SUPERANNUATED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 471, 1 April 1909, Page 9

SUPERANNUATED.

LAST DAY AT THE DESK. PRESENTATIONS AND FAREWELLS. THE SECRETARY FOR CUSTOMS. 'A. number of Civil Servants, who aro retiring at tho ago limit under tho Superannuation Act,' spont their last day at tho desk yesterday. Thoir official appointments will not terminate till Juno 30, and in the meantime they will enjoy ' threo months' Icavo of absonco, on full salary. Speculation is rifo. in, tho Civil Servico as to who will bo their successors, if any successors aro appointed. A good deal of inconvenience is expected to bo caused : in somo departments by tho Government's extremo delay in making up its mind whether it will fill vacant places, or amalgamate Departments, allowing certain positions to lapse._ It is] supposed that tho Prime Minister is waiting to announce Departmental changes -at the same time with tho financial statement which ho has engaged to make, when the returns for the financial year aro available. It is generally considered, however, that,the two subjects liavo not so much in copimon as to make it necessary to protract tho BUspenso and disregard tho convenience of Departments in respect of changes, pending financial information, which will only affect o small proportion of tho positions concerned. Tho Departments ere also .1 good deal preoccupied witli presentations and plans for presentations to departing officers. These ' mill v.*

will bo tairly numerous during the next few weeks, the excuso of on' official connection with_ Departments during "leave" being held to justify tho calling back of officers from the midst of their neiv pleasures 'and freedom to receive such tokens of esteem. In several instances presentations will come from the entire Dominion staff of a Department, and in those cases delay is almost unavoidable. Presentations to Mr.,,.W. T. Clasgow. The Customs Department has not lost any time in showing its esteem for tho retiring Secretary and Inspector, Mr. W. T. Glasgow. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Glasgow's room was. invaded by, the full strength of tho local office, who presented him, on behalf- of the New Zealand staff, with a ladies' travelling "'"case, fitted, a- goldmounted fountain, pen, a pair of binoculars, a rug, and telescope-r-no less. Mr. Richard .Carter, Collector of Cus> toms, in making tho presentation, outlined Mr. Glasgow's career as an .example to the junior members of the Department present. Mr. Glasgow -was, he thought, with one exception, the officer of longest service in the State's employment. -_ He joined the Department as a'clerk in 1861, after service in Dunedin he was appointed, in 1880, act-ing-landing surveyor at Auckland; the same year he i'beeame chief clerk in the head office, in 'JBBB ho was appointed Collector of Customs at Wellington, and in 1892 ho became, Secretary and Inspector of Customs. As_ a body they littlo know the difficulties which'beset tho head of a Department. Mr. Glasgow had done bis best to .help all those under him, and he thought that he had borne the kindest' wishes to them all. Especially ,was lie honoured for his strict impartiality. Mr. Carter read a telegram expressing the good wishes of tho Auckland staff. On. .behalf of the Department ns a wholo, he wished Mr. Glasgow many years enjoyment of the pension which his services had earned.

