Complimentary Dinner And Presentation To Bro. J. R. Stebbing.

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER AND PRESENTATION TO BRO . J . R . STEBBING .

On Monday , 13 th ult , a number of gentlemen connected with the County of Southampton Provident Permanent : Benefit Building Society , with a select party of friends , dined together at the Philharmonic Rooms , the object being to pay a compliment to Bro . J . R . Stebbing , J . P ., who in

the course of the proceedings was presented with a handsome silver epergne , as a token of respect , and in ' appreciation of the services he has rendered the above named society , as its President , during a period of twenty years . The following inscription was engraved on the testimonial , which stands on a black marble base : —

" Presented to J . R . Stebbing , Esq ., J . P ., as a mark of respect and esteem , from the trustees , directors , and officers of the County of Southampton Provident Permanent Benefit Building Society , and in high appreciation of his valuable services as President for upwards of 20 years .

October 13 th , 1873 . " The Mayor ( Bro . W . Hickman ) presided , and was supported by Mr . J . R . Stebbing , Mr . E . Coxwell ( Coroner ) Mr . Alderman Furber , J . P . the Town Clerk ( Mr . 11 . S . Pearce ) ; Mr . Geo . Evans , Mr . J . J . Burnett , Mr . H . P . Aslatt , & c .

Mr . F . Butler officiated as vice-chairman , and amongst those present were Mr . J . C . Munday , S . Stevens , E . Roberts , W- H . Mitchell , C . G . Smith , Bridger , Sandy , Maine , O'Farrel , Sparrow , W . G . Lankester , Gibbons , Paul , Capper , Dyson , Sutton , Hogarth ( Wilts and Dorset Bank ) ,

Chandler , Bright , H : Hussey , G . Hussey , Stebbing , jun ., Richmond , C . Munday , jun ., & c . After the removal ofthe cloth , the Mayor , who expressed' his pleasure in being present on the occasion , gave the usual loyal toasts in appropriate terms , and the same having been duly

responded to by the company , Mr . George Evans proposed "The Mayor and Corporation of Southampton and the Borough Magistrates . " The Mayor said it afforded him very great satisfaction to be present . He did not intend to offer anv laudatory remarks on their friend , Mr .

Stebbing , who was so well known to them , so far as' referred to the special proceedings of the evening . If he referred to Mr ., Stebbing having filled the office of Mayor , besides being a magistrate for many years past , and holding other positions of equal trust , he did not mean to say

that those were the most important positions he had held , because he was looked upon as the exponent of the commercial interests of Southampton , which he had for a long time striven to promote . He then proceeded to respond to the toast . He did not undertake the office of Mayor

without seriously considering the responsibilities connected with it , and having nearly reached the conclusion of his term , he would acknowledge the kindness shown him both by the members of the Corporation anti the Town Clerk , He had been rather peculiarly placed during the prist

year , but was glad to say that he had met with the sympathy of every person he had met with ( hear , hear . ) He concurred with Mr . Evans in regretting that the members of the Town Council were elected in a political manner , but did not see how it could be well avoided , and he thought

that when 111 the Council they rill united for the common good . With reference to the bench of magistrates , he must say that he had always been cordially received by them , nnd he believed that they discharged their duties very well , considering that they had not been brought up to a technical

knowledge of the law ( cheers . ) Alderman Furber , J . P ., also responded on behalf ofthe magistrates . The Town Clerk proposed " The Trade and Commerce of Southampton . " Mr . Octavius Capper responded .

Mr . F . Butler , in proposing the next toast , said he wished it had fallen into abler hands , but being almost the senior director on the Board , his colleagues thought it wns his duty to propose the health of their President . He could say with

the greatest pleasure that he had been associated with him for the last twelve years , during which period he had been almost in constant communication with him , and therefore was well acquainted with his sentiments towards their society . He also knew the valuable services

Complimentary Dinner And Presentation To Bro. J. R. Stebbing.

which Mr . Stebbing had rendered them ; were it not for him they wonld not be assembled there that night , for the society wonld have been non est , or in process of winding up long ago . But so widely supported by the public , so ably led bv their President , and under his

fostering care , they could now hold up their heads with a degree of pride , and say that the society had prospered , and had been the means of doing a great deal of good . Such was the valuable assistance he had rendered them during thelast twenty years that no tribute which the directors and

officers of the society could offer would repay him , or shadow forth the gratitude they owed him , and which they wished to express . However , they had attempted to do this in their humble way . For the last two years it had been felt that they ought to pay their President some slight

tribute of respect . Circumstances had not permitted them to do it before , but once started no power could stop it , and the society having now attained its majority , and having a capital of ^ 30 , , they thought it a fitting time to commemorate that event by paying a compliment to

the gentleman who had mainly contributed to it . Mr . Stebbing might be called the father of building societies in this town . He was the president of the first building society established in it , which , being on the terminable principle came to an end , but others sprung from it on the

permanent constitution , and he hoped that many more would yet arise , and produce as much good as tine society he represented . There were in the the room that night several gentlemen who might be called , with Mr . Sebbing , the originators of such societies in Southampton and even in

