HIGH TRIBUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 68, 17 September 1936, Page 10

HIGH TRIBUTE

ENGINEER RETIRES

MR. C. J. MCKENZIE

COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON

A large gathering of engineers of the Wellington district and a number of visitors, including the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), Mr. H. E. Herring, M.P., and Mr. Justice Blair (son of a former Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department) were present at a complimentary luncheon tendered today to Mr. C. J. McKenzie, who has retired from the position of Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, on account of ill health. The opportunity was also taken to congratulate a number of engineers who have recently been promoted to senior positions in the Government and local body services. Mr. H. F. Toogood, who presided, remarked that all those whom they had gathered to honour, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. John Wood, the new Engineer-in-Chief. Mr. A. J. Baker, his first assistant, Mr. A. Tyndall, who occupied a prominent position in the housing branch, Mr. W. L. Newnham, inspecting engineer, and Mr. K. E. Luke, City Engineer, were New Zealanders, and some of them were the second • generation of New Zealand engineers, evidence of the fact that the engineering profession in New Zealand had grown up and that New Zealand could and did supply the men competent to occupy the highest positions which the profession offered. The traditions of the profession had been exemplified in the highest degree in Mr. McKenzie, than whom no engineer of the Public Works Department had better graced the position. The engineers of New Zealand greatly regretted the necessity of his retirement on account of ill health, for had he been able to continue in his work he would have done so with credit to himself and to the benefit of the Dominion. They were pleased indeed that today he was something more like his old self than he had been a few weeks ago. High tributes to the work and personality of Mr, McKenzie were paid by Mr.E. Casey, New Zealand Railways, and Mr. J. McDermott, Post and Telegraph Department. MR. McKENZIE'S REPLY. Mr. McKenzie said that his engineering friends had indeed done him a great honour in gathering as they had. He deeply regretted that it was necessary for him to give up his work, but was pleased indeed to hand over to men so capable as those who were following him. During his illness he had learned some things.which he had not appreciated before, and one of them was that human nature was not so bad after all, and another that there were professions other than engineering. Mr. Wood he had known for over 30 years and Mr. Baker about the same time; it was particularly gratifying to him that these and other officers had received the promotion they well deserved. On behalf of the engineers present, Mr. Toogood presented Mr. McKenzie with a travelling rug and the toast of his health was honoured with enthusiasm. * The toast of the "Men Promoted" was also given musical honours, and brief replies were made by Messrs. Wood, Baker, Tyndall, Newnham, and Luke. MONUMENTS FOR ALL TO SEE. No one more deeply regretted the necessity of Mr. McKenzie's retirement than did. he, said Mr. Semple. He had been indirectly associated with him for many years and latterly had been directly in touch with him, and had learned to regard him as the very embodiment of manhood and the soul of honour, a man whose everyday conduct was above reproach. The Minister said that he was glad to be associated with the engineering profession at such a function, for the engineers were the designers, the trail blazers and the builders, without whose skill arid direction no country could, progress. The engineers gave indispensable service to mankind, not only during" their own generation, but they passed on to posterity monuments which kept their memory alive long after they were gone. "Particularly in these times of almost terrifying expansion, when the world is passing through changes unprecedented in human knowledge, is the load of responsibility in measuring up the new ideas that come with the new generation heavy upon the engineer," continued the Minister. "He is still the trail blazer, the man upon whom the responsibility lies of seeing that progress continues, that chaos does not come' out of expansion and change." Mr. Semple said he was confident that the skill of the engineers of the Public Works Department measured up with that of any engineers in the world. New Zealand could learn from other countries, but other countries could also learn something from New Zealand. A DANGEROUS EPOCH. The world, said the Minister, had never lived through a more dangerous epoch than that of today, and the one safety valve for the pent-up feelings of nations Mas the British Commonwealth of Nations. "If that goes, God help the world," said Mr. Semple. "We have to. give up party politics and the little things of that kind when we come down to' the protection, welfare, and security and perpetuation of the British Empire. "The engineer has played a major part in building the British Commonwealth of Nations and that responsibility he still carries, to build further and to build firmly." Mr. Semple said that he had full confidence in the men who were following upon the work of Mr. McKenzie and other Chief Engineers, and in the new Wellington Engineer.' • Mr. Justice Blair spoke briefly, also referring to the monuments which engineers left behind them, so very different from the only monument which most men earned, generally stating baldly that "So-and-So was born on a certain date and died on another." Some tombstone monuments added a little more, and some said "Deeply regretted," but whether for the fact of being born or being dead he had never been quite able to make up his mind. "But the engineer builds during his own life his own monument, and he has a very great privilege that is not vouchsafed to you and I, that of adding to the world's wealth, by leaving something that was not there before," concluded his Honour. While attempting to alight on the top of the mast of the Auckland trawler Humphrey in the Hauraki Gulf on Tuesday, a large mollyhawk became impaled on the sharp rod supporting the windvane and died. The sea was rough at the time and the vessel was pitching heavily. Fishermen say that when these birds have eaten a large quantity of fish they become heavy and flounder about when flying. Among wills lately proved is that of Major Arthur Henry Bathurst, late Royal Berkshire Regiment, of Clanna. Waldron Road, Broadstairs, brother of I Viscount Bledisloe, who left estate! valued at £19,331 (net personalty! £16,537). i