'■ Looking Back at 47 Years' Servics. Mr. Glasgow, in replying, said that it was with'mingled feelings'that one concluded a career .of -47 years', service. Mr. Mills, Collector of Customs at Auckland, was. _ the only officer who was senior to him, in 'service, and his seniority was only by a few months. No officer in tho Department, except Mrj. Mills, could remember-.the-shed • —he could not call it. anything else—in which he commenced his career 47 years ago. There were now over. 8000 shipping entries , at one of thd'large ports in a quarter, but at that' time ho was able to enter, them all. To show how tho Department had' increased during tho seventeen years for which he had been secretary, Mr.' Glasgow said'that on March 31,, 1901, the revenue from all sources was £1,662,510, and in 1908 it was £3,394,239— that was to say, it had just doubled. Owing to tho tremendous increase of business, there had-been a large number of young officers ;in .the service. Mr. Glasgow gave some, interesting ''recollections of former officers and .'customs of tho Department. ■ He 'expressed- -his very' cordial thanks for the generous' gifts mride to him}, which' ho took as an expression that all tho' officers through*, out New- Zealand had kindly feelings towards him personally. •• (Hear, hear.) There was nothing, which ho prized more than Mr. Cartor's reference to'his impartiality. Ho had always striven not to allow any personal prejudice of'any' kind to interfere with any officer in regard'to his advancement or any of ]his interests_ whatever. He had also taken> into'account,' as far as possible, the domestic convenience'of officers when making transfers, .whenever 119 could do so without interests of the Department ' as a.whole. Ho sinccrely trusted that the ! Department would continue to bear tho high ' character which it had borne in tho past and still enjoyed. There had never been a whisper of corruption or anything of that kind in the Customs Department.. He again 1 expressed his thanks for their kind wishes, 1 their good: opinion, and tho valuable gifts ' which he had received. . , Cheers were then given for Mr. Glasgow ' and'"his successor." The successor has not ' yet been appointed, but it is generally sup- 1 posed that Mr. It. Carter, Collector of Custarns at Wellington, will succeed to the posi- ■ tion." Mr. C. S. Nixon, Collector at Napier, is spoken of'as the probable successor of Mr 1 Carter. • • j Mr. and Miss Glasgow leave next Thurs- 1 day on a visit to England- < A' presentation will be made during the 1 present month to Mr. G. .V. Shannon, chief Customs expert, who is also retiring on superannuation. Mr. Shannon was appointed as chief Customs expert in 1888, and ho has 1 held the office ever since. j Farewell to Mr. J. M. Batham. 1 Mr. J. M. Batham, Registrar-General of 1 Lands and Deeds, received tho warmest ' dav Wls hes from liis Department yestor-' ' J ' Ki] g°« r . Assistant Registrar, said 1 that they were all sincerely sorry to lose so ! est mi a bio and conscientious a head as Air. j ilatham. Ho had gained the respect of all ot them by his strict impartiality and fair- ' ness. At the same timo ho had been ready ; to do a good turn whenever opportunity ' ottered Personally, he-regretted very much s Mr. iiatham s retirement, as they jiad been ! closely associated in the office in Christchurch 1 and Wellington for tho last 28 years, during which timo their relations had been of the most cordial and amicable naturo. Mr. Batham was known to them as a worker, and ] ho had always been most willing to givo his ] advice and assistance when called upon to < do so. They all hoped that ho would livo ■ very many _ years to enjoy that rest from ; activo sorvico which his retirement would ' enable lnm to take. It was their intention j to have given Mr. . Batham a small memento of his connection with tho Wellington office, • but upon furthor consideration, and at the I suggestion of Mr. Hickson, Secretory of the ' Department, who wished to assist in whatever was being done, it was considered that 1 as Mr. Batham had many friends in tho : Department- in other parts of the Dominion, they should be given an opportunity of taking part in anything that was done. Tho matter had, therefore, been adjourned,' pending communication with tho I other officers. Meanwhile they hoped that I Mr. Batham would accept their hearty Irishes ( for his future wolfaro. ■ 1 Soveral otlior officers added their tributes i to Mr. Batham's good qualities, and tho 1 latter suitably replied. I Mr. Kilgour also referred to tho retire- 1 mont at tho' age limit of Mr. Bellett, clerk * in .tho Department, and wished him all happi- i ness. Ho then presented Mr. Bellett, on : bohalf of the staff, with a memento of their 1 esteem. Mr. Bellett has been a comparatively 1 short time in tho service. < Mr. Batham, who is G9 years of ago, has i 1 been a Civil Servant sinco 1871, filling the 11

