ASSISTANT WHARFINGER'S RETIREMENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2425, 1 April 1915, Page 6

ASSISTANT WHARFINGER'S RETIREMENT

V ANOTHER PRESENTATION TO MR, H. G. CLARIDGE. A fully representative gathering of shipping clerks employed by the various shipping companies was held in Huddartl'arker and Company's rooms last evening. The occasion was to bid farewell to Mr. H. G. Claridge, assistant wharfinger to the Wellington Harbour Board, who retired on superannuation at ,5 p.m. yesterday,, after having been, in tho service of the board since 1881. Captain Peterson, representing Messrs. Richardson and Co., of Napier, was in the chair, and referring to Mr. Claridge's sterling qualities, ho asked Mr. Cerutty, chief clerk for Messrs. Huddart, Parker and Company, to make a presentation consisting of a beautifully illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns. In asking Mr. Claridge to accept the shipping clerks' small token of their esteem, Mr. Cerutty said that it had been tlio unanimous opinion of all the shipping clerks to put in some tangible form an appreciation of their esteem for Mr Claridge. With this, object in view they had decided to present "their old friend" with the address and a purse of sovereigns. Mr. Cerutty said that the movement had been a spontaneous one, and shipping people far removed from the port of Wellington had contributed. He wished Mr. Claridge long life and prosperity on belialf of tlie shipping clerks, and thanked him most heartily for tho great kindnesses ho had shown them all. Other speakers were Mr. W. Deck (Anchor Line Agency), T. R. Boys (Murray, Roberts and Co.), V. Waters (Levin and Co.), J. Breen (U.R.S. Co.'a stevedoring department), and J. Currie (TJ.S.S. Co.'s labour foreman). Mr. Claridge said that he was sorry to leave the good follows he had been associated with for' so many years. He had always tried to do his best for tho shipoine clerks, and no matter how long lie lived he would still remember tho good davs he had snent amongst them on the Wellington Wharves. ■ The storemen nnd_ tally olerks have presented Mrs. Claridge with a silver cake dish and silver ktiifo as a token of esteem.