A POPULAR OFFICIAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5036, 6 October 1926, Page 2

A POPULAR OFFICIAL.

MR. V. Eu DE MALMANCHE

PUBLIC WORKS PRESENTATION.

After jus.t over ten months’ sojourn in Paeroa, during which time he has been attached to the local office of the Public Works Department, Mr V. E. de Malmanche, inspector of bridges, leaves to-morrow for Napier. The staff with whom he has been associated felt that it was befitting that he should not leave Paeroa without some tangible expression of the high es.teem in which he was held, and a formal farewell and presentation was made to Mr de Malmanche at the Criterion Hotel yesterday afternoon. In addition to several intimate friends- about 25 members of the clerical and field staffs of the department assembled td honour their departing comrade. In the. unavoidable absence of the resident engineer (Mr O. G. Thornton), for whom an apology was tendered, Mr A. P. Grant presided. On behalf of the staff Mr Grant expressed sincere regret that Mr de Malmanche had been transferred to fresh parts. In eulogising the good work their guest had done in superintending the construction to date of the Hauraki bridge, near Kopu, Mr Grant said it was realised that it .Was impossible to> keep a good man down, and he wished Mr de Malmanche good health and continued success in his profession. As a mark of the high esteem in which he w.as held the speaker called upon Mr de Malmanche to accept a fishing rod, complete. In making the presentation Mr Grant expressed the hope that their guest would spend -many happy hours of pleasure, and that he might never meet with “queerer fish” than he had at Paeroa. (Laughter.) Mr J. Wilkinson, chief clerk, said that it had been his privilege to be associated with Mr de Malmanche over 16 years ago, and he could not speak too highlv of the good-natured and helpful disposition of their guest, who had never failed to offer a cheerful word or a helping hand to thos<)' who- were his junior. The speaker expressed genuine regret that they were losing his association, and wished Mr and Mrs de Malmanche health- and prosperity wherever they went. Mr J. H. C. McDonald, of the draughting room sta.ff, also testified to the many sterling qualities of their departing guest, and expressed the hope that they woiuld all meet again on some future occasion.

Other speakers who paid high tribute to Mr de Malmanche and expressed regret at his -departure from Paeroa were Messrs A. W. Curtis, W. E. Ward, and T. Black. In response to the eulogistic references accorded him Mr de Malmanchesaid that during the s.hort time he had been in Paeroa he had made many friends, whom he was indeed sorry to leave. He paid a tribute to the work and loyalty of the staff, and said that it had never been Kis privilege to be associated with better fellows. He much appreciated the hands'ome presentation, and would Ictok forward to •many hours of pleasure with his. fishing tackle. In Wishing his friends good health and prosperty he expressed the hope that they would pull together and advance in the service of the department. A short toast list followed, including the toa.s ; t of the health of Mr .and Mrs de Malmanche, which was drunk with musical honours.