following positions:—Registrar of the Supreme Court and Deputy Commissioner of Stamps; barristor and solicitor of the Supremo Court; Judge of Native Land Court; District Land Registrar; Examiner of Titles and Registrar of Deeds for the district of Wellington; and Registrar-General of Land and Deeds for tlio Dominion. His successor hns not yot boon appointedbut tho prospects of Mr. E, Bamford District Laud Registrar and Registrar of ] >( L a, "| also Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, at Auckland, aro favoured for tlio position. All. C A. St. G. Hickson, Under-Secretary foi Stamps, reaches the ago limit at Aiignst, ami it is exacted that when ho retires the Stamps Department and that of Land and Deeds w.U bo combined. The latest rumour■ » to Who olfcct that Mr. Hickson will retiio before August, and that tho amalgamation will be mado with tlio other reconstructions of Departments. Mr. Kilgour, Assistant Registrar of Lands and Dreds, is disqualified from succeeding to Mr. Bnmfoid's pos.bo by the fact that ho is not a duly a™ 1 " 1" solicitor, which the Act requires. . This demand is met by Mr Bamford, who is also said to bo a very capable ollicer. Presentation to Gaolor Armstrong. A presentation was made yesterday to Mr. Alexander Armstrong, tlio retiring gaoler %?T°A?no!d, J.P.. .said he had been asked to attend, and willingly consented, because this was an occasion which did not frenuently farewell to a gaoler. It was not, however, an unmixed pleasure for him to attend 011 that occasion. During the gaoler's stay in Wellington lie (tJio speaker) had taken great notieo of his actions, not only with prisoners, but with the officers. Mr. Armstrong was a kind-hearted man, though a strict disciplinarian. Olhcers nrisnnprs h.ld all Spoken Well Or him, I

; ana prisoners nau »u » — > ■ and tho officers had asked his acceptance ! of a token of their esteem. ! Mr. Duncan, J .P., said the retirement or i Mr Armstrong caused him deep personal rcret. Mr. Armstrong had always assisted i him, and other visiting Justices, to perform • their duties, and had ever been courteous ; and obliging. He had always found the gaoler very loyal to tho staff and tho staff loyal to him. Mr. J. Coyle, chief warder, on behalf ct the officers, "mentioned the happy relations which had ever exist-ed between tho gaoler ; and his staif, by whom his retirement was regretted, and wlio all wished him long : life and good health. Mr. Armstrong, replying, expressed his pleasant surprise at the presentation, and deep appreciation of the good feelings prompting it. . He recognised that tho "ago limit," was really a good thing, and would eventually prove beneficial to many young officers. If, however, it had been applied immediately tho Act was passed, ho would have been a first-class gaoler many years earlier, and consequently would not have had to retire, as he was now doing, on a minimum superannuation allowance. For this reason alone he regretted his retirement.- Ho had always found tho Wellington Gaol staff an efficient, careful, patient, and vigilant body of men. They to deal with men who were always plotting and scheming to outwit them, and ho had found the staff particularly adapted to the arduous duties required of them. Their present was much appreciated, and would be equally valued by his wifo. Mr. Arnold recalled thi\t during 1908 only 3 per cent, of tho prisoners passing through tile Wellington Prison wero brought up for punishment, tho figures being something like 33 out of 1300 odd prisoners. This fact surely emphasised the gaoler's remarks regarding his staff. Mr. Armstrong joined tho servico at New Plymouth in February, 1881, and was promoted to be acting-chief warder in 1888, chief warder in 1804, gaoler at Invercargill 1903, and gaoler at Wellington in 1906. No information can.be gained as.to his probablo successor. The chief warder at the Terrace Gaol is Mr. J. Coyle. Mr. Michael Flannory, gaoler at Napier, is also retiring from to-day. Presentations in Government Printing Office. Among those 1 who bade farewell to tho service yesterday wero several members of tho Government Printing Offico staff, chief among whom was Mr. George Tattle, overseer of tho time,room, who can look back to 42 years of honourable servico in tho Stato printing shop. The staff attended in the time-room