MR A. BURT HONORED

Evening Star, Issue 14964, 26 August 1912, Page 2

MR A. BURT HONORED

BY THE MASTER PLUMBERS. On Friday night the Master Plumbery Association entertained Mr A. Burt at asmoke concert in the Waratnh, Tea Rooms in honor of the jubilee of the firm of Messrs A. and T. Burt. Mr J. S. Douglas (president of the association) occupied the chair, and was supported on his right by the guest (Mr Burt), Messrs J. Ogilvie (Oamaru), J. Arkle. and T. R. Christie-, and on his left hv Cr Clark, Messrs J. H. Walker, W. Burt, A. Burt, jun., and John Scott. The Chairman in his preliminary remarks, said that- it was very gratifying to see- iso many visitors, present to do* honor to their friend and guest. Mr Alexander Burt. They had master plumbers present from as far as Oamaru in tho north, and; from as far as Gore in the south. The chairman then read a number of apologies, including one from the Mayor (Mr J. Wilson). After the toast- of "The King" ha<i been honored, The Chairman said t-liat it -was a, great privilege and honor to him to propose the toast of their guest- and esteemed friend, Burt, on the occasion of the jubilee of the firm of which he was the head. It must be very gratifying indeed to Mr Burt to see so many of the plumbing fraternity assembled there that night to do honor to him. The speaker saw before him many old master plumbers, who must have commenced business shortly after Mr Burt. There was Mr John Corbett, an old and esteemed veteran of the early days, and ako Mr John' Thomson andi many others. The firm of Messrs A. and T. Burt had progressed to such an extent that they now had works of great magnitude throughout the Dominoin. All" of them in the trade in Dnnedin must feel honored that this firm had been responsible for the great branches of industry that had sprung from it since the time that .Mr Burt opened a little shop in the Octagon SO years ago. As master plumbers they felt deeply honored for thezeal and industry displayed by Mr Burt in founding his firm so soundly and well in the early days, and in keeping the flag of the plumbing trade flying throughout the Dominion. He had done so moss ably. As a citizen Mr Burt had also done his duty. He had been a member of the City Council and had also served on the Harbor Board, while he had been a member of the Arthur Street School Committee for the past 40 years. There was one institution that should apeal to them as tradesmen, and that was the Technical Schools Association, of which Mr Burt was one of the founders. (Applause.) H« (the speaker) thought that they very often forgot their duty to that institution. He personally appealed to them as business men to do all they could to assist in keeping up that institution. Those of them who had the privilege of coming into contact with Mr Burt in his business capacity had never failed to recognise the straightforwardness and integrity with which he had at all times conducted his business. (Applause.) On behalf of the master plumbers of Otago the chairman then presented Mr Burt with a gold medal on the occasion of the jubilee of his firm. Mr Burt, who was received with loud apuJause on rising, expressed his high appreciation of the honor done him. He was pleased to see such a largo gathering of plumbers present. Of course, there were* good number of young men growing up to take the places of the old men, yet h* was very glad to see that there were still a few of the old veterans left. Fifty years was a long time to look ahead, but it was not sr> long to look back over. On looking round the room ho noticed that there were a great many of the pioneers of 50 years ago absent from the gathering-, and there were practically only a few of his early-day friendp left. There was & vast difference in the plumbing cf the present day from that of 50 years ago. -Almost all the shop work had been dona away with, and a plumber of to-day was more of a fitter. Modern plumbing was a. work of science, and a good job it was for the plumbers. Before long plumbeis, like marine engineers, would have to obtain their degrees, which would enable them to go to any part of the world without having to pass examinations in each centre they went to, as at present. H« would always be proud to wear the medal just presented, to him, and when he was dead and gone he hoped some one of hifl family would continue to wear it. (Loud applause.) Mr John Thomson, a veteran, said he remembered first meeting Mr Burt at tho fames in John Hyde Harris's paddock, 'hat was on the Ist of January, 1863. He was the . speaker's first employer. He worked for him in 1863. Mr T. R. Christie proposed the toast of " The City Council." He said to his mind, the time was coming when the City's trading concerns in particular would require to be rim by a set of commissioners. This had been done in America and elsewhere, and had proved of great advantage to tho municipalities that had undertake!! it. Or Clark, in reply, said that they could not but look back with pride and gratification to the noble work of the pioneer*. While the young people had been rather slower than the old. ones, he thought that it was only a question of a little tinn; when tho City of Duncdin would resume its place as the chief manufacturing town of the Dominion. (Applause.) In congratulating Mr Burt upon the jubilee of the. firm, he expressed the opinion that the guest of the evening should once more enter public life, and said that he felt sure that, if lie did so, in a little time he would be placed in the- position of Chief Magistrate of the City. (Prolonged applause.)

Other toa.st-s honored were "Ixxr.il Bodies" (proposed by Mr Jc]m Soott and responded to by Mefitfre J. Arkle and J. H. Walker), "*Our.Visitors," "Old Masters," and ".Master Plumbers." A capita! musical programme v.is gone through, Mr H.'iggitt presiding at the piano.