MR. JAMES MACKENZIE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1427, 30 April 1912, Page 6

MR. JAMES MACKENZIE.

NEW SURVEYOR-GENERAL. I

A COMPLIMENTARY GATHERING.

Mr. James Mackenzie, who has lately bieii promoted from the position of Com-mis.-ioner of Crown Lands for "Wellington to that of Surveyor-General, was entertained at. a social last evening by the staff of the Wellington Lands Otlice. The gathering was held at the Marino Engineer's Institute. Mr. M. <_\ Smith, Chief Draughtsman, presided, and among those present were: The J'rime Minister (tho Hon. T. Mackenzie), the Hon. G. Laurenson (Minister for Labour), the Hon. J. A. Hunan (Mini>ler for Education), leading Departmental ollicers, and members of the Wellington Land Board. A particularly interesting feature of the gathering was tho presence of three ex-Sur-veyor-Generals, Messrs. J. W. Marehant, James M'Kerrow, and ,1. Strauchon. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. W. C. Kensington, 1.5.0., ex-Cndor-Secretary for Lands,- and (/hers. Tho chairman said that Mr. Mackenzie had been so highly esteemed by so long; a succession of officers that they looked upon his promotion with special'interest. The other day he found Mr. Mackenzie in a pensive mood, looking at an old grindstone,, which, he said, he had had to turn as part of tho preparation for his first field work. That work was on tho hills around Wellington Harbour, but now that was all done, and the only field work left was on some 50,000 acres out of all the millions that lay behind those early surveys, and those 50,000 acres were a, long clay's; journey by rail from that old grindstone. Mr. Mackenzie had done splendid work in preparing the way for settlement. The life of a surveyor, in rough, new country, had its romantic aspects, but it was a iifo of hardships and heavy strain and groat responsibility. There had been in the office here .a fine spirit of comradeship, and that was largely due to the kind of man they had had over them. Tho speaker had never heard any feelings but those of esteem and affection expressed towards Mr. Mackenzie by members of tho staff. (Applause.) Mr. G. Wright (Chief Clerk), speaking . on behalf of the office staff, congratulated Mr. Mackenzie and his family on his wellearned promotion. He recalled that many years ago, tho present Prime Minister was chainman under his brother, the guest of that ovening. The brothers had chanced places. Mr. Tom Mackenzie was now on top, and Mr. James Mackenzie was one of the most valuable and highly-placed officers serving under him. Those most closely associated with the new Surveyor-General know best his great capacity for tackling and surmounting difficulties, and his friendliness and kindness to the settlers.

Mr. 11. P. Greville, representing tho field staff, expressed similar sentiments. Ho also congratulated Mr. Mackenzie on being appointed to attend the Surveyors' Conference in Australia, where he would 1)0 an admirable representative of New Zealand.

Mr. H. T. Ellingham, Crown tenants' representative on .the Land Board, said tho tenants wero very sorry to loso from the Commissionership one whom thoy had long recognised as their true friend. Mr. J. Georgetti also spoke as a member of the Land Board. Not a single Crown tenant in the land district could say a word against Mr. J. Mackenzie's administration. He had been at all limes perfectly fair and impartial.

"The chairman then asked tho guest to accept a present of two travelling bags and a rug of tho Mackenzie tartan. Mr. Mackenzie, who was greeted with a hearty ovation as ho rose, said that In first became connected with tho Wellington Lands Office forty years ago. After holding the Commissionership in Taranaki and Auckland successively, ho was very glad to get back to Wellington, among his old friends. Ho could not think of i man who had worked with or under him that ho had really had a row with, though sometimes ho had had to speak very plainly, and had received plain speech in return. Ho was pleased to hear what tho members of the board had said. He had always found the members of the different, laud boards men of strong common sense, who generally helped them. Ho also paid a tributo to tho great work in exploring and surveying done by Mr. James M'Kerrow, upon whom had fallen tho mantle of Mr. Thompson, the father of Now Zealand surveying, lie (Mr. Mackenzie) would always remember tho loyally of his officers in Wellington, and would look back with pleasure upoil his long association with them. He warmly thanked those present for the presentation. (Applause.) Messrs. C. Hickmott, Girdlestone, Connors, Wood, and H. Fletcher contributed acceptably to a musical and elocutionary programme. Tho latter part of the evening was spent in dancing. ■