CANTERBURY LAND BOARD.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17107, 31 March 1921, Page 6

CANTERBURY LAND BOARD.

RETIREMENT OF COMMISSIONER.

A presentation of a piece of plate was made to Jlr.H. D. M. Hasaard, retiring Commissioner of Crown Lands for Canterbury, by the members of the Canterbury Land Board and the staffs of the several divisions of tjje Lands Department, in the Provincial Council Chamber, yesterday afternoon. Mr Robert Macaulay (Temuka), senior member of the Land Board, who piesided and made the presentation, expressed the regret that the members of the Land Board felt at losing Mr Hasznrd. Sir Ilaszard had always done his best in his work, and when the results came to be judged Canterbury would not be last on the list. Mr T. Gee, another member *of the Land B.oard, endorsed Mr Macaulavs remarks, and paid a tribute to Mr Haszard's work on behalf of the soldier settlers, for whom ho had done much. Their guest had exercised a great influence on the business of the Land Purchase Board, and ho had done his work well. Canterbury had been fortunate in her Commissioners of Crown Lands, the only drawback being that all the Commissioners came to Canterbury just before they were duo to retire. Mr R. Leckie, Receiver of Land Revenue, said that the staff felt that they could not have had a better chief than Mr Haszard. They were sorry he was going, and felt that they Were losing a friend. He took the opportunity of welcoming Mr C. H. Bullard, the new Commissioner, whom he had heard described as a "white man." Mr T. M. Charters, District Repatriation Officer, said that as far as the returned men wefe concerned, they had a friend in Mr Haszard, who had done everything possible for them. _ Mr Haszard had striven from beginning to end to do the best he could on belialt of the returned men. Mr H. G. Ell, .Inspector of Scenic Reserves. Mr C. H. Bridge, president of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, Mr W. C. Leversedge. land transfer draughtsman, Mr D. Stowell, Mr W. Cunningham (members of Land Purchase Board), and Mi 1 C. W. Nalder, District Land Registrar, also spoke. In acknowledging the presentation and felicitbus remarks, Mr Haszard said that his parting with the Department came as a wrench. His work had always beeti greatly assisted by the efficiency of the members of the Land Board, and that of his loyal staff. His work in connexion, with soldier settlement had brought hiiii ihto toilch _ with the legal profession, with whom his relations had always been of the best. The same also applied to the private surveyors and the Press of the city. He would bo leaving Christchurch for some little, time to travel, but would return later, to settle down. Afternoon tea was provided, and the function concluded with the singing of "For He's a jolly Good Follow" and three cheers for Mr Hasznrd. After leaving school Mr Haszard commenced woi'k with a civil engineer in Auckland in 1879, fthd joined the Purvey Department as a Cadet in 1880, pervlh.fi! thfee yeiirs surveying in tilt; King Country. In 1887 he went ns assistant to the . then Surveyor-General to anii6x the Kermtidec Islands, and later oh was deputed to survey the Cook ftnd Savage Islands in the tropics. At this time 1»e was elected a Fellow of the Rdyiil Geographical Society.. On returhiflg to New Zealand he .was connected tfritli the drainage _ of the Piako Swairii) arid the Hauraki Plains, ana was chairman of the Forestry Commission that touted. Netv Zealand, and of it .Native Lrtftd FtifthiWe Corittnittee. Aftef holding positions aS chief df&ufrhtsfflrtft and. acting-chief at Christ el lurch, he became, in succession., Chief Surveyor and Commissioner df Lands at tTnkitika, inveteat'gill; and, lastly, at ChfifttcliUrCh.