VALEDICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 52, 23 August 1911, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

Mil. w: ir. SKINNER FAREWELLED JSV LANDS DEPARTMENT.

At the Lands and Survey Office yesterday morning the officers assembled in the Chief Surveyor's room to bid goodbye to Mr. W. H. Skinner, Ohief Draughtsman, who has been promoted to the position of Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands at Blenheim.

111-. Armstrong, Chief Surveyor, said the. officers had gathered together for the purpose of taking farewell of Mr Skinner on the occasion of his departure. During the 39 years' service Mr. Skinner had had in Taranaki he must have assisted to place hundreds of families on the land. Personally, the speaker had a very exalted idea of the labors- of the Lands aml Survey Department. The poet Bums had said — "To make a fireside clime, for weens and wife, 'Tis tiie true pathos and sublime of human life."

From (lie knocking in of the last peg of 1 the survey to the issue of the Crown lease, the efforts of the Department were all in one direction—that of homemaking; and to this end the improvement and residence conditions under the Crown leases were draw* up to prevent aggregation of Crown lands and to build up homes in the Dominion. Mr. Skinner had left behind him a good business record, and also the example of a clean, temperate life, which latter was of the greatest importance. Personally, lie had to thank Mr. Skinner for the great assistance he had given him, and this assistance had not been given merely as a matter of duty, but in a very generous spirit. From his 10 years' experience in the Blenheim office, he knew of no other office in the Dominion where an officer could get such varied official experience. No doubt it was a wrench leaving his home here, but when the time en me for Mr. Skinner to retire, he was sure he would come back to the "(inrden of New Zealand." He voiced tin' regret they all felt at losing Mr. Skinner, and on behalf of the officer! presented him with a purse of sovereign* with which to purchase some mementl to remind him of his comrades in Taranaki.

Mr. F. Oarrington said he had known Mr. Skinner all his life, and had been associated with him officially for 30 years. He had always found him painstaking and ready to assist in any way. Especially would his loss be felt by old seders and old soldiers, as well, indeed, by the natives, as Mr. Skinner was so conversant with the history of their lands. ITis absence would also be felt by the general public and his place would be hard to fill. 'Mr! John Cook said that Mr. Skinner hid come into the New Plymouth office as a cadet and had gone through step by step until now he had reached the highest position the service had to give. In losing Mr. Skinner they were parting with an important part of the Taranaki oflice. In examining plans it was always a comfort to the speaker when any of Mr. Skinner's work was around, for it could be depended on and always stood the test. He hoped lie would be happy in his new position, and that he and Airs. Skinner and family would enjoy the best of health and prosperity.

Mr. Bannister (chief clerk), on behalf of the clerical branch, added his testimony to that of the former speakers as to Mr. Skinner's worth. He had been associated with him for some 18 years, and could not forget Mr. Skinner's assistance, especially in his (Mr. Bannister's) early days, of the management of the clerical staff. When the speaker came to the district first Mr. Skinner was the lirst officer to extend to him the hand of friendship, and he would always cherish their relations both official and otherwise. Like the speaker, Mr. Skinner had seen great progress in Taranaki. He also wished Mr. Skinner and family every happiness in their new home, and trusted that when Mr. Skinner retired he would came back and settle down in Taranaki.

iXtr. T. V. Mackay, speaking on behalf of tho younger members of the staff, anil as ono who had entered the office as a cadet, said he had to thank Mr. Skinner for his hospitality. When he came here as a young fellow, Mr. Skinner's house had been thrown open to him like a home—and it had been so with other young officers—and in each and every one of them Mr. Skinner had taken a kindly interest. He had always done his best to teach them their profession and to turn them out fit to take their position anywhere. He joined with the others in wishing Mr. Skinner every lucky and prosperity.

•Mr. Skinner, in rising to reply, was greeted with applause, and stated it was a trying ordeal taking leave of old comrades. lie took it as the. greatest compliment that had been paid him in the town that all his brother officers were present that day. He thought no compliment could be greater than that. He had done his best for the officers, especially the younger ones, and had done his best to look after them. Mr. Skinner said he entered (lie office as a boy 30 years ago. lie well remembered his first morning. The then Chief Surveyor (Mr. Thos. ■ Humphries, lute SurveyorUencral) wars also captain of the local fire brigade, and when Air. Skinner arrived to take up his duties the fire brigade were holding a wet practice. On July 1, 1872 (his first day's work on the staff) he went with the Chief Surveyor to Huirangi. Everything beyond Bell Block was at that time a wilderness. It rained very hard that day and they got a thorough soaking, and lie always called that his baptism into official life. The staff then consisted of himself and the Chief Surveyor. Contrast that with the present time. Now they had a staff of 30, including fie'd officers. The area of surveyed land mi 1872 was approximately 126,000 acre}, of which barely one-third was in occupation, and very little of that improved. We had to-day something like over a million acres held under different tenures, and about one quarter of a million acres set aside as reserves—education reserves, endowments, etc. —and practically all settled on. Thirty-nine years ago the limit of cultivation to the north was Bell Block, and to the south it went as far as Stony River, but between Omata and Stony River was another wilderness—fern and tutu. One had to be constantly battling for his province, as Taranaki was in those days called the "Little Benjamin" of the colony, and was Jaunted with having caused tho nat''e troubles. Always he hud unbounded faith in this district, and ono could see what advancement it had made, and he felt assured still bettor things were in store. Coming back to the staff, he congratulated Mr. Armstrong on the efficient staff he had un- | dor him, and to whom he could always look for loyal support, for the New Plymouth office had earned a good name for i I self throughout tho service. He (hanked tho officers for their handsome present, with which he would purchase a suitable memento to remind him of his long and happy connection with the Taranaki office. Nothing he had received had given him greater pleasure Ilian (lie great compliment that had been paid him and the present they bad bestowed on him. Mr. Skinner was visibly affected when taking leave of his old comrades.

"[ The gathering then sang "For he's a jolly go#d fi'llyw." and concluded with I three cheers for Mr. Skinner and cheers I for Mrs. Skinner and family.