PUBLIC PRESENTATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10176, 28 February 1911, Page 5

PUBLIC PRESENTATION.

TO MR W. T. MANSFIELD.

A very pleasing ceremony was performed in tlie iVLasterton Borough Council Chambers last evening, WJien/ an illuminated address was ' presented to Mr Wdiliam 1. Mainsfield, who lias resigned l the position ■ of Town Clerk and Engineer, which ■ lie has filled for ,over three years past, to take up the position of | Engineer to the Borough of Wan- | ganui. His Worship the Mayor i (Mr J. M. Coradine) occupied the • chair, and there were about thiilty leading citizens present, including ■several ex-Mayors, Councillors and representatives of local bodies and public institutions. Apologies were also received from Messrs It. Bunny and others. The Mayor, in a laudatory address, which was punctualted with applause, expressed his personal regret at the circumstances which had led to/tile gathering. He felt that everybody present would realise how difficult i)t would be to get a man to carry out the work of the Borough so ably, so. honestly, and so thoroughly as it had been carried out by Mr Mansfield. The Council, as a, ibody, had necessarily diverse views on public questions, and they had been fortunate iiu having an expert at their head who. could guide them to correct conclusions. Me (Mr Coradine) had occupied l the . Mayoral,, chair for . two terms, and , he had found that his work was made comparatively easy by 'the valuable expert" .advice of their Engineer. He had the fullest confidence in his ability, and,.-that confidence had never been misplaced. Mr Coradine said 1 people were apt, at times, to fdrni. wrong conclusions because itdiey were not possessed of the full information ini the possess- | I ion of the Mayor and' Councillors, i He had, ihimself, not always seen eye to eye -with the Engineer, but, when- lie sifted- matters ouit, lie j. found that the expert man knew ■ tlie best. The Mayor felt that, in I losing Mr Mansfield, he was losing ( not only a valued servant, but a personal friend. The position he; had occupied had not always been, a ; bed" of roses; but tihe further he i went on, the more his work was ap- j predated. Mr Ooradm-e 1 referred at t some length to the-ability displayed ; by Mr Mansfield in dealing with the i sewiage outfall, the waterworks, ! and the- public. roads. His whole work had reflected the utmost credit upon Mm as an Engineer. Those who reflected upon, the position ol affairs before Mr Mansfield came to the town and the position Ito-day, I .could 1 fail to appreciate hrs good work. In conclusion, the Mayor expressed tlie hope that Mr j Mansfield would do similar good' service in ■ Wan ganui, where his tal- ( enlt. would probably have better scope, and that lie would enjoy continued good health , and abundant - happiness. (Applause.) Councillor Premice endorsed the remarks''of tlie' Mayor. 'He stated , that Mr Mansfield's work stood out on its own. Mastertto's 1 lass woiild be Waniganui's> gain. .Her wished Mr Mansfield every success. ; Mr P. L. i IJoMings, ex-Mayor, said that none , more than lie re- | gretted the departure of Mr Mans- ' fiedd He had been two years m the Mayoral chair sinc.e Mr Mansfield came 'here, and he had full opportunities of judging of his worth. What surprised Mm was that Masterjton could not the services of .a good man wlien. they got one. lit • seemed to him a great pitythat ' inducements were not offered to Mr Mansfield to remain here. Wanganui was to be congratulated upon securing the services, of such an sable and efficient officer. During his term of office lie had tad I little differences with Mr Mansj field, but he had found that the Ell- - gineer knew more of'the practical > work- of the Borough than, lie did. He congraitulated Mr Mansfield upon his appointment, and wished him a pleasadt and prosperous -'career. He was sorry .that 'he could not congratulate Masterton upon losing iiis services.. (Applause). ' ~ Councillor rragnell also eulogised the good work done by Mr Mansi field, who, (he said, had the pluck of an Englishman. He expressed gincere regret that itihey were losing the iservices of .so able a man. Mr Mansfield liad left his monument in Masterton! in the streets r alone. Coiincillior Pragnell criticised (the actions of those Who had belittled tiie work of the Engineer. Mr C. A. Pownall, an ex-Mayor, and Borough Solicitor, .stated that lie had found Mr Mansfield energetix ic and courteous to a degree. There was no doubt that he had- opposition, but it was still more to his credit that he had- succeeded in spilto of this opposition... He had not the l slightest doubt that Mr Manisfield would do good service in Wanganui. He thought that the present meetiiiig was a (sufficient testimony to the esteem in which tihe departing gentleman was held. , j Mr H. C. Robinson,' as represent-'J ative of the Truslt Lands Trust,' said that all his body tad to complain of was tlhat the Engineer compelled the Trust to connect their premises wiith the drainage. He did not know that this was a disadvan- ! tag© to the town. I Mr 0. C. Pragnell, as representative of the Masterton Fire Board, expressed the deep sense .of regret 'felt at departure of Mr Mansfieild. He had himself had differences with the Engineer, hut he had •■•always, found iliim faithful to his masters— I the Council. Mr Pragnell ed regret that 'tihe Council did not see its way clear .to offeV-Mr Mans- . field inducements to Remain. , Me wished him well in his new sphere. •Mr J. H. Pauling, until recently ""a Councillor, stated that in going amongst the tow/mspeople to get signatures to the testimonial, iie surprised to . find how well IVlr

