ENGINEER RETIRES

Evening Star, Issue 21518, 16 September 1933, Page 9

ENGINEER RETIRES

MR ALEX ROBERTSON HONOURED PRESENTATION BY HARBOUR BOARD At the commencement of a meeting of the Otago Harbour Board on Thursday evening occasion was taken to make a presentation to Mr Robertson, the board’s superintendent engineer, who is retiring on superannuation after thirty-five years continuous service. The Chairman (Mr H. C. Campbell), in presenting Mr Robertson with a fro Id watch chain and a silver entree dish, suitably inscribed, for Mrs Robert son, outlined the long and valuable services rendered to the board by the recipient in the various responsible positions which he had occupied. His record was one of which Mi> Robertson might be justly proud. Special reference was made to the value of his services in connection with the construction of the board’s new dredger ‘ Otakou.’ Mr Robertson’s knowledge of mechanical engineering could not he excelled bv any other man m Isew Zealand. The chairman concluded by conveying to Mr Robertson the best wishes of the board for long years of health and of happiness in his retirement. The chairman’s remarks were fully endorsed by members generally, and appreciation was expressed of the very fine services which Mr Robertson had rendered to the board, and which had been marked by very practical applications of his wide knowledge and experience to the requirements of the harbour. Regret was expressed that the board was losing Mr Robertson s services, which had always been of a very high standard indeed. Reference was incidentally made to the fact that ilr Robertson was a Port Chalmers bov, and had been dux of that school. Mr Robertson, who was greeted with acclamation, suitably expressed his appreciation of the presentation and of the eulogistic references to his service.

Prior to his retirement from active service with the board, Mr Robertson, as a token of the esteem of his fellowemployees both ashore and afloat, from the Heads to Dunedin, was presented with a gold watch for himself and a gold wristlet watch for Mrs Robertson. The presentation was made by the board's engineer, Mr M‘G. AVilkic, and was suitably acknowledged by Mr Robertson.