VALEDICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 51, 22 August 1911, Page 7

VALEDICTORY.

> CITIZENS' FAREWELL TO MR. W. 11. | KKINNER. A vorv representative? gathering of citizens assembled at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr. W. 11. Skinner, who is leaving for Blenheim, where lie has been appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands. Mr. (!. W, Browne, the Mayor, presided, and expressed -regret at the removal of Mi. Skinner from New Plymouth, although at the same time he was pleased that it meant promotion. He referred to the great interest that Mr. Skinner had taken In various movements for more than twenty years. It was in 1889 when lie (the speaker) had first come into contact with Mr. Skinner. They were colleagues from 1881) to 1804 in the formation of tliat portion of the Recreation (iround3 known as the sports ground. At a later period it was mainly due to the energy displayed by Mr. vSkinner that an exchange had been effected which gave us Western Park as u breathing space for that end of the town. Mr. Skinner was on the first Western Park Board for twelve months, when the conditions of his departmental (work compelled him to resign. On every occasion, however, during his leisure hours his work had been freely given. lie also commented on the great and lively interest that Mr. Skinner had taken in the Scenery Preservation Society, and also in the Polynesian Society. In the latter lay a great work, which at tho present time was hardly recognised at its true value, but when the history of the colony came to be written the services of Mr. Skinner in that direction would be recognised. In conclusion, he expressed tho hope that; it would Hot be long before Mr. Skinner was again resident among them in New Plymouth. (Applause.) Mr. 8. Percy Smith, president of the Polynesian Society, referred to his lengthy association with Mr. Skinner, whom he had known from youth, and who as an officer under him in the Lands and Survey Department h?.d borne the highest possible character. He sincerely , regretted Mr. Skinner's departure, but at the same time realised that it meant promotion. Mr. Skinner had been secretary of the Polynesian Society during the past ten years, and as one who knew something of such matters lie could say that no one could fill the posi- ' tidn as well as Mr. Skinner lmd done. TW'liad been courteous to the public, | had pushed the interests of the Society, am), numerous papers, and these had "been incorporated in the Society's printed transactions, which would -be : faoj-e' appreciated in years to corbie. Stt' highly'did the Society think of Mr, Sk}&ner"'thiiil! 'they had decided not to fill ihe "position, but to retain it for him utttil Ife should return to New Plymouth in a few years' time.

