A THAMES PIONEER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4338, 4 November 1921, Page 1

A THAMES PIONEER

MR, WILLIAM SCOTT. ' GENEROUS TRIBUTES PAID. HARBOUR BOARD FUNCTION. (“Gazette” Staff Reporter.) One of the “grand old men'’ of Thames, Mr William Scotti, lat« chairman of the Thames Harbour Board, was the guest of the evening at a banquet given in. his honour at the Royal Hotel, Thames, on Tuesday night, the chairman of the Board, Mr C. W, Harris, of Waitakaruru, who is also a member of the Hauraki Plains County Council, presiding. Apologies for absence were received from Mi’ T. W. Rhodes ,M.Pv for Thames, Mr J. C. Miller, chairman of the Haur,aki Plains County Council, and other prominent and representative gentlemen.

A very excellent spread was placed on the daintily decorated tables by mine hostess (Mrs C. Duvall), under, whose direction the service a.t' the table was performed in a: highly capable and courteous manner, contributing in no small measure to the success of the function. VARIEp PUBLIC SERVICE. Proposing the . toast of the guest of the evening, Mr Harris said Mr Scott had been a citizen of Thamesi since 1870, a matter of 51 years. He had been a worthy resident indeed, and the Harbour Board had seen fit fo recognise his services by presenting him with a photographic shield of the members of th© Board during the recipient’s last term of office, and of the officials, Mr E. F. Adams, engineer, and Mr N. Gibbs l , secretary. It was with regret that, owing tp his ill 1 - health, the Board had to accept Mr Scot.t’s resignation after his many years of devoted service. Mr Scott had been a member of the Thames Borough. Council for 15 years, and was Mayor in 1898. He had been for - 27 years on the Harbour Board, from 1894 to 1921, being chairman for the last three years, and also held that position twice previously. He had also been judge at many shows. MILE POSTS OF PROGRESS.

A number of important works were taken in hand during Mr Scott’s, term of office. In 1919 the Board decided to secure a report, on the possibilities of providing a 'deep-sea harbour at Thames. This w.as compiled by Mr Blair Mason, who was recognised as bne of -the ablest harbour engineers in Australasia, and had been connected with practically alii the important harbour schemes in New Zealand. An Empowering Bill had been passed, authorising the raising of £275,000 for the scheme, s,abject .to a poll. In 1919 the Board acquired premises for £5OO, now worth £lOOO, easily. Turua wharf had been decided upon, and tenders called.

Mr Scott had been a worthy chairman, and he believed members! of other local bodies would be as. pleased as the members of the Harbour Boar 1

in seeing Mr Scott honoured. (Applause.) THE PRESENTATION. The making of, the presentation was entrusted to the senior member of the Board, Mr S. J. Laughlin (Paeroa), who had been associated with Mr Scott for the past thirty years. “It is only fair,” said Mr Laughlin, “and a pleasure tp say, .that Mr Scott carried put his duties as chairman of the Thames Harbour Board in a highly creditable manner. He was ever watchful in the interests of the Harbour Board, and smilingly got through t,h.e business to We, I have been associated with him for many years, and have never known him defame any past or present member of the Board, and he always conducted the business of the board with decorum. This shield will serve to remind him —though it is doubtful if any reminder would be necessary—of the very happy relationship he had enjoyed with each member of the Board.” (Loud applause.) MR. SCOTT IN REPLY.

Responding, Mr Scott, who received a great ovation, thanked the Board for the honour, conferred. He was always very proud of the Board. Mr McGowan was the man wnp brought him forward for the Harbour . Board, and Mr Bruce induced him tp stand fbr the Mayoralty. He had always tried to pick out t,he best citizens for leadership; it was said that a bachelor should give more of his time to public life than a married man. (Laughter.) No man present (and there were six mayors, past and' present, before him at the table) could say that, he ever got anything out of public life. The speaker had given his time and work with no idea of gain. The local press (the Thames “Star”) had given a, greac deal of help, widely he wished to acknowledge. AU his colleagues lad tried to do their best, and he had never said anything defamatory of anyone. There was. not a man in the' room whom he had a grudge, against,. Messrs Donaldson Claxton, Miller, Lowe, and Jackson (Te Aroha) vere all old mayors. (Prolonged applause, with musical honours.) Tributes were also paid by Messrs Henry Lowe (chairman of the Thames County Council), E. Miller (Mayor-of Thames), Mr H. Jacks m (an old Thames boy, and ex-mayor pf. Te Aroha), Mr D. Donaldson (Mayor of Waihi), Mr W. McCormick, chairman of Hospital Board), and other representative men, including Harbour Board members. -

An excellent programme of vocal items was rendered as follows, Mr J. Buchan (Thames), playing accompaniment# : Messrs J. Galloway, song, “The Bandcjlero”; Thames Lyrics, Messrs J. Galloway, L. Griffin, H. Cordes, E. Watson, “Soldiers’ Farewell”; song, Mr E. Watson, “The Demon King”; Rev.' Mr Mitchell, “Zealandia.” Several bth&r items were rendered by these gentlemen, who displayed no mean degree of vocal ability.