A POPULAR STATIONMASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1922, Page 6

A POPULAR STATIONMASTER.

MR. O’SHEA FAREWELIED. At the Victoria League tea-rooms yesterday afternoon, the Council of the Chamber of Commerce foregathered to wish fkrewell to Mr. J. O’Shea, stationmaster, who has been promoted to a similar position in Palmerston North. The president (Mf7 T. C. List) presided, and after tea had been partaken of. voiced the regret of the chamber and the commercial men generally of the town at the impending departure of their guest, to whom all were under a debt of gratitude for the assistance and courtesy he had always extended to them. At the Same time they were all pleased he had received such welldeserved promotion. New Plymouth had had some very efficient stationmasters in the past, but it never had a more capable or obliging one than Mr. O’Shea. (Applause), He specially referred to hie help in connection with the improvement of the provincial service and the movement for speeding up the mail trains.

Mr. List took the opportunity of introducing to the council Mr. A. Stevens, chief clerk of the goods department, who had recently come to New Plymouth, and who, he felt sure, could be depended upon to help the commercial community in their relations with the goods department. Mr. Morrison (manager of the local branch of the Union Company), and Mr. A. Humphries (Collett and Co.) acknowledged the help Mr. O’Shea had always accorded the shipping interests, whilst Messrs. S. Burgess, S. W. Shaw and C. H. Burgess paid tributes to him for what he had done on behalf of the commercial community, the latter remarking that Mr. O’Shea had the faculty of conserving the rights and interests of the department and at the same time meeting and helping the public. Mr. O’Shea said he was quite surprised to receive such a manifestation of appreciation at the hands of the Chamber of Commerce. He 'had but tried to do his duty, and red-tape had been dispensed with whenever possible. He had been pleased to co-operate with the chamber, and he took the opportunity of saying that the chamber did not content itself with sitting around a. table and passing resolutions, con demning this or th'at, but acted with promptitude and vigor in matters affecting the interests of the commercial community. Though as yet their work in connection with the speeding up of the mail service had not borne fruit, he would not be surprised if it did so in the near future. (Applause). Referring to the work at the wharf, he said that only those connected with the shipping realised the difficulties that the railway staff were up against there. They had had as many as four boats loading And unloading at the same time. The cargo would consist of dairy produce, meat, etc. Rakes of trucks would come in. each truck perhaps for a different hold, and the consequent work of keeping things going expeditiously and properly was by no means easy. In Mr. Duffin (in charge of railway operations on the wharf) they had an excellent and capable officer. (Hear, hear), and he was well supported by what he felt sure was an excellent staff. There was one thing they must do, continued Mr. O’Shea, and that was to expedite the building of the new wharf. It was already a year behind the requirements of the port, and until it was constructed the port would be at a disadvantage and the railway staff would continue to experience at certain times a great d'eal of difficulty. Providing they had the accommodation, trade that now went elsewhere might come to New Plymouth, and he instanced a case in point. The trade of the port was increasing at a considerable rate, and this meant extra work for the railways. He felt sure the town had a great future before it. He had spent a very happy time in it, in an official and private capacity, and he looked forward to returning to it later on and settling. (Applause).

Mr. Stevens thanked the chamber for inviting him to be present, and. assured them that they could levy on him to do anything within his power to facilitate them in their relations with his department. Mr. O’Shea leaves by the train this morning for Palmerston North.