A POPULAR ENGINEER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4748, 8 September 1924, Page 2

A POPULAR ENGINEER.

FAREWELL TO MR. J. HIGGINS.— A TRIBUTE FROM PLAINSMEN. A representative gathering of about 70 Hauiaki Plains settlers took pl.ace at the Ngatea Hall on Thursday evening last, the occasion being a social function to bid farewell to the County Engineer, Mr J. Higgins, and to welcome his successor, Mr F. Basham. Mr G. T. Davidson presided, and at the head of the table with him were Messrs J. Higgins and F. Basham, Crs. F. J. Mayn, T. McLoughlin, C. W. Harris, J. H. Nicholson, C. W- Parfitt, and Mr E. Taylor, Lands Drainage Engineer Apologies were received from Cr. H. Hare, Dr. Valentine, Mr A. H. Wilson, manager of the Thames Bank of New Zealand; Mr T. Vowles, president ofthe Netherton Ratepayers’ Association ; and Mr J. Costello. The toast “The Guest of the Evening, Mr J. Higgins,” was proposed by the chairman, Mr G. T. Davidson, and was honoured heartily. Mr Davidson eulogised the services of Mr Higgins, ’ and on behalf of the ratepayers of the ' whole of the Plains presented him with a travelling bag suitably inscrib- ’ ed, and also a travelling rug. ’ Mr Higgins on rising to reply was ’ greeted with prolonged applause. He ' thanked the committee for the invita-- . tion to be present and the kind things ’ said about him during the evening. ‘ He wished to thank the ratepayers of the county for the support accorded him, and he also wished to thank the j councillors. He hoped that he would j always have such ratepayers and councillors to work with. He had ’ realised the difficulty of the work before he took on the position, for he had constructed about 45 miles of , roads oh the hill country west of the Plaine before the county was formed. [ He wished to thank his staff for their 5 able assistance, and also the outdoor 1 workmen. Mr Higgins paid a high > tribute to his successor, Mr Basham, and urged the ratepayers and the staff to give him their confidence and sup- • P°rL . S The toast of “Local Bodies” was’ ’ entrusted to Mr A. J. Andrews, who commended the spirit that led men to take local government office. ’ Cr. C. W. Parfitt, on behalf of the ' councillors, thanked the committee for the invitation to be present to do • honour to a servant of a local body ■ who had made good despite unfavourable circumstances. 'When the guest ■ of the Mr Higgins,'had join- , ed the council there were no facilities > whatever for carrying out any work. . THe speaker referred to the good . done in the district by the Lands - Drainage Departmnet, the Thames Valley Power Board, the County Coun- , cil, and the other local bodies. He [ reminded settlers of the coming poll • on the proposed water supply scheme [ and solicited their support. ’ Cr. F. J. Mayn, who also responded, . mentioned the adverse criticism often l levelled at members of local bodies. , These men did what they thought was I best, and in regard to the Coun- . Council he could assure ratepayers , that they would always receive square deal. n , “The Lands Drainage Department , was the subject of a toast by Mr W. ■ McDuff. [ In responding, Mr E. Taylor, the ■ resident engineer, said that now the . weather was fine the settlers looked [ kindly upon the department. It was the good old scapegoat when things went wrpng. Really, the department , had done very little in comparison with what the County Council had done. He had been pleased to hear the kind remarks made about Mr Higgins, for he had had a hard row to i hoe, and had, in fact, to create a works department. The County En- . gineer had worked harmoniously with; the Lauds Drainage Department. In . Mr Higgins’ successor, Mr Basham, the county had got a man with a wide reputation as an able engineer. He was confident that Mr Basham would be accorded the same support as had been given to Mr Higgins, and that the pleasant relations between the county and the department would be continued. County councillors gave a great deal of their time for the benefit of the district and seldom received credit for it. The Plains County Council had done mpre for the, district than the Lands Drainage Department had done, but that was only to be expected as a local body was the proper body to carry out local works. “The Dairy Industry” was proposed by Mr J. Darlington, chairman of the local suppliers’ committee, and responded to by Mr T. McLoughlin, who urged that serious consideration be given to the possibility of sugar beet growing on the plains. Mr W. E. G. Willy, whose name was also coupled with the toast, dealt with the progress of the industry up to the present and the prospects for the future. jfr C. W. Harris, in proposing the toast of “Sport,” mentioned the worthy place sport held in the minds of the people of New Zealand, an<L the great benefit derived fiom it. Mr J. N. Anderson and Mr J. H. Nicholson, secretary and member of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union, respectively, responded and mentioned the high honours already won by the different branches of sport on the Hauraki Plains. The aims of the Farmers’ Union were mentioned by Mr J. Bratlie when proposing a toast to that body. In responding Mr A. Cleaver said that probably every progressive move in the district had originated at meetings of the Farmers’ Union. He pleadfor all settlers to support the local brancn. During the evening songs were contributed by Messrs S. Blacklaws, H. Wallic-, E. Porter, Ludlow, S. McWatters, and A. J. Andre ws ; cornet solos by Mr J. Trohear, and stories by Messrs Clark, J. Terrill, and A‘. J. Andrews. Mr Ludlow officiated at the piano. The function was brought to a close; about 11.30 p.m. with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”