RAILWAYMAN RETIRES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 7

RAILWAYMAN RETIRES

MR. H. W. FRANKLIN

The retirement of Mr. H. W. FrankJin, manager of the outdoor advertising branch of the New .Zealand Eailways, is i announced. Mr. Franklin has been with the Department for thirty-five years He joined the service in the District Engineer's office at Christchurch, and had experience in this branch of the service at Dunedin and Westport. He was transferred to the head office at Wellington under the Chief Engineer in February, 1907, where he remained until 1913, when he was promoted to the District Engineer's office at Greymouth. Beturning to head office in 1916, he remained there until 1920, when he was transferred to Dunedin. Appointed to' the advertising branch in Wellington in. 1924, Mr. Franklin was raised to the position of chief clerk, and was then promoted to be manager of the outdoor advertising branch in July, 1928. Considerable progress has been made by the outdoor advertising branch during the period that it has been managed by Mr. Franklin, and even in the recent slump period satisfactory results are reported. Apart from business connections Mr. Franklin has always been a very keen sport, taking particular interest in boxing and running. Mr. Franklin had the misfortune to have a leg broken on the football field, which ended a very promising career as an athlete. Up to that time he had excelled on the funning track for various distances, from 100 yards to 880 yards. He held the championship of the Civil Service Club of Otago for 440 yards in 1904. He has also been very successful as a coach to football, hockey, and athletic teams. While, in charge of the railway, advertising branch his office staff have won three inter-branch championship cups. Mr. Franklin represented the Otago Amateur Athletic Association on the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for several years and took an active part in the daylight saving movement. It is understood that Mr. Franklin is immediately joining up with a private business.

Mr. Franklin was met yesterday afternoon by the staff and received a presentation. Mr. Cundy spoke of the high esteem in which Mr. Franklin was held by every member of the staff. Everyone, said Mr. Stanley Davis, appreciated Mr. Franklin's kindness and co-operation, and he assured Mr. Franklin that he would take with him the good wishes of the staff in his retirement. Messrs. Maddock, Thompson, Masters, and Lee also spoke in high praise of Mr. Franklin, ivtr. Lee said he had known Mr. Franklin twenty-five year 3, and could not praise him high enough. In accepting two handsome bags, Mr. Franklin said he considered the Eailway Advertising Department had the finest staff in the Railways, and it had been a pleasure to work with them. Hearty cheers for Mr. Franklin concluded a very pleasant function.

The Salvation Army Bible Class Committee has been granted by the City Council a lease of the old quarry site at the top of El!ice street for the formation of a municipal tennis court. An additional area of land is being allowed Te Ope Municipal Tennis Club at Duncan terrace for the erection of a pavilion. The paving of the portion of Bowen ptreet at the rear of the War Memorial is to be proceeded with, at an estimated cost of £1799.

Among the many important features that distinguish the Mercer Vacuum Electric Cylinder from ordinary electric water heaters is the special heatretaining lagging around the cylinder. This packing keeps the water hot for three days and three nigbls after (he current has been switched off. Full particulars from Hardware, Electrical, and Plumbers' Merchants, or J. H. Mac.Donald, Morrah's Bldgs., "Willis street. —Advt.