LATE MR. R. PRINGLE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 17, 20 July 1934, Page 9

LATE MR. R. PRINGLE

COOD SERVANT TO CITY

The late Mr. Robert Pringle, whose funeral took placo yesterday afternoon, was for more than twenty years a senior "outside man" in the City^ Engineer's Department, and the high regard ia which he was held by his former officers and co-workers of the City Corporation was indicated by the large attondance at tho funeral.

Tho late Mr. Pringle was born in 1863 at Clutha, Otago, -and camo to Wellington as a young man, and engaged upon construction work in the early development of Wellington. In 19.04 he was ov.erseer with the Onslow Borough, and tho date of his joining , the Wellington City Corporation service almost coincided with tho date of tho arrival of tho late Mr. W. H. Morton.

■ Early residents of Wellington will recollect that the Hutt Road, prior to the big widening programme, was virtually little better than a bullock track, and one of the first works the late Mr. Morton was faced with was the improvement and maintenance of the original Hutt Road. An experienced practical overseer was required" for this work, and arrangements wero made to borrow Mr. Pringlo from'tho Onslow Borough for twelve months to supervise this work. Mr. Morton was reluctant to lose his services at the expiration of the twelve-: months, and Mr. Pringlo was induced to sever his connection with the Onslow Borough and to join tho service of the Wellington City Corporation, the staff of the City Engineer's department at that timo being numerically small. Tho Melrose Improvements Loan was sanctioned at this time, and Mr. Pringle supervised many of tho large construction works, including the construction of the Crawfora -Road extension from Constable Street through to Kilbirnie, tho construction of the Kilbirnie recreation ground, Kelburn Park (which was formed in 1906 as a relief work), Anderson Park, and the Duppa Street recreation ground. The formation of I these parks ana recreation grounds was supervised by Mr. Pringle under the , control of tho City Engineer, and many | men in Wellington today who worked jon those works will recollect the sterling qualities of the late Mr. Pringle as lan overseer. On completion of the .major works associated with the Melrose Improvements Loan and tho recreation grounds, Mr. Pringlo was appointed overseer of tho outlying districts (originally the Melroso Borough), and I with his practical knowledge of roadconstruction work he supervised tho improvements in theso areas, including tho mam outfall culvert at Island Bay. From 1920 to 1924 ho was overseer in charge of cleansing and house refuse collection, but on the commencement of tho big paving works, including the paving of tho Hutt Road and the 1925 and 1927 paving loans programmes, Mr. Pringlo was appointed senior overseer, and played an important part in tho paving campaign carried out by the city until tho date of his retirement in August, 1928.

Mr. Pringle took an active interest in the Naval ..Volunteers, and until a few years ago .was a keen rifle shot and participated in.Tiflo meetings annually. He leaves a widow and a family of three 'daughter's: - aiid three sons: Mrs. MeCutcheon; Mrs. F. Wharton, Mrs. W. Whartpn, Mr. A.1 Pringle, of the G.P.O. staff, ex-representative' footballer, Mr. F. : Pringle, of the City Treasurer's Departahenti and Mr. C. Pringle, of the Post and Telegraph stores.