Hampshire . He alluded to Messrs . Sandy , Coxwell , and Furber , who , with their President , had shared in this good work , the happy results of which had extended far and wide . These societies had been of the greatest service , not only to snch as it enabled to become the owners of property , and

to sit under their own vine and fig tree , but also to those provident persons who invested their money in its shares , and thus obtained a larger 'liwfdcnd than they could in almost any other way .-This society s shares were worth , in its present position , about double what they had cost the

members-that is to say every 0 L 40 share was worth about £ 80 . That , in a great measure , was owing to the fostering care and sound advice of their President . Some years ago , when the society was not in the flourishing position it was now , some were inclined to give way to despondency ,

but Mr . Stebbing cheered them b y his kindly feeling and encouraged them to persevere instead of despairing . His motto ever was " Excelsior !" They did persevere , and , under his guidance , went on from day today increasing in prosperity . He never lost an opportunity of advancing the

interests of ihe society , but brought them customers by his influence , rmd in no instance had they lost a penny by the connection he brought then , but had made a good profit , and to him they owed it . He would not detain them much longer , as a gentleman would be associated

in the presentation who had known Mr . Stebbing much longer than he had done . The gentleman to whom he referred , ami Mr . Stebbing , had known one another for a long period , and had been closely associated together , not only in this society , but in others of a like description , every

one of which was a success . In the names of his co-directors he would propose the President ' s good health , and call upon . Mr . Coxwell to make the presentation on their behalf , lt mi ght appear to be a small tribute to one they so much respect-, d , but only a few persons had taken ' part in

it , the subscription having been limited to the trustees , directors , and ollicers of their society . At lir . st they did not contemplate nsembling at the festive hoard more than the subscribers , but it occurred to him that there were some gentlemen who would be very glad to sire the presentation made to Mr . Subbing , aud they could not

be so churlish as to keep all the good things to themselves . They thus resolved upon inviting a few friends , and he was glad to see them present . They had come to do honour to Mr . Stebbing , but it relKctctl honour upon them also . As he had intinvited before , the Society owed much of its success to Mr . Stebbing , who always supported its good name , ami vvas evtr

Complimentary Dinner And Presentation To Bro. J. R. Stebbing.

ready to heal any dispute that arose regarding it . On the night he ( Mr . Butler ) joined it , there was a jolly good row , but before leaving the room he was induced by the President to become a director , and had never since regretted doing so . He could not sit down without , in the name

of the trustees , directors , and officers of the society , asked Mr . Stebbing ' s acceptance of this tribute to his worth ; it mi ght be but a small one , but such as it was , they offered it with their heartiest good wishes . Mr . Coxwell having been called upon b y the

preceding speaker to present the testimonial , which was then uncovered , and excited great admiration on account of its excellence and beauty , proceeded to observe that he rose with mingled feelings of diffidence and gratification to perform the duty which their kindness had

imposed upon him with diffidence because he could not hel p feeling how inadequate he was to tlo justice to the subject entrusted to his charge , and with gratification because it was particularlypleasing to him to see his old and very much esteemed friend , Mr . Stebbing , receiving such a

mark of their confidence , and appreciation ofthe valuable services he had rendered to their society . He could speak , perhaps , to a longer and more intimate acquaintance with Mr . Stebbing than anyone in the town , for his first visit , after coming to Southampton , and before he had ' settled there ,

was paid to him ( Mr . Coxwell ) at a period now verging on 40 years ago . [ Mr . Stebbing ; Rather more . ] Since that time they had differed once or twice on matters of local interest , but never had there been any interruption to the very kind and friendl y intercourse which had taken place between them . Not so much as a harsh word

or an unkind thought had ever passed between them ( cheers ) . This was a very gratif ying occasion to him , because Mr . Stebbing had been for many years his . warmest , kindest friend in the town ( hear , hear . ) He had watched him in all his public pursuits ; he had seen his conduct and

the services which he had rendered , not onl y to this societ y , but to those of a similar character which had preceded it . He believed he was one of the first with whom Mr . Stebbing was associated in the Building Societies which were the origin of the present one ; and as their

vicechairman ( Mr . Butler ) had well remarked , not one of those societies had failed in the least degree , but had done a great deal of good . He felt at a loss to say all he desired to express respecting Mr . Stebbing on this occasion . It was his maxim , when he had occasion to say anything , not to

use two words when one would suffice , and he thought he could now do no better than ask Mr . Stebbing to accept at their hands the very beautiful testimonial which they had been kind enough to present to him ( cheers ) . He was sure he would appreciate it , not less from its intrinsic value than for the kindl y feelings which

had prompted the oil ' ering . Then , turning to Mr . Stebbing , Mr . Coxwell said : —On behalf of the trustees , directors , and officers of this society , I ask you to accept this present as a tribute of their respect nnd esteem . May you live long to see it on your table , and may it remind those who come after you of your virtues and great services ( cheers ) to this society , and many others of a kindred character .

Bro . Stebbing , on rising to reply , was received with hearty cheers . He said he would endeavour , as far ns his gra . te ^ . l feelings would allow him , to acknowledge the distinguished compliment they had paid him that evening , a compliment such as fell to the lot of few , and

one that had been paid by them in an almost unexampled manner . It was totally unexpected and entirely unsought on his part ( hear , hear ) , nnd it had been brought about by a degree eft generosity and kindness b y them which he shall never forget . He thanked the Mayor for

honouring the occasion with his presence ; he thanked Mr . Butler , for the kind manner he had spoken of him , and he thanked him all the more because he lmd acknowled ged that after what possibly might be termed some little differences

that had arisen , lie ( Mr . Stebbing ) had induced him to join the society , to which he ( Mr . Butler ) had given so mnch strength . To his ohl friend Mr . Coxwell , he also gave his best thanks , and they could have found no one more acceptable