yesterday evening to bid Mr. Tattlo a formal good-bye. Mr. John Mackay voiced tho sentiments of tlie staff in a short eulogistic speech, in conclusion handing Mr. Tattle a valuable silver tea and coffee service. Mr. Tattlo replied feelingly, expressing a welldefined ■ regret at having to sever his connection with the offico with which he had been associated for tho greater part of his life. He was glad to say that he had always got on well with everybody, and tho staff had made his duties light, whore they might have been otherwise. Messrs. Jones, Hodge, Arnott, and Furniss, compositors, who arc also retiring on compensation, wero farowelled at the samo time. Messrs. Arnott and Furniss received purses of sovereigns from their fellow employees, and Messrs. Jones and Hodge received presentations at a little social function held last evening. ! Another retiring servant was Mr'. Johnston, for many years nightwatchman at the printing office. From the girls' room ho received a token of esteem in the form of a liieo case of pipes. Other Presentations. _ Mr. Tuckey, clerk of the Old Age Pensions Department, received a. presentation of a silver-mounted smoker's companion and box of cigars from his comrades of tlio offico yesterday. Mr. James E. Smith, Registrar of Old Age Pensions, made tho presentation, commending Mr. Tuckey's servico and character. Complimentary speeches wero also mado by Messrs. G. C. Facho (chief clerk), J. H. Reynolds, and J. S. Lambert. Tho retirement of Mr. W. ICnowles removes a most kindly and courteous officer from tho Stamp Department. Before joining the service, Mr. Xnowles was in tho employ of the Union and National Banks, and later ho was in private business. Retiring Officials, The Surveyor-General, Mr. Thomas Humphries, was a cadet in tho Survey Department, Taranaki, as early as 1857. He served in tho militia throughout Native disturbances in Taranaki, and was appointed Inspector of Surveys uuder tho General Government in 1875. lie was Government observer of tho transit of Venus in 1882, and of the total cclipso of tho sun in 1885. In the latter year ho was appointed to the offico of Commissioner of Crown Lands, in conjunction with that of Chief Surveyor for Taranaki, and held the same offices for Auckland in 1889, Ilawkc's Bay 1891, Nelson 1897, and Canterbury 1902. Ho was appointed Surveyor-General in 1006! A presentation will be mado to Mr. Humphries after the Easter holidays. It is not known who will bo his successor. Prisons Department. Lieutenant-Colonel Hume, Inspector of Prisons, expects to finish up his work to-day. He does not know who his successor will be, or what tho Government may intend for his Department. He served as captain with tho 79th Highlanders in India, returned to England in 1874 to take up tho position of deputy-governor of Millbank Prison, had official experience at Dartmoor Prison, in 1875, and Portland Prison, in 1878, and was afterwards governor of Wormwood Scrabb Prison. He was appointed Inspector of Prisons, New Zealand, in 1880, and was Commissioner of Police and Under-Secretary of Defenco from 1890-1895. Roads Department. Mr. C. W. Hurstliouse, Chief Engineer of tho Roads Department, joined tho Survey department, Taranaki, in 1855, saw most of tho Taranaki war, and joined tho Public Works Department in 1871 as surveyor, laying out railways. He was appointed Resident Engineer in tho same Department at Taranaki in 1875, and road surveyor in 1880. In 1882 ho was transferred to exploration work for tho Main Trunk line, whilo executing which lie was assaulted by Maoris, taken and bound hand and foot for 48 hours. In 1883 ho was appointed road surveyor at Kawhia, in 1884 laid out part of tho uortli end of the Main Trunk railway, and in 1885 l>egan its construction as Rcsidont Engineer, la 1397 ho was road surveyor, constructing

roads in tlio King Country and elsowhcre, and in 1901, when tlio Roads Department was established, lie beeamo its Chief Engineer. Thoro will probably bo no now appointment to tlio position. Jlr. (_!. E. Robinson, senior District Roads Engineer, has had chargo of tho Wellington district sineo tho inception of tho district, and is accounted a most valuable officer. For many years ho had chargo of tlio roads in tho Taranaki district, when this work was under tho Lands and Survey Department. Ho entered tho service in 1874, and has been continuously in it sinco. It is understood that Jlr. Hursthouso will reside _at New Plymouth, whero his son is an engineer. Captain Barclay, of tho Roads Department, is a popular and ablo officer who will bo much missed, 110 was at 0110 time private secretary to