NOTABLE CAREER

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 166, 9 April 1932, Page 10

NOTABLE CAREER

Mr. W. W. Cook Retires REGISTRAR-GENERAL At the end of a distinguished record of service to the Government, Mr. W. W. Cook. Registrar-General, one of the most well-known figures in Wellington, has retired. Many officers from other departments, together with a full gathering of the staff of the Registrar-General’s Department, met yesterday morning at an official farewell to Mr. Cook. The Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, made tlie presentation, giving a brief eulogistic speech, referring to Mr. Cook’s career both in the department and outside. Mr. Cobbe hoped that Mr. Cook, who was retiring in the prime of life, would enjoy his retirement from official duties, and that he would have prosperity and happiness for many years to come. Mr. R. P. Ward, Under-Secretary of Justice, and Mr. H. B. McGrath, senior clerk of the Registrar-General’s Department, also §poke. Mr! Cook replied briefly. Cadet to Head. From cadet to permanent head, Mr. Cook lias spent the whole of his 37 years of official life in the Registrar-Gener-al’s Department. He has been prominently associated with the activities of his old school, Wellington College, particularly with the Old Boys’ Association. and has been identified also with cricket, football, and boxing. His quiet manner and 'executive ability have built up for him a flue reputation. Mr. Cook was dux of Te Aro School in .1890, won a scholarship, and went to ■Wellington College, where he was proxime accessit in 1894. Under the late Mr. J. P. Firth, his school life, both in the classroom and on the playing field, was a distinguished one. As n cadet he entered the head office of the Registrar-General’s Department in March of the following year. 1895. and rose steadily in tlie office as the years went on. In 1906. three years after he had qualified as a solicitor, he was promoted to the position of Deputy-Registrar-General. and ten years later was appointed Registrar-General in succession to Mr. F. W. Mansfield. Interest in Wellington College. From t he day be left Wellington College in 1894. Mr. Cook took a keen interest. in the affairs of the Old Boys’ Association, of which since 1912 be has been secretary. His work in this capacity has been notable, ami it is due largely to Mr.' Cook's energy that considerable sums of money have been raised from time to time for the purposes of the school, such as for the building of the Memorial Hall and the sports pavilion. He is a life member of both the Old Boys' Football Club and the Old Boys’ Cricket Club. .Mr. Cook has played cricket for the Wellington, old Excelsior, and Old Boys’ (jlnbs. and football for Wellington and Old Boys. Some years ago he took an active interest in amateur theatricals. He Ims also been prominently identified with the 'Wellington Rugby Union and the Wellington Boxing Association, of the committee of which he is still a member.