AN OFFICIAL HONOURED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 583, 11 August 1909, Page 3

AN OFFICIAL HONOURED.

WELCOME TO' MR. ,D. ROBERTSON. The annual social and; dance of the Post and lelegraph Rifles and the. Social and Literary Club were mado the occasion-last evening of'a welcome to Mr. D. Robertson/ Secretary, of the. Post and Telegraph Department, and Mrs. Robertson, ontlieir return■ from' Europe. . Mr: J. it. Logan,' Superintendent of Electric Lines, extended a very hearty welcome to Mr. and Mrs. .Robertson,- alluding to .their meeting with their son, the. Rhodes scholar, and to several incidents of their travels' ' Tho Hon. Dr. Findlay, Acting-Postmaster-deneral, said that.tiio gathering had suffered a rather serious loss through his having forgotten a sheaf of statistics which' the secretary had prepared for him, and which'ho had meant to read. They .were all delighted to see Mr. and Mrs: Robertson back. Very few' men had tho privilege of embracing so many friends as-Mr. Robertson. Most mcn ; who nacHo conduct a difficult and intricate- service like the Post Office necessarily tro'd-'noiv and then on the toes of people, but. he had met probably no ,man who-had been able to get over tho thorny patlrof official progress so easily.as Mr. Robertson. Dr. Findlay also referred in complimentary terms to tho work of Mr; W. R. Morris; who carried on Mr. Robertson's duties in. the hitter's' absence. As. Acting-Postmaster-General on a previous occasion-he had been brought into contact with the former secretary, the late' Mr. W.i Gray. It was rare that a service had had such conspicuously able men as tho three he had mentioned to conduct its affairs. Mr.'Morns liad taken,up his duties' with' an energy and completeness which he thought were little short of surprising. He thought they would join with him m expressing their very high appreciation of the way in'-which Mr. iMorris had conducted the affairs-of.that great- Department during i Mr. Robertson's absence. Dr. Findlay also referred to ' Mr.Robertson's meeting with his son, who' had done distinguished honour to this country, and expressed the.hope that Mr.; and- ■'Mrs.. Robertson might have many happy days before them. "-...' '~-,' ',

Mr. Robertson said ho felt proud indeed that they should bo held.in such regard. The best part of their trip Was the'return to so many friends. He was very-pleased'to find that everything ill connection,with'the Department had gone on very, smoothly. l That could only have resulted' from the' .strenuous work done by his locum tenens and his helpers, with Mr. Logan's very valuable advice. It was no.'easy thing to take/up the! running of a Department like the Post Office. During his absenco tho Govoniment had added other Departments toy them. Their backs were pretty broad, and they could take a few more'still if necessary.;' He mentioned the additons only to show how much work there had been for those who had boon loft behind him. Mr.'Robertson referred.briefly to his visitors to tho Scot-country and to France. Ho would not speak of London, for lie believed that' in a very ; few days they would havo a fleet of airships which would go there in about eight days, and all of'themwould be ablo to malio tho trip. Ho thanked the 1 gathering' veify much the references to his son .and for their kind attendance. 1 The evening was then devoted to cards and, dancing. •'• /