VALEDICTORY

Evening Star, Issue 18138, 30 November 1922, Page 11

VALEDICTORY

At the close of business yesterday evening the Otago Harbor Board 1 staff gathered in the hoard 1 room to bid farewell to ihoir popular harbor muster, Captain ihomßon, >vho 5s retiring from the service. The chairman (Mr H. 0. Campbell), who proskied, paid eloquent tribute to the hue character and integrity of Captain Thomson, outlining the splendid work done by him during his thirty-six years’ service with bho. board, saying that to reach the retiring ago with such, an excellent record is an achievement seldom attained! and universally sought after. The secretary (Mr . Bardsley) expressed regret at the severance of .an association of snob long standing, whiph, was marked) by relations always of the most cordial nature, and emphasised the splendid example Set by men of Captain calibre. to the younger generation. Mr Wilkie, the engineer, said he had always found Captain Thomson a thorough gentleman to work with, always most generous and courteous in his dealings, and expressed _ extreme regret that such pleasant associations were to come to an end 1 , Mr Campbell then presented Captain Thomson with a handsome leather suit case, suitably inscribed. A morocco leather handbag was also handed to Captain Thomson for Mrs Thomson, as a token! of the .esteem of a worthy helpmate. Captain Thomson, in rcplviug, expressed his intense gratification for "the pleasant things said about him Iby the various speaker's, saying that, _as ho and Mrs Thomson contemplated a visit to the Old Country,. which, he had not visited few over forty year's, the suit case would certainly bo put to a. use deserving of tlie spirit in which it was given. Mutual interchange of expression of goctf-will and tho lusty singing of ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ dosed a most happy function. There was a big gathering at the .Tele-' graph Office last night to bid farewell to Mr R. W. G. Lve (deputy-district engineer), who has "been promoted to the Napier telegraph engineering district. In making a presentation of a Mosgiol travelling rug, Mr Veitch referred to tho engineering works earned out by tire departing officer, making special reference to tho installation of the Dunedin underground duct system. Mr J. 0. M'Croa (chief postmaster) and Mr A r . Anderson (superintendent of tlw Telegraph Office) spoke of their long' association, in various centres, with Air Lvo—an association extending over a period* of twonty-fivo years. Mr Lye, in reply, stated that, whilst appreciating tho call bo the North, ho much regretted leaving behind) ao many friends ini beautiful Dunedin.