UNIQUE RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 89, 12 October 1938, Page 5

UNIQUE RECORD

THE BREWER FAMILY

ASSOCIATION WITH NEWTQVVN

PARK

The first employee of the reserves department of the Wellington City Council to retire after forty years' service, Mr. A. L. Brewer, was entertained at the Basin Reserve pavilion last evening by the Reserves Social Club. There was an attendance of 200.

Mr. Brewer, who is senior departmental overseer, has resided at Newtown Park for fifty-eight years and has spent all his working career in that locality. His mother arrived in New Zealand in the Martha Ridgway in 1840 and his father arrived in the following year. Mr. Brewer's father was first custodian of Newtown Park, and the guest of honour last evening, who has resided in the park since he was four and a half years of age, took over the position his father vacated in 1906. Mr. Brewer has.a brother, well known to cricketers as "Budge." in charge of the Basin Reserve, and two nephews in the reserves department. This is probably a record for Wellington of family association witii a department. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer were accorded musical honours when they were piped into the hall by Piper N. McLeod. The club patron, Mr. J. G. Mackenzie (Director of Parks and Reserves), stated that Mr. Brewer had been a most conscientious and obliging officer and a good friend to those working under him. During his association with the department he had never lost any time through sickness or any other cause—a truly remarkable record and one not likely to be equalled. His career with the department had been outstanding. He retired with the good will of the City Council and the citizens of the city. Councillor W. Duncan, chairman of the reserves committee, in presenting Mr. Brewer with a cheque from the social club, stated that the reserves committee appreciated to the full the good work done by Mr. Brewer, both for the council and the citizens generally and sports bodies in particular. Mr. W. Heath, on behalf of the re- j serves department, custodians, and caretakers, made presentations to Mr. and Mrs. Brewer and paid a tribute to Mrs. Brewer, whose genial personality, jhe said, had endeared her to all. He wished them many happy years in their retirement. Miss Margaret Mackenzie presented Mrs. Brewer with a beautiful bouquet. EARLY DAYS AT THE PARK. On rising to reply, Mr. Brewer was accorded a rousing reception with musical honours. . Mr. Brewer spoke of the early days of the reserves department when the only vehicles they had were wheel - I barrows, and of the time Newtown 'Park was utilised as a training camp for the New Zealand South African Contingents. His task was to. restore the' park to its original state when the military authorities vacated it. Items were, rendered by Messrs. May all and Church; Highland dances by Master Alistair McLeod, accompanied by Piper McLeod; and Irish dances by Miss Nancy Mac Donald, accompanied by Mr. Angus Graham. A professional orchestra supplied music for dancing and Mr. F. Apperley was an efficient M.C. The committee responsible for the arrangements were Messrs. Clarke, Mann, Williams, Lobban, Wilkins, Apperley, and J. McLaughlin. The evening was brought to a close^ with "Auld Lang Syne."