AN ENGINEER HONOURED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 489, 23 April 1909, Page 9

AN ENGINEER HONOURED.

7 PRESENTATION TO MR. W. SMART. The'executive chamber of the local branch of tho Australasian Institute of Marine Engineers was fully taxed to accommodate the many ffiends and well-wishers assembled yesterday morning to say good-byo to Mr. W. Smart, superintending engineer for the Union Steam Ship Company, wno is proceeding to Glasgow, tho hub of the shipbuilding trade in Scotland, as the representative of the company for the purpose of studying the latest developments in marine engineering. The gathering, which was presided oyer by; Mr. J. Darling.'chairman of the branch, was representative of marine engineering, shipping, manufacturing engineers, . and the mercantile, community. Apologies for absence were received from the Hon. J, A. Millar and n number of; others; a number of congratulatory telegrams from tho engineer staffs of/the Jft»Qh Company's fleet were also read. ; ■■■ '-" The toast of "The King" having, been honoured, "the chairman, in a brief speech, pyoposed. the ' health of Mr. Smart, and expressed, ,on behalf- of the looal engineering community, tho good; feeling and high esteem which their.guest had earned for himself.by his industry and, perseverance in his calling, and wished him bon voyage and a safe return. The toast was enthusiastically honoured. The Hon C. M. Luke, M.L.C., in.presenting Mr, Smart with a' handsome gold watch and albert,: appropriately inscribed, referred to the oocasion (is .unique-. jn the v:: history of New Zealand engineering. 'Mr.'-Smart 'was colonial born-and trained,, and.'-had ..riseni from the lowest rung of the professional ladder to his present: responsible position. That a colonial engineer should, have been selected - as the Union Company's-representative -in 'Glasgow, where he woulti.be brought into touch wjth thehighest intellects in the profession, .was a great compliment; to New; Zealand,, and an incentive to the-younger members of their, call : ,ing. Mr., Smart '.was a worthy representative. The Union Company had by its enterprise risen to a high'place, in the front rank of ; tho sbipr ping trade of the world, and he had often asked; himself where the colony would ■ have: 'been had: it not ■ been :for the industry, and enterprise of its engineers; the industrial and contmeroial developments of New Zealand had been"very'much stimulated by. the work which had been' accomplished by the colonial engineers. • They had heard n good deal of late cpneerning the depression of .trade; much of this was no,doubt .exaggerated, and it behoved the community ; to, brace up and rouse themselves instead.'of yielding to a. state, of panic The speaker concluded, by presenting Mr. Smart with the handsome token which had been subscribed for by the engineers under bim, and also'with a travelling rug, for presentation to 'Mrs; Smart. ..,.; , Mr. D."Robertson' endorsed the Remarks ofthe previous speaker. Their guest, ho said, Would finid his- sojourn in Glasgow an opener, and he,advised him to "pocket overy-r thing he saw ond bring it back'with him for the.benefit of New Zealand." .. Messfs.:'Lpdder,(ohiof of tho Gear-Company's engineering staff), Mr, Duncan (chief inspector of.' machinery). Captain Watson (representing the.; masters and officers of the Union Cpn|pany), and, Mr. H. .C. Tewsley (on behalf of tho mercantile conimunity), having also contributed to the felicitations of the occasion, Mr, Smart briefly thanks, expressing himself as being unable to' adequately convey his sentiments in speech. His mission.to Scotland was. .partly' for pleasure and partly for professional purposes, and he assured them'of his earnest;desire, to uphpld: the'.credit of the profession and -New Zealand, and extract fronr his sojourn, some thing of tangible good to his friends when he came back. (Applause.) ' Tho proceedings ooncluded wjth'the singing of '_Auld Lang Syne." Mr. Smart 1 sailed by the Cormthio yesterday.- -~-■