AN HONOURED OFFICIAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1909, Page 9

AN HONOURED OFFICIAL

PRESENTATION TO COLONEL COLLINS, 1.5.0. As announced yesterday in these columns, Colonel it. J. Collins, 1.5.0., V.D., Secretary to the Treasury, received an illuminated address from his biother and sister officers of tho Treasury and Friendly Societies' Departments yesterday afternoon. Colonel Collins is a Government official of fortyfour years' standing, having joined the service as pay clerk in the militia office, New Plymouth, in 1865. After various promotions, Colonel Collins took charge of the combined offices of Pay and Revenue, as clerk in charge, in ICBS. In August, 1903, be became accountant to the Treasury, in 1903 Assistant Secretary, and in 1906 he was promoted to his present position as Secretary to the Treasury, Receiver-Genoral, and Pay-master-General. He has been a member of tho principal boards connected with the Service, and has taken a prominent ?art in volunteering and rifle shooting. n 1893 he received the colonial medal for long service, in 1901 tho Imperial Volunteer Decoration, and- in 1909 he was appointed a Companion of the. 1.'5.0. The Acting-Premier (Hon. -Jas. Carroll) and his colleague tho Hon. J. A. Millar were present yesterday, together with a large number of members of tho various staffs. Mr. Vincent, chief clerk, in reading the address (already published }, pointed out the genial relations that existed, and had existed, between Colonel Collins and his officers, and paid flattering tributes to the secretary's capabilities. Taranaki had given the service many distinguished servants, including Colonel Collins. The Hon. J. A. Millar (Acting-Minis ter for Finance) formally made the presentation. ' Speairing frum his personal knowledgo of Colonel Collins, he was sure that his forty-four" years' hard work, responsibility, and success well merited the honour bestowed up6n him. Especially was this so when it was realised that the recipient had done much for an outlying" portion of the Empire. It was an imperial matter. Always he (the speaker) had found Colonel Colliiu a valuable servant and a just, firm, yet genial administrator, who had won the esteem of all his brother officials. Hon. Jas. Carroll (Acting-Premier) added his quota to the tributes already paid the Treasury's Secretary. Colonel Collins had been closely identified with many administrations. For himself, he had the honour of the personal acquaintance of Colonel Collins for many years. He suggested the life of Colonel Collins — his devotion to duty and the public weal, his unceasing ambition and work for promotion— as a tradition for tho younger officers of the service to attempt to live up to. The speaker touched upon the successful Imperialism of the British Empire — a success due largely to the obedience and patriotism of the officers of all grades of the great institutions connected with the Mother Country and her colonies. It was, something— and a proud thing — for any New Zealander to know that he could rise step by step in the service of the Empire, until he merited the recognition of the King. The Acting-Premier concluded with tributary references to and good wishes for Colonel Collins. In reply, Colonel Collins expressed his appreciation of the good wishes, the presentation, and the feelings that prompted them. He was proud of his distinction, and proud of his colleagues' notice of such. It was only at rare intervals that a Civil servant got the chance to dc anything to merit recognition from the highest in the Empire, and he felt keenly the honour bestowed upon him. The speaker paid a large meed of praise to the officers and their work in connection with the departments to which he was attached. In referring to the necessity for every rising officer to aim high and work accordingly, Colonel Collins observed that "every cadet carried the warrant of Paymaster-General in his pocket." In conclusion, he thanked the members for their token of appreciation, Mr. Vincent being specially mentioned as "one of the finest officers in the New Zealand service." The Ministers were also thanked for their presence and good wishes. The meeting concluded with three cheers for the recipient and the Ministers.