Mt. W. A. Collis, chairman for some time of the Scenery Preservation So- j cicty, referred specially to the work Mr.' Skinneri.had done in furthering the efforts of that body. He had been one of the original movers in the work. His position in the Lands and Survey Department had enabled him to obtain information of groat value to the Society. Tli? . taction of the National Park due to Mr. Skinner. It was fifaf;, gazetted as a forest reserve under t,he'[ Mr. Skinner consido|thqreihad drafted a Bill which had been put through the House as a colonial matter at no cost locally. So highly wan the work of the, Taranaki Scenery Pre-; servation Society thought of that' when the Government granted £IOO the Taranaki Society received £-25. This was largely-.djie ;to Mr. Skinner's exertions. His knowledge and influence with the natives,.enabled him to enlist their sympathy ;tind .thus, get many historical spots reserved.', fn local matters he felt thatit was not lack of interest oiJMiitfiajlb'siijioil that had prevented him prominently before ■ the public; "but simply that his' official I | position had'made this impolitic, if not ! impossible. Mr. Harris Ford;. 611: behalf of the IPukekura Park Board, referred to the •work that -Mr. Skinner had done as secretary in connection with the formation of t'lte-<s']M>ffcs ground a I 'the- Recreation Grounds. He wished him every success in his new sphere, and looked lupqp' hifl ; .fleiuqval as a distinct loss to | • tifl) : c No one was s6 Tcrsed in thef history tif Taranaki as Mr.' Skinner was, and the .speaker trusted that he 1 would soon return to New Plymouth. Mr. F. E. Wilson, on behalf of the Library and Museum, referred to the great work done by Mr. Skinner during his 25 years of office. That he was still retaining his interest' in the institutions leye? wlijle; leaving the district,, was }sll()Wn.,fby r, I (he. .fact that owing t6 efforts complete files of early isstfes of itlie Tarandki Herald had just been jirer bentesJHb' thft Library. While assiating in' tile ''gdneral. work, Mr. Skinner "had tlevotttdi'llimfielf largely to a particular p ranch, c f viz.',' the ed'rly 'histoiV 6f New Zealand'aiid Polynesia, and had, wit.l) tlitf vary: limited funds at his disposal, puilt; up ' a''Very fcoirtplete little library: if'.Uiorllisitory: of New Zealand in the : te'fi'rencdiJibiary; The .museum, though: Jmhll; wa9 due'to Mr. Skinner, and he. toped thati on his return he would find: iluit it l 'had iiHt booil ati H-'SstaAdstllf, fcuuT' would thus be' encouraged to further efforts. <' > ■ ' ' 1 The 1 Mayor 1 apologised for the abserica < f several gentlemen, and, on behalf of the various institutions, presented Mr. Skinner with a handsomely illuminated address, beautifully Iwund in green moiWo, and most artistically illuminated. 'Each folio was decorated with floral 1: orders, in Which clematis, rata and yel--I>w kowhai were effectively used, re,l .jnytfa,,medallions containing the f )llowing ■ views: "Mountain House," '■'Dawson's Falls," "Mount Egmont," ."View of Ppkekura Park," "Sports C round," "Band Rotunda," "Maru-wehi, and Ppho ; kura Pahs, Urenui Riiver," "Obe isk to Pioneers," "Public Library" and I reakwater." The text of the address was as follows: "To W. H. Skinner, Esq.,— 'Dear Sir, —Upon learning of your early departure from New Plymouth to Blenheim, to take up the duties of Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Marlboroligh district, some of your friends felt tjiat they could not allow you to leave \vjithout expressing to you in tangible form their appreciation of the many services you have rendered Taranaki, and particularly New Plymouth, during vbur fipy many years' residence here. It would be impossible to recount here various directions in which you have devoted your talents and energies for the public good, or recite the numerous movements in which you have token pjirt with the same object in view. Among them, however, may be mentioned your keen interest in the preservation 'of the beautiful natural scenery and historic spots of the district, and in the welfare of the native race; also the active part you have taken in connection with such public institutions as the Institute and Library, the Museum, the Western Park Domain, and the Recreation Sports Ground. In these and \ other matters your every ready assist- ' ance has been keenly appreciated. More | particularly, however, your work in con- | nection with the Polynesian Society and in collecting and placing on permanent

I cvi'iiU ill the early history of j the settlement of Taranaki has been of \ an invaluable nature, as will be more f and more fully recognised when those | who have taken paic in those events have passed away. While congratulating you upon your well-earned promotion in the public service of the Dominion, we regret that it entails your leaving the district you love so well, even though it be only for a few years. Yet we venture to hope that, when the time comes lor your retirement from the service, you will return to New Plymouth to spend many happy years of leisure here. With every kind wish for your future welfare and that of Mrs. Skinner and your family." The various speakers were the signatories. The artistic work was executed by Mr, A. Lee, of the Hooker Printing Company, and the binding by Mr. T. Avery. .Mr. W. H. Skinner, who was greeted with applause, thanked the speakers for their kindly expressed remarks. While he appreciated them, he thought they, had overestimated what he had done. It was the duty of every man to do the best he could for the community in which he lived. He had tried to do his best, but felt that lie had fallen far short of what he might have done. Mr. S. Percy Smith was the man who had done tho great work in the Polynesian Society; he himself had only assisted. He had always taken a great great interest in scenery preservation. His training with his father had perhaps imbued this in him. In this he certainly was able to help, as he had a knowledge of various matters, - and with the help of others was able to carry them through. He looked upon the Kadtake ranges as his monument, because, without boasting, he aould say it was mainly through his exertions, and finally with the, assistance of the late Mr. E. M. Smith, that they had been preserved. He considered that the hardest piece of work he bad ever undertaken was as secretary of the Sports Ground Committee. From that beginning th'e present Sports Ground Committee —a, very live body of men—had beeli"feHtiM'ed to bring the ground into its'pfb&ent excellent state. The Library and Museum had always been his pets, and ll'e considered it a disgrace to a town df the size of New Plymouth that there was not a better museum. However, a beginning had been made, and wherf/HWJ'/liad a suitable annexe to the fire-proof building lie would have pleapresenting his valuable collection' of;',pictures, paintings, curios and local! diistoi'y to the town. But he woiild-toot.jjnit' it where it could go up I in ismok'i/.f Be Ikoped, if spared, to rettirnj;WNefa Plymouth, as he had a gOod marfy' years left in which to battle along! ] le Had tri6d to do in the past.