MR. W. T. NEILL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 81, 9 April 1929, Page 11

MR. W. T. NEILL

A.\ r OFFICIAL FAREWELL

Mr. W. T. 1 Neill,, who recently retired from the position' of Surveyor-Gen-eral, was officially farewelled by his fellow.'officers ' yesterday . afternoon, when an" opportunity was taken topro-: sent him with a well-filled wallet as a token'of the esteem in which ho is held in the Department. -The Minister of Lands (tho Hon. G. W.'^orbes) made the presentation, and in a few appreciative words summarised Mr. Neill's brilliant career in the Department. ' Mr. Neill joined the service in 1883, and, after, serving' his cadetship; and ' passing: the' sufyeyors'': examination, was appointed ■ assistant 1 surveyor in 1887. He was then, transferred to the Gis-. borne and Hawkes Bay district, where, amongst other survey work, he located roads through rough bush country which have since become main highways. Returning to Dunedin'in 1893, he carried .o.iit the. first contour topographical survey in New Zealand,-cov-ering an area from Waikouaiti to Taieri. He also initiated' the magnetic survey of, New Zealand, being associat- 1 cd. with Dr. C. Coleridge-Parr in this work.' In' 1901 ho was appointed District Surveyor, and carried out maiiy important settlement*surveys in Otago. 'Injured in an accident while on service, he was. granted six months' furlough, and during that time investigated the survey systems of Great Britain and the Continent. Eeturning to New Zealand, he resumed active, work, including the standard Survey of the , City of Dunedin.. 'In 1918 -he.was'-.appoint-ed Chief Inspector of Surveys , and Chief Coinputeiy and, in 1920, was appointed to the 'position, of; SurveyorGeneral, thus occupying the highest technical position in the Department. Ho wrote many highly methematica] articles-dealing with geodesy, tidal analysis, least squares., adjustment, atmospheric refraction, and kindred subjects. The .Minister/concluded, by wishing Mr. Neill many; happy., years in which to enjoy his well-deserved leisure. ■'■' ■. . ■ . : ' The Undcr-Socretary for Lands' (Mr. ,T. B. Thompson, C.8.E.),' remarked on Mr. Neill's high scientific attainments, and stated, that 'he was. recognised^ as an authority on \geophysics bo-th in the Dominion and at Home, and hoped that, his knowledge would'still be available to the Department arid the Dominion. Oth e^, speakers . included Mr. H. E. Walshe, Sur.veyoi-Geheral, Mr. R. A. Eodger, Land Purchase Officer, and Mr. W. Kobertsou, Assistant tfnder-Secre-tary for Lands. ■•-,-.. Mr. Neill, in reply, made spocial reference to tho slogan of his first chief (Mr. J. Arthur), viz.:—"To:'do goocl work even if it took a little' longer"— tho extra time taken was soon forgotten, but the-'plan was on record for all time." This, said Mr. Neill, had been one of his guiding influences throughout his official life. .He' thanked the- Minister and officers sincerely for the many expressions of goodwill and for the' handsome token of esteem, and intimated that he would be only 'too pleased to assist the Department in any way in; connection with any technical matters which may arise.