WELL-EARNED REST

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 83, 9 April 1934, Page 7

WELL-EARNED REST

AN ENGINEER RETIRES

MR. J. SMITH'S LONG SERVICE

Warm tributes from members of his profession, as well as from other prominent men, were received by Sir. James Smith, retiring superintending engineer of the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., at a function given in his honour on Saturday night by the New Zealand Institute of Marine and Power Engineers. The opportunity was also taken of congratulating Air. K. L. Gillies on Ms appointment as Mr. Smith's successor. The president of the New Zealand Institute of Marine and Power Engineers, Mr. P. Mackenzie, was in the chair, and among those present were Messrs. N. S. Falla (joint general manager of the Union Company), C. J. B. Norwood (deputy chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board),' W. H. Price (Wellington manager of the Union Company), C. B. V. Wheeler (general traffic manager), G. E. Breeze (Chief Surveyor of Ships for tho Marine Department), and, G. W. Unsworth (Chief Examiner of Engineers). Among those who apologised for their absence were Messrs. D. A. Aiken (managing director of the Union Company), A. W. Wheeler (joint general manager), W. G. Smith, C. M. Turrell (chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board), the Hon. J. G. Cobbe (Minister of Marino), and Captain V. G. Webb (marine superintendent for the Union Company). . In asking those present to drink Mr. Smith's health, the president said that Air. Smith was an active member of the institute from 1884 to 1913, when he was placed r on the associate list. Ho was born in Grcenock and served his apprenticeship with Barclay, Curie, and Co., a Glasgow firm, now very much to the front in 'building Diesel engines. Mr. Smith went to sea in 1882, and arrived in New Zealand two years later as third engineer of the steamer Mawheia, belonging to the Black Diamond Line, one of the well-known coastal fleets of fifty years ago. He was second engineer of the Koranui when thu Union Company took over this fleet of steamers in ISBS, and was soon afterwards promoted to chief engineer. He served in. that capacity in the _ Moa, Ohau, Ovalau, Hauroto, Monowai, and Moeraki, none of which wore now in. commission. A JOB ASHORE. In IM7, just a quarter of a century, ago, he was. appointed assistant superintending engineer in Auckland, and it was'there, in 190 D, that the speaker first met him. In 1913 he was transferred to Sydney in charge of the Australian branch. After seven years' service there lie arrived in Wellington in 1920 to take up the position which he had handed over a week ago to his worthy successor, Mr. Gillies. This. was a record second to none in the history of the mercantile marine of the British Empire, and one of which Mr. Smith' could justly be proud. Mr. Mackenzie said that ho had found Mr. Smith a man of strong personality, courteous, and straight in his dealings, and always a gentleman. The institute had to thank him for a. splcn- , did up-to-date library of technical books, apart from those purchased by; tho institute. Mr. Mackenzie's remarks were supplemented by Mr. A. Tough (one of the vice-presidents of the institute), who said that Mr. , Smith had always treated the engineers fairly, and that they appreciated what he had done for them. Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, representing tho Harbour Board, expressed his pleasure at being able to congratulate Mr. Smith on his wonderful service, and said he hoped that Mr. Smith would enjoy many happy years in retirement. He also congratulated Mr. Gillies on. his appointment. Mr. J. P. Luke said it was not giv«n to every man to be connected with a line of work for fifty years, and then\ to be present to receive the congratu- ' lations of those with, whom he had been associated. He had known Mr. Smith for very many years, and there-could ba no higher tribute to Mr. Smith than that ho was a gentleman in the fullest meaning of the word. The Union Com* pany was to be congratulated oil possessing a servant of the calibre of Mr. Smith. Mr. John Rankinc, an old ship-inato of Mr. Smith's, recalled that he and Mr. Smith had been in the Moeraki when the ship had broken the Tasmari record, averaging 399.12 miles per day. Amidst laughter, he said that Mr. Smith' had pleased the Union Company, and the company was not too easy to please. « ■ , • Tho president presented Mr. Smith with a pair of binoculars, and also asked him to accept gifts from the in* stitute to his wife and. daughter. MR. SMITH'S REPLY. Mr. Smith expressed his great appreciation of the fine sentiments that. had been expressed. Paying a tribute to the loyalty of his staffs, he said the engineers had never failed the company, no matter what the trouble. Th» management of the company was a» good as that in any shipping line, an<4 the executive were all New Zealand* born. The company had been run ai« most wholly by New Zealanders. "Thii year is rather unique in that it is Mtf, years since I came to Wellington amj fifty years since I joined the institute which was then in a not very flourish* ing condition," said Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith, in proposing the toast irt Mr. Gillies's honour, said that he hail been associated with Mr. Gillies fo» over thirty-thTee years, both at sei% and ashore. Mr. Gillies had been liis assistant both in Sydney and in Wellington, and had 'been "through tho, mill." He could assure the company's engineers that they would have a sympathetic chief in Mr. Gillies, and could assure Mr. Gillies that he would be under a sympathetic management.

Mr. Gillies niado an appropriate

reply. "The Visitors" and "The Press" werfc also- toasted, and vocal and otheP items were included in the evening '3 programme.