RETRENCHMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3106, 1 February 1909, Page 5

RETRENCHMENT.

RETIREMENT OF PROMINENT OFFICIALS.

A number of changes in the Civil Service are about to take place, owing to a decision of Cabinet that all Departmental officers who have reached the age of 65 must retire. 'this is in accordance with a provision which has been the law since 189 C, but has no: been put into force. Mr Thomas Humphries, the retiring

I Surveyor-General, was horn in Lonf don in IS 11. being the son of Mr E. IL. Humphries, JVI.D., R.C.S. He came out to New Zealand early in I life, and entered the Survey Department as a cadet in Taranaki when

sixteen years of age. Mr A. Barron has held the positions of Land Purchase Inspector and chairman of the Board of Land Purchase Commipsioners since 1902. He was appointed Under-Secretary for Lands in 1890, and Assistant Surveyor-General in 1896, retaining both appointments until, he took up his present position about six. years ago.

Lieut-Col. Arthur Plume came out to New Zealand in 1880 to take up the position of Inspector of Prisons, which lie holds to-day. During his New Zealand career he has been at different times Commissioner of Police and Under-Secretary for Defence and Inspector of Volunteers. He received the rank of lieutenantcolonel in ISSS. Mr C. W. Hursthouse has been Chief Engineer of the Roads- Department since its inception in 1901. lie came out with his parents from Norwich, England, and was only two years oid when they landed at Wellington in 1843. From 18.91 until he took up his present appointment he was engaged in constructing roads in the King Country and elsewere. The retiring Commissioner of Stamps, Mr Charles Alfred St. G. Hickson, was bnm at sea (Irish Channel) on August 10th, 1844. His father was Captain J. A. Hickson, formerly of the 88th Connaught Rangers. He was appointed to the Commissionership of Stamps in 1906. Mr J. M. Batham, the retiring Registrar-General of Lands and Deeds, was born at Kidderminster, England, in 1840- He arrived in New Zsaland in 1864.

Mr William Thompson Glasgow, who is about to retire from his office as secretary of New Zealand Customs, was born in 1842, at Rajkote, Guerat, India. He received his education at a private school in Belfast, Ireland, and came out to New Zealand in 1864, entering the Civil Service that year as clerk in the Customs Department. fhe retiring Stipendiary Magistrate at Timaru —Mr Charles Allen Wray—is of French birth; he was born at Honfieur, France, in 1840. During the years 1856-57 he saw service in the Persian War (medals), and went through the Indian Mutiny (1857-59). Mr George Vance Shannon has neen Chief Customs Expert since 1888. He was h< : i in Ireland in 1842, and was 23 ears of age when he came to New Zealand. He was for,a timt a member of the Wellington Education Board, and has been connected with volunteering and the militia.