MATAURA NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 21093, 27 May 1930, Page 4

MATAURA NEWS

RAILWAY MAN RETIRES.

•FORTY YEARS’ SERVICE.

(From Our Correspondent.)

To have served for 40 years with the New Zealand Railways, 391 of which have been spent at Mataura, is the unique record of Mr Martin Maley, .of Mataura. To his credit also it must be admitted he has during his lengthy term of service given conscientious attention to his duties thereby earning for himself the deep appreciation of the general public, the business community and fellow employees, and it was with feelings of sincere regret that the news of his impending retirement from the Railway Department was received at Mataura.

A large gathering of citizens representing every section of the community and railway men from all parts of Otago and Southland was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday night to honour Mr Maley. The Mayor of Mataura (Mr C. D. McConnell) presided and associated with him was Mr T. J. Cameron (stationmaster, Mataura).

In proposing the toast of the “Guest,” Mr E. J. Cameron remarked that Mr Maley had completed his 40th year of service with the Railway Department. Apart from a brief period spent at Invercargill on joining the service, Mr Maley had spent 394 years at Mataura and during the whole time he had served with honour. The speaker could remember that when the guest took up his duties he had come under the guidance of the late Mr Adam Grierson, who then held the position of stationmaster. The station itself was situated on the east side of the line opposite the present motor garage and close to the Bridge street crossing. It was later shifted down the line add placed where the goods shed now stood, but in due course the Department saw fit to dismantle the building and erect a new structure on the north side of the line. All these changes had occurred in Mr Maley’s time. It was gratifying to note that the gathering that evening was fully representative of the various sections of the community, a fact which bore testimony to his worth. Referring to the sporting aspect of Mr Maley’s life, the speaker stated that he had given invaluable advice to the football teams in the early days. If memory served correctly Mataura was sparsely settled in the locality of the recreation grounds, the vegetation consisting mostly of tussocks. The teams encountered came from as far afield as Caversham, Invercargill and Orepuki, and if it became necessary' to secure Mr Maley’s services to fill a place in the team a deputation was despatched to the stationmaster who seldom failed to give him leave of absence on the understanding that he reported for duty again immediately after the match. Mr Maley just as seldom returned to duty.—■ (Laughter.) In conclusion Mr Cameron made passing reference to Mr Maley’s standing as a citizen of the town and to the fact that one of his family had paid the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. Mr D. Udy, speaking as a member, of the farming community who was located at some distance from the railway, mentioned the disabilities under which a number of agriculturists laboured. Before the advent of the telephone and motor lorry the farmer was placed in an awkward position in that he was not always able to arrange for the shipment of his products, but it could be said that at Mataura particularly every consideration was received. All who knew Mr Maley could appreciate the service he had rendered during his connection with the railway staff at Mataura. Mr T. J. Cameron (stationmaster), speaking on behalf of the Department, said that it was with feelings of regret that the time tad come to part with hip chief porter. He had been associated with Mr Maley for a period of two years and he could confidently say that he was the most conscientious man he had ever had anything to do with. Mr Maley’s motto seemed to be that anything worth doing was worth doing well. The speaker desired to congratulate him on completing a long period bf service and trusted that both Mrs Maley and himself would enjoy a well-earned rest. Mr H. B. Heaps, who had been associated with Mr Maley as a railway servant many years ago, also paid a tribute to him and related several amusing episodes which had occurred during operations at Mataura. He emphasized the friendship which always existed between railwaymen past and present and he congratulated Air Maley on having weathered 40 years of service. Mr John McErlean (Milton) remarked th; 4 Mr Maley was a most conscientious worser. Mr W. Gardiner mentioned that Mr Maley had in time gone by given him every assistance and he wished him all good luck on his retirement. Messrs J. Muir (Tuturau), W. Leitch, J. McAllister, R. Hutton, J. Hart, C. E. Rowe and lan Cullen also spoke in eulogistic vein of their relations with Mr Maley and extended their best wishes.

Prior to presenting Mr Maley with a substantial sum of money as a token of esteem and appreciation from the citizens of the town and fellow-workers, Mr McConnell remarked that he had known Mr Maley for some 27 years. Invariably courteous and obliging to the public, Mr Maley had served under many hard governments in his 40 years’ service and there was little doubt that the large and representative gathering indicated the esteem in which he was held. Mr McConnell related his experiences with the guest on the football field and in business and emphasi.ed the fact that he had given satisfaction to all with whom he had come in contact. Mr McConnell had pleasure in asking Mr Maley’s acceptance of a sum of money on behalf of railway officials and citizens of Mataura.

Mr John Buchanan, in making a further presentation on behalf of the business people, stated that Mr Maley had earned the deep respect of all. While Mr Maley had seen many ups and downs he had also seen great progress maae in the development of local industries. The railway station was a small institution during the early years of Tiis service, but to illustrate the growth of industries it was interesting to record that the freezing works to-day handled 160,000 carcasses in. a season, the dairy factory had an output of some 1050 tons of cheese, while the paper mill manufactured 250 tons monthly. He felt sure that there was not a town in New Zealand which, comparatively speaking, exported more to the British Isles than Mataura. Mr Maley had watched the growth of the station and the citizens were sorry to lose him. He had no doubt served many Governments and had experienced many tribulations, while he perhaps found it hard to serve so many masters. It was to be regretted that he would no longer be available tb supervize the exports and imports of the town, but the business people wished both Mrs Maley and himself success and trusted that they would live among them for many years. Mr Buchanan then asked Mr Maley’s acceptance of a sum of money. Mr A. N. Mac Gibbon, as the representative of one of the oldest firms in Mataura, endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker, eulogizing Mr Maley’s strict attention to duty, fairness and thoughtfulness. Mr Maley had completed his term of service without a black mark and his person would be greatly missed by the general public in the yards and on the station. Mr Maley was heartily greeted on rising to respond. He said he was happy to see so many friends present. Since his arrival in the town as a youth about 1890 he had completed 394 years’ residence during which •time he had watched'the development pf industries. The old flourmill had given place to the freezing works, while the paper mills and factory had increased in size and capacity. It was a pleasure to look back on the days gone by. The town possessed some of the best industries in New Zealand, but' too few realized that fact. He had always done so because he was proud of Mataura and had seen it grow. Mr Maley made passing reference to certain industries which had flourished in his time and to their output. It had been a pleasure to work among the business people of Mataura and he thanked them all for the very kindly reference made to him.

Mr Maley joined the service at Invercargill early in the year 1890 and on July 5 of the same year commenced duties at Mataura. During the period of his service at the “City of the Falls,” the stationmasters at Mataura have been as follows: Mr Adam Grierson (deceased), Mr J. Miller (goods agent, Dunedin), Mr A. Sawers (transport, Dunedin), Mr F. S. Gr’ay (transport, Dunedin), and the present stationmaster (Mr T. J. Cameron).