BIDDING FAREWELL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1047, 9 February 1911, Page 6

BIDDING FAREWELL.

TO MR. J. K, LOGAN, 1.5.0. AFTER 46 YEARS' POSTAL SERVICE. There was a large gathering of Post and Telegraph officals in tho "long room" of tho local office yesterday to bid an official farewell to Mr. J. K. Logan,, Superintendent of Electric Lines, who has retired on superannuation. Tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward)'and tho Hon. Dr. Findlay (Attorney-General) were present. Mr. D. Robertson, Secretary to the Postal Department, presided. Tho Prime Minister said he had had on more than one occasion officially to say farewell to an officer of the Service, but it was somewhat rcmarkablo' that this was tho first time during his office that ho had been called upon to do so in the-caso of one of the permanent heads of the Department. Mr. Logan might bo called one of tho old identities of the Service. He had como to New Zealand in -1864. He had settled in Dunedin, and had becomo engaged in tho service of the Provincial Government. From that early start ho had climbed up to tho highest position in tho Service. (Applause.) He (had witnessed the very old order of things givo way to tho new. There was perhaps no better telegraphic service in tho world than that m Now Zealand. This was a good deal for a young country to bo ablo to say, and Mr. Logan was largely- responsible for tho advance. He wont out of offico with a full public recognition of his services. In this connection it was as well to remark that tho King had conferred on Mr. Logan the Imperial Service Order. • Sir Joseph Ward then submitted figures showing the ad-' vanco of tho Department, and recalled the days when tho s.s. Terranora was purchased to do tho cable-laying work, how that vessel had proved quite inadequate, and how that later she had given place to the Tutanckai. In conclusion, the Prime Minister paid a tributo to tho way in which Mr. Logan had carried out his duties. He had always found him very entcrprisiug, yet prudent. Ho had also possessed that very raro quality of being ablo to control men. (Applause!) Ho wished' him long life and prosperity. (Loud applause.) Sir Joseph Ward then handed Mr. Logan a purso of sovereigns, remarking that it had been subscribed by members of tho Service all over the Dominion. . .. The Hon. Dr. Findlay referred to the assistance Mr. Logau had given him when, during the Postmaster-General's absence on two occasions, ho had to fill tho office. . Mr. Robertson also spoke, and said that the presentation was quite a voluntary affair. . ' Mr. Logan, who was received with very hearty applause, said ho fully apprecfc ated the kind thoughts which accompanied the presentation, and it would bo a-solace to him to think that ho had many friends in the*old service—which had been his lifo for forty-six years. (Applause.) Ho had joined the gang constructing tho line from Dunedin to Christchurch about October 20, 1864. Later on, in a comparatively short time, his services had been in demand, as thero wcro fow then in Now Zealand who had his experience in telegraphy matters, no had previously' mado fairly good use of about eight years' service in tho British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company in the Old Country. Ho was put in charge of the erection of.tho Otago provincial lino ,to Quoonstown. Then he had boon engaged teaching telegraphists arid running a small ■ independent service, until December,. 1869, when his lino was handed over to the General Government, nis official career sinco that date bad been identified with tho Government lines. The last seventeen years of it was as Superintendent of Electric Lines. Tho invention of thC'tclephone' gave a great impetus to tho Department, and the Government early adopted it to extend its telegraphic communication, using tho telephone for Morse instruments. Tho telophono had been in uso in New Zca-" land sinco 1878, on tho private lino of Cargill and Anderson to tho Roxburgh Telegraph' Office.! Mr. Logan referred to tho way in which sonnany villages and small communities had been linked up with the telephone. .As for the Now Zealand telegraph lines, he thought they were a very good property, and would bear comparison with any ho had seen. Ho said that, in the main, he loft good •telegraph lines and good' telephone servico (as far as.they.went), .works in progress for improving, them,' and plans which would -placo New., Zealand on ah equality with : the most advanced American practice. 'Wellington, for instance, had'an'almost uninterrupted service with all important centres in, the Dominion. Where the business warranted it, directwires and no transmission were best in, saving of time, staff, and errors. The Department was also steadily extending the speaking circuits of the colony. Wellington would bo ablo.to speak with Auckland beforo many'months-went over. Mr. Logan also gave instances of the very keen interest that cvctj- member of tho Department in his respective sphere must take in all matters if he was to keep abreast of his duty. Tho process of the Department was-very rapid." They bad to constantly study, but a redeeming feature hvas that the study was very interesting. The latest thing,- of course, was wiroless telegraphy, and tho Department had its enthusiasts in" that branch also. ' In conclusion ■he thanked the Primo Minister and the- Attorney-General .for being present, and also his colleagues,, who had so kindly contributed to' tho presentation. He felt, fortunate in being ablo to retire in good health and under such gratifying . circumstances. (Applause.) ' ■