Death of George Didsbury.

Manawatu Herald, 22 April 1893, Page 2

Death of George Didsbury.

♦ It is with feelings of real regret that we announce the death of Mr Didsbury, the Government Printer, j After a short illness he breached his j last on Thursday evening. He had been suffering from diabetes. He leaves a widow and a family of seven to mourn his loss. The NZ. Times give the following sketch of his interesting carerr : — George Didsbury was born at Windsor, (M.S. Wales) fifty two years ago, and in his infancy was brought to New Zealand by his parents, who settled at Korareka, Bay of Islands, then the only town in New Zealand. At Auckland he received his schooling, and began life by being apprenticed to the printing trade in the establishment of Messrs Williamson and Wilson, proprietors of the New Zealander newspaper, which was established in 1845. Very early in his career he was connected with the printing of the Government documents, which work was done first in the office of the New Zealander. When the contract pass sd to the proprietors ot the ffotuheftj ©jflffl, the ulvnl Journal,

George Didsbury was in cliarge, 1 and remained in charge of ifc until the Government imported a printing plant and took to the printing otlladM own documents. The change saw Mr Wilson i a son of Wilson of the 1 New Zealatider, in' charge. Mi' Didsbury was second in command, with the distinct understanding that on the change of the seat of Government to Wellington, he • should be Chief. . This he owed to Mr Gisborne then Under- Secretary; who; beiiig d iilati oi: gi-eat disSeriiihehfc afad knoW-* ledge of characters }iad formed the very highest opioioii of Mr Dids, : bury',% capacity as an organiser; of his printing skill, his endurance - as a. worker, and his power of managing • men. In 1863 the contemplated change was determined upon, and in the following year George Didsbury became. Government Printer at the age of 20, His subsequent career, he held the office from 1805 to 1898, to the da£ of .his death in fact, years* has ahHply proved, that no. better man could have been selected anywhere for the work. His first duty was the removal of the Government archives, already by that time of great bulk, to the new seat of Government. He accompanied the records with nine printers, undev Mr Burns as foreman, who has remained with him ever since, holding the responsible position of assistant officer. Mr Burns succeeded Mr Costell in this post. They set to work in an old shanty 'tin:' the quay, the rambling block of buildings burnt down in 1891 was their "next place of business for years," tin til a little over four years' ago thff printing department and its chief moved into the new premises over the way. During that period the department grew biggar and bigger, its publioations multiplied, the strain upon its chief was incessant and during the sittings ot Parliament was wearing in the extreme. Few men have any conception of what it was, the calm demeanour of the man at the head of affairs preventing all suspicion of the intensity of exertion required of him. During those eight and twenty years of solid steady service he built for himself his monument, a larger monument than has been erected to the memory of any public officier in New Zealand. r lhe public records are his monument. Their unvarying accuracy, neatness and workmanlike finish bear testimony to the capacity of the man who presided over the work. As an organiser he justified the the judgment Mr Gisborne had formed of him. His power of work was for years unflagging, in managing his men he was fair and firm, just and masterful, genial and oi equable temper.. In the hurry and bustle of the session time, when members call .for returns of every conceivable 1 kind n and every variety of size and every description of complication ; when Hansard reports come pouring in • painted* in a manner fit'" to/ turn grey the heads of all whose unhappy lot it is to cope with them ; when Ministers call for papers, and Ministers' secretaries rush frantically with peremptory requests for immediate compliance with almost impossible orders ; George Didsbury kept his head cool, and the working of his department smooth. • To-: grVe an adequate idea of the ground covered by his wide area of duty,' we quote his title of • Government. Printer, Stationer and Store Manager, and Controller of Stamp Printing.' From year's end to year's end the best work came with steady' regularity out of his office, and the service iv&9. .economical as well ais efficte'ttt. ' ' "He was a faithful; capable, ? public servant, who will be missed as" greatly as he is regretted. ..,•>•• . .