A POPULAR PUBLIC SERVANT

—, « The gift subscribed by the citizens of Wellington for Mr. T. E. Donne, formerly railway traffic manager on the Wel-lmgton-.Napier section ,of New Zealand Railways, was presented to him at the lost meeting of the -Auckland City Council. The articles consisted of a- tea and coffee service in sterling siWer, and a gold albert. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. D. Goldie, in handing Mr. Donne the present said that sit afforded him great pleas.urp i*> cQmjjly with the request of the donors, representing a large proportion of the business people of Wei- ■ lington, who desired to mark their appreciation of the manner in which the recipient had discharged his duties when traffic manager on the Wellington to Napier section of the railways. The donors hud also expressed the nope that* the recipient would have a long and successful career in this city. _Mr. .Donne, in reply, said he would ask the Mayor to convey to his Wellington friends and well-wishers his heartfelt thanks for the distinction they had thus Conferred on him. He was unconscious of having in any way merited so spontaneous and conspicuous an expression of their goodwill. Any measure of success which he might have obtained in his official capacity when in Wellington, must have been entirely due £o hyj endeaypurs tp c,a,rry out the policy of the Railway Department by- hestQwing care" and attention to the railway requirements 'of the community, and by endeavouring to afford th.c users pf th.c railway such faciftties as .they were reasonably entitled to" expect. In this regard, his efforts were always .ably supported by -his brother . officers and others who were under his direction. He would like to take the opportunity of acknowledging with • gratrtude the courtesy and consideration which was always manifested towards hjm by the business people of Wellington, who thus rendered the duties ot his official position at all limes pleasant. 9