TRAMWAY BOARD REFERENCES

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13105, 2 May 1908, Page 10

TRAMWAY BOARD REFERENCES

Rpfereirco to tho lamented death of Mr Goo. G. Stead, formerly a prominent member of tJio Christen uroli Tramway Board, was made at the meeting of tho Board, hold ' laet night. Tho Board meeting luid been adjouirnod from the afternoon, out of respect i« tho laite Mr Stead.

The Ciarrman (Mr A. W. Beavcn), addreei;ing tho members of tho Board, said: —"At thL; first meeting of tlio Board since the- death of Mr Stead, who was one of Hip members origonally elected by the cit-izens of CJi-rietchurch to put in* hand tho building of electric tramways for tho distriot, and who wn»j vice-chfl;iirriia n for romo years, I think it will ]jv> your widi to make rcifer&nco in tko Board's irn'in'Utos to hiis cccmioction with it. M;r Stfad was of great assistance to the Board in the Finance Coimniiittee, and in tho very advantageous arr.ingenK»n.ts made in connection with tiho leans lie took a leading part. His wide experksneo in commercial mot-tors was ailwa.ys- at the service of tho Board, nnd was of incalculable value in the negotiations with contractors and local bodies wluioh occur in the course, of tihcv conslructioai of so large and widespread an undertaking. Mr Stead was a mo.n who took vieiws on matters of and p'laeed these views fearlessly and forcibly before the Board, but one© the policy otf the Board was settled, Mir Stoad always did has best to carry out that policy. The Board was fortunate in he ring "a gerxtlema.n of Mr Stead's' wide experience, ptrompt iudgme-nt in financial matters, and kc<rn insight m business aifairs, interested in its work for so long. We Tvere sonry when, jprevicois to 3uls visit to England, lie resigned hi© coat, and we hoped that at some future time ht> mdgbt have been prevailed on to a-gain gave the citizens of Chrietchairch tihe bm&fit of 3ins matured experience on tho Tramway Board." Mr Boavesn then moved:— '''That this Board wishes to pllaco on its minutes its sinoero regret that Mr Geo. G. Stead has been cut off in tho midst of his career whilst still at the head of many important enterprises; that we record our appreciation of tho good work done by him whilst on the Board of the Christchurch tramways, and of the great assistance his wide experience wae in the promotion of t3io sj - s fcem, and thot a copy of thas resolution be sent to his family."

Mr W. Recce, who seconded the motion, said .that he folt personally very in-diced' the loss of Mr Stead, to the community. To kr.ow Mr Stead thoroughly was to esteem him very greatly indeed. As chairman of the Board while Mr Stead was deputychairiman he could speak of the very great assistance Mr fetead had been, to liim in any critical matters which occurred dJurirag the rather arduous time when the early portion of the work, which was always hardest, was being carried out. At no time, day oj night, was Mr Stead- too busy to give him a hearing on any matter connected with the tramway work. Mr Stead was one of those strang-miTidJod men wfeo always dared to adhere to an opinion when once formed, amd when onoo ho was assured , li© was right. He was one of those characters' whom all admired, and , be (the speaker) folt that New Zealand; had sustained a vary great loss indeed. He was very glad to have "tfhe opportunity of seconding the motion. The motion was put cmd- carried in si'lenco, the •members standing meanwhile.

Before ifae proceedings at the Conciliation Board opened yesterday morning, tho Chairman (Mr W. Minson) said that Christchurch had lost a very able and very useful citizen* in the person of the late Mr Geo. G. Stead, and ho thought it. probable that mombers of the Board would like to show a mark of resjiect to that citizen by adjourning during the time of the funeral. With the consent of tho Board, it bad been decided to adjourn from 12.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. /