Mansfield was spoken of. As a . Councillor, he had always found Mr ' Mansfield straightforward and businesslike in his transactions. He > wished the Engineer every success in his new home. » Mr A. J. Hathaway, secretary of the. Trust Lands Trust, stated that he had found Mr Mansfield in eyery way courteous. ' xho Mayor, replying to one or two of the previous speakers, stated that he had reason, for not offering Mr Mansfield inducement to remain. He had judged, the position by Itlie fasts, and he had no . doubt his hearers would read between the lines. Mr Coradine then presented Mr Mansfield , with the illuminated testimonial, winch reads as follows: ' "On the -eve of your departure from this district to assume charge of tide engineering department of the Borough of Wanganui, .the citizens of Masterton desire to convey to you their appreciated! of , the valuable services you have rendered during the three and a half yearsyou have filled the position of. Town Clerk and Engineer to tlie Alasteri ton Borough. We recognise;, notably, your successful treatment of tlie drainage system of the town', ! which, 011 your assumption of official duties here, was in an extremely, unsatisfactory state. ihe change brought about by. the .capable -manher in which' you" have dealt with" this very .imporMnt. branch of the , Borough works must prove of the utmost 'benefit to the sanitary eon- ■ dition of tlhe town and. immediate , environments. 1 The marked, improvement in the leading .thoroughfares. of Masftertoii under the scheme of formation and maintenance introduced and carried to « successful issue "by .you, bear ample testimony to the ability and expedience you have brought to bear on this class. of, work, and the inhabitants of the town may Justly feel 1 proud at the ' excellent results thus achieved. We realise that you have filled the dual positions mentioned | with the utmoslt credit to yourself j and that you have laboured unceasingly, and 'sucdessfully in .the endea--1 vour to carry out the arduous tasks which confronted yo\i on your ..as- • [ sumption of office; and, though re-\ greltting the circumstances, which' deprives us of the continued benefit - of your services, we convey to- yon our hearty , congratulationsupoii/ your new appointment, embracing as it does a widep field for your energies . and an improved prospectivepbsi- ; tion. We wish Mrs' Mansfield and. \ . iyterMf tihe J enjoymentti 'of health,; , and every happiness iiu your jiew . surroundings, and that success in, your omciai career, which we teei assured your capabilities merit." • 1 Mr Mansfield said that other qualities' lie possessed, -■ he did not the quality of public speaking. He did, however, very • much appreciate the kind e-xpre's- " sions regarding his humble efforts as Engineer and Town Clerk. He had come here a stranger in, a strange land, and he had put in the hardest three years he had spent in ;-lif©.? of Ids duties, ho had'.been able to satisfy the Mayor and Couhcillors, and feel (that hie had done some service to the town, ihe .felt this a sufficient reward; He felt that ihe had made . the friendship of men whose regard was worth having. He would look back and feel that, after all, his life in M'pterton had: been for his: good. He heartily i~anked all those who had subscribed) to the testimonial for their kindness. . The proceedings terminated with ' a vote of thanks (to the Mayor. ';" .