Ladies and Gentlemen, there has never been anything achieved that was not first a thought or an inspiration in a person's mind. An early research into this company I have closely studied show three men among those whom we must honour this night. One was William Rae, born at Haddington, Scotland, educated at Haddington High School, worked as an Accountant in Glasgow, decided to try his future in the Colonies, arriving Melbourne 1852 where he worked for Edmund Westley & Co., then on the Bendigo goldfields, where he struck it exceptionally rich. Then he commenced business as a sawmiller which turned out very profitable. He then moved to Gabriel's Gully gold rush in Otago, setting up as a timber merchant. But when the Hokitika rush came into full swing he arrived there with his partner Haworth. Finally his last shift to Greymouth where he joined up with G. Sewell and started a timber and engineering business in 1873. This business evenually became the Dispatch Foundry Co. Ltd. registered in 1875 with a capital of £12,000.

    At the turn of the century he still hold just on half the shares in the company - a man universally esteemed for good qualities, benevolent and possessed of literary taste. He wrote "Reminescences of Greymouth."

    The second man was Joseph Hambleton who entered on his duties as Manager in 1889. Born in Manchester in 1844 he followed the profession of his father. He worked for Isaac Bolton. He then sought experience in the United States, working on the Mississippi gunboats during the American war. He worked on Rhode Island for Corless and Nightingale, later returning to Britain. In 1868 he landed at Port Chalmers and established the Britannia iron works in Dunedin. After three years he "went to sea" for 16 years, during which he was shipwrecked three times. The last of these was the "Star of the South" at Greymouth. He then became chief engineer of the "Herald," a position he held for five years, resigning to become Manager of the Dispatch Foundry. Thus started the long line of Hambleton influence on the Managerial side of the Company.

    The third - and the last gentleman is of a later vintage, but tried and tested over nearly 50 years as Chairman of Directors - Mr J. W. Hannan.

      There was this brotherhood of three.

      One conceived the idea.

      One perfected the idea.

      And the third, through depression, war and earthquake kept the company on right lines during difficult times.

    The rest is well documented. There is a complete history and sound establishment founded well, whose work, world wide is recognised as among the finest.

    To all who have belonged to the Company - take pride in the fact that your progress and your excellence of skills is well recognised by the citizens of Greymouth, who are extremely proud of its establishment, its management and its workmen.

    I conclude by expressing deep appreciation to the Company for the invitation for both my wife and I to join you in your celebrations and to express on behalf of the citizens every good wish to you all for the second century, and may you go from strength to strength in the days that lie ahead. I give you the toast -