PRESENTATION AT THE TELEGRAPH OFFICE.

Evening Star, Issue 12928, 26 September 1906, Page 6

PRESENTATION AT THE TELEGRAPH OFFICE.

+ A largo number of officers of the Telegraph Department met on Monday night to participato in a presentation that was being made to Mr Arthur Gibbs, marking tho occasion of bis promotion from amongst their ranks to fill a moro important position in the electrical branch of the department. In tho absence of Mr Ballard, through ill-health, Mr Hill, the assistant officer in charge, made the presentation, and in tho course of his remarks said that he always held a very high opinion of Mr Gibbs, whoso sterling character and exemplary conduct both inside and outside tho office was an examplo to all. The presentation, ho said, was unique in the history of the office. Mr Gibbs, through his own ability and by diligent study, had obtained the highest percentage of marks in the whole colony at the departmental technical examination. His aptitude for electrical work was at once recognised, and although he had only ten years' service, and was junior to several hundred officers, he had been chosen as the most suitable man to fill the position bo now occupied. He heartily congratulated Mr Gibbs on his promotion, and hoped in the future to see him occupy a still higher position. Mr Hill then referred to the rapid expansion of the service and tho increasing demand for men with technical knowledge, and advised all officers, juniors especially, to utiHso their timo as Mr Gibbs had done, and acquire tho knowledge necessary to fit them for the new positions which must arise from this expansion. Mr Hill then handed Mr Gibbs six volumes of the latest publication on mechanical and electrical engineering, and trusted tho work would prove useful to him in his further studios. Several other officers spoke of the service Mr Gibbs had been to them in assisting them with their electrical studies, and now gratified they were at his promotion. Mt Gibbs, in replying, said the books -would bo prized for their practical value to him, but particalarly for the further evidence of bhc kindness and friendship that had always been shown to him by his brother officers.