STAFF FAREWELL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1939, Page 7

STAFF FAREWELL

PRESENTATION TO- MR T. T. DENBEE; ASSOCIATION WITH BOROUGH. Contributed). The saying that an Englishman’s home is his castle, counted little to those associate members of the Masterton Borough Council staff who staged a “surprise party” at the Renall Street home of their recently retired popular chief of staff, Mr T. T. Denbee (ex-Town Clerk) in order to show their highest appreciation of one who was not only a senior staff leader, but a personal friend as well. At a suitable stage of the convivial proceedings in the night’s programme of “music, mirth and melody,” Mr D. T. Herbert, as chief spokesman for those assembled, eulogised the “guest of the evening” for his manifold qualities, not only as a loyal servant of the Borough Council and citizens of Masterton, but as a very worthy gentleman of urbane and ever courteous character, under whom it was a privilege and an honour to serve. Mr Denbee, over a long period of years, had not only diligently applied himself to his own higher tasks of duty, but was ever ready to help each and every member of the staff associated with him to contribute a'like service to the borough under the most congenial methods of friendly co-operation. In asking Mr Denbee, who was like a father to one and all of them, to accept on their united behalf an approp-riately-inscribed Westminster Chimes clock, as a small, but warm token of universal affection and high esteem, Mr Herbert trusted its sweet chimes would prove typical of the sweetness of the sunny hours of life yet awaiting him to enjoy in the course of a projected leisure so well and truly deserved, and which all hoped he would long live to richly enjoy in the bosom of his family, and in the midst of his many citizen friends. Mr C. R Mabson (Borough Engineer) also spoke of the many pleasant recollections associated with Mr Denbee’s long and honourable period of service to the Borough, and said that in their ex-Town Clerk (Mr Denbee) the citizens of Masterton had a “watch dog” who had zealously guarded the public purse in their sole interests, and although as was natural to his position as Engineer he had been the chief factor in lightening its contents, he was always rewarded for such demands as he hau to make in this direction to see Mr Denbee’s smile recurring year by year when he (as Clerk and treasurer) found the borough had lived within, and not beyond its means. ! Messrs T. A. Russell (Borough Inspector) J. Y. Douglas (Gasworks Manager) and T. B. Braggins (Borough Foreman) also testified as to the estimable and capable qualities of Mr Denbee in helping to unite the varied contributory staff forces into a cohesion second to none, and wished him long life to enjoy a retirement from signal services he now so well deserved. With musical honours, Mr Denbee’s health was then roasted in the usual hearty manner, the rich blending of feminine voices likewise proclaiming that their part in the night's programme was not only to “serve in the kitchen,” but t<*> sing in the toast as well, Mr Denbee, admidst renewed cheering, feelingly thanked all members of his old staff for remembering him in such a splendid way. He personally had been associated with many borough staff presentations, but was not permitted any say in this one, except as the recipient. He thanked each and every one present for coming to his home to make the presentation a “surprise” one. The loyal service the borough staff had rendered him over a long period of ye'ars was thus typically repeated in their warm-hearted gift to him in his declining years. As a parting gift, the chiming clock they brought into his home life to remind him of the swift passage of time, would thus remain in his treasured possession as a memorial to their goodness in remembering him unto his life’s end. He could only say how really grateful he felt for so signal an honour their presence, as well as their splendid gift, conveyed to him. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” brought a memorable evening to a close.