HONOURING MR P. FITZGERALD

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1930, Page 2

HONOURING MR P. FITZGERALD

FUNCTION AT KUMAR A

At Kumara on Saturday evening, Mr /P. Fitzgerald, who is retiring this

month from the Public Works Department, after 40 years’ service, the greater part of which time was served as District Overseer, was met- by the Officials and members of the Department and the local bodies, and honoured at what proved to be a very cordial gathering. There was a large attendance, and a weir laden table. Mr T. A. Johnston District Engineer, presided very happily. The.. Mayor of. Kumara (Mr Spiers) the Westland County Chairman (Mr Searle) the Deputy

Mayor of Hokitika (Mr Evans) re-

presentatives of the Automobile Asj sociation, Father Lordan, and others were among those present at-the great table.

The Chairman made Mr Fitzgerald, who was addressed or referred to more frequently as “Paddy,” a handsome present of a gold watch and chain, suitably inscribed, while'Mr Sampson, Assistant District Engineer, presented a silver tea service to Miss El, Fitzgerald, daughter, of the guest. Mewhers of the road staff from Welieka lil the south to Otira, in the north were present, as well as' several ex-officers of the roads department, while Messrs James, Michael, and Garrett Fitzgerald, brothers of the guest, were' present also. Apologies were received from Mr O’Brien M.P., the Engineer-in-Chief (Mr Furkett) ex-District Engineers of Westland (including Messrs Sharp 1 and Watkinsonj, Town Clerk of Ross (Mr Peebles), and several others, ' all of whom eulogised Mr Fifzgerald’s faithful services and united in wishing him a long period of happy retirement from arduous service. ' ... ... In addition to the Chairman; Messrs' Curtis, McDonald, Cullen, Roberts and others of the-staff spoke. in eulogy of Mr Fitzgerald’s long and honourable connection with the Department, while numbers of local bodies present and several friends, paid a tribute to the personal work and sincerity of Mr Fitzgerald in-going'about His official duties. Appropriate reference was

made also to the well-known hospit-

ality extended to all, for whiph the ■ Fitzgerald family as a whole was so well reputed. • Mr P. Fitzgerald . made.,a feeling reply, and felt that he did not deserve all the good things said of him. He had gone about his duties to the best of his abiltiv, and .strove always to do his best. He praised 'the.'support and assistance of those with, whom he had worked. He had -great consideration and assistance from • his

chiefs, while the mert had "always re-

sponded to the requirements of theii* " duties. He felt Indebted to all l*oftheir support and and thanked them for the help without which the best results for the Department could not be achieved. Opportunity was taken at this stage by the Chairman, to welcome and introduce Mr T. Cooper, who succeeds Mr Fitzgerald as District Overseer, and a cordial expression was given. Mr Cooper said he did not feel altogether a stranger, because in the early days his father Mr Thornhill Cooper had opened the first hank at Stafford Town. Mr Cooper went on to say that following on officer ef Mr Fitzgerald’s record would be a "/difficult/taisk, and he asked for their practical support and help with his duties. He praised the general condition Of tbe rdads'/as far as he had seen' themandnti would ■ he his endeavour to maintain .the sthn- . da.nl set by Mr FitzgeraldS-Wvb. Several other toasts were'honoured during the evening.' Mr Curtis proposed the local bodies,- replied to bv Messrs Spiers, ©earn, Evans, and Harker. Mr Evans proposed the Automobile Association, responded : to by Messrs Hambleton and Hanker, Mr T. Seebeck proposed the Ladies, and replied also on behalf of Miss . Fitzgerald for the handsome present - from the Public .Works Staff. Mr. M. /.Fitzgerald was responsible for a very /happy reply to the toast of the Ladies. The Press was proposed by,Mr Hume, and replied to by Mr O’Niel, and. the Chairman proposed by Mr Humbleton, -was responded to after a very,.hearty /reception; by Mr T. A. Johnston.

There was a capital orchestra of five /• •instruments, which led' in community and supplied individual music, while several vocal numbers and recitals were given, the contributions . including, Messrs T. Learttnont, McDiarmid’, McDonald ( the star performer), Mordaunt, Duffy, and J.

Rochford, with several encore num-

bers. “Auld La.ng .Syne” and the National Anthem closed a very notable gathering, in which the highest appreciation was paid to 'the guest of the evening for his long and faithful service in the public interests.'