CITIZENS’ FAREWELL TO CHIEF-DETECTIVE HERBERT

New Zealand Tablet, 1 July 1915, Page 53

CITIZENS’ FAREWELL TO CHIEF-DETECTIVE HERBERT

y Chief-Detective Herbert, who for twelve years has been the head of the plain-clothes branch of the Dunedin police, received striking testimony before leaving this city that in his long tenure of that important and sometimes difficult office he had succeeded not only in earning the respect of the whole community, but also in gaining the friendship of the large number of citizens with whom he came into personal touch. A number of them found in the occasion of Mr. Herbert’s transfer to Christchurch an opportunity for giving him some tangible expression of their affectionate esteem, and the movement was so heartily responded to that the meeting of farewell, held in Mr. D. Larnach’s offices, was attended by a large number of representative citizens, and the token of goodwill presented for Mrs. Herbert’s acceptance assumed the handsome form of a silver chain purse containing a cheque for a large sum. There was an attendance of some 50 citizens, fully representative of the commercial and professional life of the town. The chairman (Councillor White), in the course of his remarks, said he had admired ChiefDetective Herbert, because they recognised that lie had always acted in a straight and fair manner in his official capacity, and, further, because he was a, man of ability and standing, in his department. He was one who never ‘ beat about the bush ’ in what he had to say, and that was the kind of man whom everybody had to admirethe straightforward man, who always had the courage of his opinion. To himself and Mrs. Herbert the speaker wished many long years of happiness; and he thought that it was very fitting to mention there that the Otago Women’s Patriotic Association, which had been working so strenuously in the interests of the patriotic funds, have had one of the keenest and hardest workers in Mrs. Herbert, who, from the inauguration of that association, had never missed a day in assisting to make articles for the Belgians and for the brave boys who were so far away fighting for those whom they had left behind them. On behalf of the subscribers he had much pleasure in handing over to Mr. Herbert, for Mrs. Herbert, a silver purse containing a substantial cheque. The purse will remind Mrs. Herbert of many pleasant days spent in Dunedin, and the cheque, no doubt, she would make good use of. Eulogistic speeches were also made by the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr. J. H. Walkci, and Mr. 11. Mitchell,

Chief-Detective Herbert, said in reply that he would be-hypocritical if he said he was not flattfered by the reception accorded him, and he could not credit that he had merited all the kind things said of him and done for him. lie was very much obliged to them all, and would convey their sentiments to Mrs. Herbert, who, he was sure, would appreciate them even more than he did, if that were possible. It was naturally very pleasant for him to know that the Bench and Bar and the citizens had formed so flattering an opinion of him, and, in fact, it was almost worth while leaving Dunedin to get such a send-off. He had here a great number of most sincere friends, of a calibre that any man would be proud to have. Mrs. Herbert was also presented during the week with a purse bag by the members of the Otago Women s Patriotic Association as a token of their esteem.