THE AUDITOR-GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1921, Page 7

THE AUDITOR-GENERAL

RETIREMENT OF COL. COLLINS. LONG CAREER IN SERVICE. Colonel R. J. Collins, C.M.G., 1.5.0., V.D., who is retiring from the Publ’e Service at the end of the year, after 56 years of active work, began as a clerk in the militia office at New Plymouth. He filled various positions in the Public Service until, in 1906, he was appointed Secretary to the Treasury and Pay-master-General. Fbur years later he was made Controller and AuditorGeneral. After the outbreak of war he was appointed a member of the War Pensions Board. In all his official career Colonel Collins has been a conscientious and hard working officer. He is well known for the enthusiasm with which he assisted the volunteer movement, and for the interest he takes in rifle shooting. He rose to the rank of colonel in the defence force. He received the colonial medal for long service and efficiency in 1893, and the Imperial medal for long service in 1895. In 1902 he received the Imperial volunteer decoration (V.D.), and in 1911 was appointed honorary A.D.C. to His Excellency the Governor, whieh distinction he retained until 1920.

Colonel Collins took a prominent partin the enrolment and training of men for South Africa. He was chief recruiting officer for Wellington, and in recognition of his services was in 190*2 made a lieutenant-colonel in the New Zealand Militia. He has now retired from active military work, with the exception of that connected with the Dominion Rifle Association, in which he still maintains a lively interest. Colonel Collins has been associated with rifle ehooting since 1867, ami won many shooting trophies in his early days, including the Taranaki Rifle Association’s championship in 1874-75. Since 1879 he has been actively identified with the Dominion Rifle Associaton as a member of the executive. He was treasurer for many years, and was appointed statistical officer in 1886, and chief executive officer in 1904. He has controlled the annual rifle championship meetings, held at Trent ham, up to March, 1921, when he relinquished the office of executive officer,* hut as a member of *he executive council, still continues to take a keen interest in the doings of the association. He had command of the rifle team sent to the Commonwealth inauguration meeting at Sydney in 1901, and was commandant of the team sent from New Zealand to Bisley in 1904, which won the Kolapore Cup and many other valuable prizes. He is responsible for the great improvements made to the Trent ham rifle range.