ENGINEER PROMOTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 511, 14 November 1928, Page 16

ENGINEER PROMOTED

MR. THORNTON TO LEAVE THAMES PRAISE FROM COUNTY COUNCIL {Special to THE SUN) THAMES, Tuesday. Mr. O. G. Thornton, resident engineer for the Public Works Department, Paeroa, has received notice of transfer on promotion to the charge of the Gisborne district. During his three years’ term at Paeroa, Mr. Thornton vigorously carried out a progressive roading scheme for tlie Hauraki Peninsula, which won great praise for the Public Works Department from the settlers of this previously “neglected” area from a roading point of view. Mr. Thornton also conducted the great Government undertaking, the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers improvement scheme. Referring to the transfer of Mr. Thornton at this afternoon’s meeting of the Thames County Council the chairman, Mr. H. Lowe, said:—“No local body can be more sorrowful at losing the services of such a splendid departmental officer as Mr. Thornton than the Thames County Council. He has been one of the finest servants the department has ever had in this district, particularly in his ungrudging personal service to back blocks settlers at all times. He has rigidly preserved the rights of his department, but in his removal the local bodies of this district have lost a great friend.” A resolution of thanks for past services and congratulations to Mr. Thornton on his promotion was unanimously endorsed. Mention of the engineer’s good service to the district and his department was also made at this afternoon’s meeting of the Thames Chamber of Commerce, which recorded appreciation of the unfailing courtesy and ready assistance of Mr. Thornton and his department to the roading of the district.