The Register
that day he had noticed that it was 70
years since Col. Ligjil entered the 1'ort
Adelaide Creek. !-ince he (the speaker)
came to Tort Adelaide 12 years ago he had
witnessed a great many changes, and he
believed if the changes during the next 70
years were a3 rapid as those that bad pass
ed since Col. Light' first entered the river,
the people of Port Adelaide would be jus
tified in claiming it not only as the first
port in the State, hut as second to none
in tlie whole of Australia. (Hear, hear.)
The toast was also supported by Messrs.
F. I). Brook. 11. J. Pudney, A. 0. {scales,
and I. MacCillivray. M.P.
Mr. Wood, in reply, expressed his sincere
gratitude to the Mayor for the opport unity
afforded of meeting so many of his friends.
It was 45 years S months since he joined
the service of the Bank of South Austra.
lia, which was then known as the South
Australian Banking Company. During the
greater portion of that time he had acted
in a managerial capacity, and considered
he was now justly entitled to a little rest.
He had retired under the regulation ot' the
Union Bank, which called upon its officers
to make way for younger men at the. age
of 60 'years. Although not deserving of all
the kind things said that morning, he had
always endeavoured to do his duty. (Hear,
hear.) He would always remember the
Kind welcome given to him when lie came
to Port Adelaide, and would carry aivay
T-leasant recollections of his closing recep
tion. (Applause.) In conclusion, Mr.
Wood introduced his successor, Mr. C. II.
L. French.
'The Corporation of Port Adelaide' was
proposed bv Mi\ J. W. Caire, and acknow
ledged by Aid. Hains- Mr. Wood submit
ted the toast of the Mayor, and Mr.
Sweeney, in reply, intimated that it was
his intenti.on to contest the forthcoming
Mayoral election.
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