DUNEDIN ARCHITECT

Evening Star, Issue 19785, 8 February 1928, Page 5

DUNEDIN ARCHITECT

HONORED IN HIS OWN COUNTRY No set speeches wore delivered at the au re voir meeting in Mr Edmund Anscombe’s honor at the Grand Hotel yesterday afternoon. The send-off, originated by the building and allied trades and joined in by a number of the guest’s business Iriends, was no doubt the more acceptable to him by reason of its spontaneity. The speaking, being quite impromptu, had a smack of sincerity, and thus told more effectively than any prepared compliments could. Mr Lawrence, president ol the Builders’ Association, spoke of Mi Anscombe as “a hard architect, but straight and honest; just what builder want.” And in pther addresses there was the same honesty, giving the piquance that the vinegar imparts to a good salad. Mr George Simpson, the chairman, said that all present no doubt felt it a pleasant duty to say farewell for a short time to Mr Anscombe. It was not an occasion for long speeches. The piomoters would like anyone who felt so disposed to stand up and just say a few words. Ho had known Mr Ansccmbo a long time, and had met him quite often, and felt very high respect for his skill as an architect and for his personal conduct; therefore, when asked to take the chair ho readily consented. It was a pleasure to see so many Dunedin citizens present, amongst them numbers of men who had worked under his control and.knew 'his worth. They all wished Mr Auscomho and his daughters a very pleasant tour, and hoped for their safe return. (Applause.) Mr J. S. Douglas, who was to have made the presentation, was helping to entertain Mr Forgan Smith,, the Queensland visitor, consequently Mr J. 11. Wilkinson would hand over 1 lie gift. Mr Wilkinson said that Hie occasion carried In’s mind hack to the time when Mr Anscombe, then a, comparatively unknown man, hut fired by enterprise, decided to travel to widen his experience, increase his knowledge, and generally qualify for the profession in which he had since shown conspicuous ability. Ho came hack full of ideas, not nnlv about architecture, but about the development of industries and many other things that concerned the interests of the city. The gathering that afternoon was fairly representative of business men who appreciated very highly Mr Anscombe’s worth as a citizen. Professionally, also, he had made good. Many _ big buildings were monuments to his skill, such as the Y.M.C.A., the Hanover Street Baplist Church, the Girls’ High School, tlio Wanganui Art Gallery, the ‘Evening Star ’ edifice, the students’ hall, the physics department, and the Mamma. Hall at the Otago University, the Medical School, and the Dental School, and there were other buildings with winch his name would be associated for all time, principal of these being our groat Exhibition. His connection with that Exhibition was most notable. There could bo no doubt that his enterprise and foresight, as well as his professional cleverness, had a great deal to do with the wonderful success of that big undertaking. On behalf ut the subscribers he (Mr Wilkinson) asked Mr Anscombe to accept the presentation as an expression of goodwill and respect. The gift was a paper weight (4 x 4) in two tiers of greenstone, surmounted by a representation in oak of the Exhibition dome. C. Muller and Sons manufactured the stone, and Mr Robert Fraser carved the oak. Other speakers were Mr A. Smellie t - Air L Doans Ritchie, Mr James Brown, Mr H. E. Muller (representing the Harbor Board), Mr S. Angel, Mr J. H. Johnson (of Sydney), Mr J. H. Walker, Mr F. L. Lawrence, Mr J. W. Scujt (chairman of the University Works Committee), Mr Alex. Dempster, and Mr J. T. Paul. Afr Anscombe, in reply, said that' much as ho appreciated (bo beautiful and artistic gift, lie though infinitely more of the goodwill that had prompted them to offer it. Ho had practised in Dunedin for twenty years now, and in that time he had learnt a great many things from the building trade. It was, next to the tilling of the soil, the most important and interesting calling in life. It was a business which called for continued application and concentration, and one of the most necessary requisites was co-operation and goodwill between those concerned—builders and architects. There wore many lessons of goodwill to bo learned. Ho felt deeply moved at the many and generous expressions of appreciation and goodwill that had .been expressed, and ho could assure them that he would taka iiwuv with him the happiest recollections of his association with all of them, lie referred in glowing terms to the excellent work- done by his staff, all oi whom wore known to most of those present. Ho was glad of an opportunity to express his indebtedness to them for the manner in which they had assisted him. In conclusion, ho could merely thank them for their felicitations and for the references the various speakers had made to himself and his work. A vote of thanks to the chairman, proposed by Mr Walker, ended the proceedings.