VALEDICTORY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 260, 25 June 1932, Page 4

VALEDICTORY

TOURIST DEPT. HONOURS MR. A. WARBRICK ON HIS RETIREMENT A POPULAR GUIDE Members of the staff of the Government Tourist Department gathered in the dining hall of the Sanatorium, yesterday afternoon to bid farewell to Mr. A. Warhrick, on his retiremen't from the position of chief guide with the Department. Mr. W ai-hriclc was made the recipient of a travelling rug and suitcase from the eombined staff, and another special presentation from the sportsmen of the department who had enjoyed his hospitality on many of their excursions through Wairoa. Mr. L. J. Bayfeild, as district manager of the Tourist Department, in making the presentation, said' that they were gathered to bid farewell to one of the oldest if not the oldest member of the department. He was glad to be ahle to say, however, that it was only a farewell from office as Mr, Warhrick was not leaving the district. Mr. Bayfeild referred to Mr. Warbrick's work as chief guide and officer in charge of the Round Trip for many years past and praised the efficient manner in which he had always carried out his duties. These duties had not been confined to Rotorua but j had on several occasions carried him j to the South Island. It had been hoped that the Min- j ister (Hon. A. Hamilton) and the j -.General Manager of the Tourist Department (Mr. A. E. Clinkard) would ] he present at the gatbering, but they | had been unfortunately delayed. They 1 had, howevei*, sent a letter expressing 1 their very sincere good wishes to Mr, | Warhrick in his retirement. ] In making the presentations, Mr. | Bayfeild said that he conveyed with J them the hest wishes of the -staff of 1 the Department throughout the Do-j minion, and expressed the hope that 1 Mr. Warhrick would enjoy many years | of retirement. 1 After feelingly thanking Mr. Bay-i feild and other members of the staffa for their good wishes, Mr. Warbricki recalled some of the incidents of hisi many years with the Department. He j had had only two masters in life — thel first his employer when he had beguiil life as an apprentice and assistantj boat builder,' and the second, the j Tourist Department. 1 Early Diffieulties 1 Mr. Warhrick referred to the early J days of the Round Trip, of which hefl was the originator, and the diffieulties* he had had with the other Maorisa concerning the taking of visitors over* the sacred hurial grounds at Tara-* wera. On several occasions, they had* burned his boats and once had even* threatened his life but his persistence* had worn down their opposition. In* the end, the troublesome Maoris had* left him alone and no longer endeav-* oured to hinder him. ■ Mr. H. J. Hardie on behalf of the* works staff, also paid tribute to Mr* Warhrick's work, and his qualities asl a colleague in the Department. m There were one or two offi-fl cers present whom he had known a* children, said Mr. Warhrick, in reply* and the thought of it made him feeW older. He again expressed his deep ap* preciation of the kindly sentiment* which had suggested the gatherinJB and asked Mr. Bayfeild to convey hifl thanks to the general manager of tliS Department and to the other memfl bers of head office staff. 9 The gathering broke up with singing of Auld Lang Syne. S