VALEDICTORY.

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 49, 26 August 1921, Page 9

VALEDICTORY.

POSTAL OFFICIAL FAREWELLED.

The officers of the Stores Branch of the Post and Telegraph Department held a smoke concert in the Scottish Hall on Wednesday night for the purpose of saying farewell to Mr. C. B. Mann, who recently retired from the position of Controller of Stores after having served 42. years with the Department.*. Mr. C. H. Nichotls, Acting-Controller of Stores, presided, and among- the guests were Messrs. K. X Morris, Secretary o£ the Department, A. T. \ Markman, First Assistant Secretary, G. M'Namara, Second Assistant Secretary, and H. A- Huggins, Controller of tho Post Office Savings Bank. Among others, apologies for absence were received from the Hon. J\ G. Coates, Postmaster-General, Mr. W. R. Morris, Public Service Commissioner (formerly Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department), Mr. E. A. Shrimpton, Chief Telegraph Engineer, Mr. A. Gibbs, Deputy Chief Telegraph Engineer, and Mr. J. Laurenson, Chief Inspector. Mr. R. B. Morris, in. proposing Mr. Mann's health, 6tfited that Mr. Mann joined the service on 12th September, 1879, as a cadet in the Teleeraph Learners' School, Wellington. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to the store, in 1895 he was appointed assistant storekeeper, and, -t>\i the retirement of Mr. Black in 1909, he was promoted to take charge of the stores.. Mr. Morris said that Mr. Mann was voluntarily retiring on superannuation with a record of which any officer might be proud. Mr. Manii haoj never spared himself in the Department's interests, and had carried out the responsible and intricate duties of his office with every satisfaction. From the officers of the Stores Branch, he presented to Mr. Mann an enlarged photograph of the staff and a pair of field-glasses; from the-officers of the Department's workshops, a set of carvers; and from officers of the General Post Office, ah electric table lamp. In handing over the articles, Mr. Morris expressed the hearty wishes Of all officers that Mr. Mann would enjoy good health and long be spared to enjoy his well-earned leisure.

Mr. Markman also referred in eulogistic terms to Mr. Mann's departmental record, and to the esteem in. which he was held by his brother officers. Mr. Mann, in replying, thanked the officers of the Stores Branch for their loyalty, and for the very satisfactory manner in which thoy had supported him. He gave some particulars faf the work of the branch, and referred to the particular difficulties of the war period, when stores were in short supply and prices were high. Various other toasts were honoured during the evening, during which vocal items were contributed by Messrs. Fraser Thomson, C. Moore, K. Tahtwi, J. S. Connell, and B. Seddoh. . ,