AFTER 40 YEARS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 89, 1 May 1937, Page 18

AFTER 40 YEARS

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Prison Superintendent Retires

(By Teleeraph-

WELLINGTON, Last" Nighfc The changing of the guard was witnessed at the Wellington prison tonight, when the staff met to bid fare* " well to Superintendent John Down, who is rotiring after 40 years' service with the department. The presentation of an armchair was made on behalf of the staff by Mr, B. L. Dallard, ControllerGeneral of Prisons, and a clock was presented to Mr. Dowh by Mr, A^ Longmore on behalf of. the Wellington Jnstices' Association. Mr. Down has had a wide experiencei in the Prisons Department, He was in charge of the txee-planting camps at Hamner and Waiotapu and also in eharge of parties which opened up the. Waikeria and Hautu prison farms. He was largely instrumental in starting the! nursery of native shrubs on Mount Crawford, which is being developed for the purpose of replanting Watts Peninsula in co-operation with the Wellington Beautifying Society* In expressing the department Js appreciation of Mr. Down's work, Mr. Dallard said that little did Mr. Down realise when he began 40 years ago as an assistant warder at the Wellington prison, that he had- a marshal's baton in his knapsack. His success had been due to the fact that he had invariably made the. department 's affaars his chief concern. Mr. Down's suecessor is Mr. W. EJ Stewart, at present chief warder of, Wellington prison. _ ^ j