tho Hon. J. Ballance, and was also in tho Native Department for many years. Later lie joined tlio Lands and Survey Department, having chargo of tho old soldiers' claims, and latterly he lias had chargo of the proclamation work of tho Roads Department. Yesterday ho was presented by tlio officers of tho Department with a silver tobacco box, silver match box, and pipe. Journalism, to which ho gave an early allegiance, will bo Captain Barclay's next pursuit. Inspection cf Machinery Department. Mr. John Driscoll, records clerk of tho Inspection of Machinery Department, has had a very varied career. Ho camo to Westland from Queensland in 18G5, when hardly a skipper on the other side could be induced to negotiate tho Hokitika bar, whero a vessel had previously run aground. In 1873 Mr. Driscoll contributed an article on Westland to the first New Zealand Government bandbook, published by direction of Sir Julius Vogol. Mr. Driscoll joined tho Survey Department as. assistant draughtsman ill 1863, at Hokitika, and in July, 1868 becamo chief clerk of the Waste Lands and Commission of Crown Lands Office, Hokitika. He joined tlio Public Works Department ill March, 1874, at Christchurch, as an extra clerk, and in December was appointed an inspector. In March, 1877, ho was transferrer! to New Plymouth, and soon afterwards left tho servico to bccomo surveyor to t-ho Now Plymouth Harbour Board, which position lie held from tho commencement till iho completion of tho breakwater. In 1883 ho joined the Property Tax Department, transferring next year to tho Public Works Department, whero ho remained for fivo years. From December, IS9O, till April 1, 1891, lie was in tho Treasury Department, and then wont to Sydney for somo time. After that he joined tho Inspection of Machinery Department as records clerk, hut his work*has been much moro than clerical. As an inspector of tho Public Works Department, Mr. Driscoll was in chargo of tho construction of the railway from Ashburton to AYaitalci, including the Waimate branch line. Agricultural Department. Mr. John Dmmmond,' inspector of stock for the port of Wellington, has been 28 years ill the service. He took a prominent part in tho old days in tho suppression of scab in New Zealand. Tho work was dono so successfully that scab lias not been known in tho Dominion for many years. Mr. Drummond is a specially popular officer. Jlr. Isaac Hopkins, for the last four years Government apiarian, was previously in private employment in Auckland. Tlio position which ho now vacates was from tho .first a temporary one, and enthusiasm for his special hobby, more tl an any other reason, is .understood to have actuated_ Mr. Hopkins in accepting it. He has initiated tho official control over tho beo industry, and had a principal part in drafting tho present Apiaries Act, which foreign correspondents of the Agricultural Department liavo frequently declared to bo the finest in tho world. .Mr. Hopkins is tlio author of the well-known "Australasian Beo Manual." and several departmental publications. It is not known who will bo his successor. Mr. J. W. Palmer, who is retiring from tlio chargo of tho Governmotit nurseries atMoumahaki and Tauranga, is a very old Civil Servant, who has retained his youthful vigour in a surprising degree. By many people ho is considered to bo tho foremost horticulturist in New Zealand. Ho was for many years Government poinologist._ It is ■ unlikely that a successor will be appointed. Lands and Survey. Tho following officers are retiring from tho Lands and Survey Department Mr. W. G. Murray, chief draughtsman; tho Hon. _J. . Richardson. Mr. A. Montgomery, district surveyor (Nelson). Mr. J. Snodgrass, district surveyor (Reefton), and Mr. J. S. Welch, senior draughtsman, district office, Wellington. Mr. Welch joined tho Otago Provincial Government in 1867, and was assistant engineer in the Public Works Department from 1874 till 1877. Ho was then transferred to tho Survey Department, Christchurch. In 1893 he camo to Wellington, being compelled to discontinue field work after an illness, and ho has bejn in tho Wellington office since. Land Purchase Department. Mr. A. Barron. land purchase inspector, is I in the south at present, but it is understood that his retirement will take place immediately. He becamo a draughtsman in the 3tago Survey Department in ISG2, surveyor L 864, assistant engineer 1875, organising surveyor, New Zealand Survey Department, 1876, Under-Secratary for Lands and Survey , LB9O-1902, Assistant Surveyor-General IS9G- ] L 902, land purchase inspector and chairman , >f tho Board of Land Purchaso Commissioners ' 1902. ' i