COUNTY ENGINEER

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1940, Page 7

COUNTY ENGINEER

Sixty Years’ Service MR HIGGINS HONOURED. Members of the Grey County Council and the County Clerk visited the home of the County Engineer Mr J Higgins 0.8. E. on Saturday afternoon in order to offer their congratulations on his record of sixty year’s service with th e Council. Th e County. Chairman (Cr. J. W.. Hannan) stated Councillors regretted that, owing to his indisposition, they were unable to meet their engineer on August 26, his sixtieth anniversary as an officer of the Council. The best testimony for pioneer civil engineers was their own work, and that of Mr Higgins m th e County would be a perpetual memorial to his ability. It was a s personal friends rather than as Councillors or officers of thj Council that those present met. him on this occasion. Mr Higgins had proved a staunch friend to eacn of them. In maxing a presentation of a combined reading lamp and clock to Mr Higgins, and an afternoon tea service to Mrs Higgins, th e speaker stated it was the devoted care and attention of his wife that had enabled Mr Higgins to continue so long in active work, and had likewise effected th P speedy recovery he is now making. The Hon. J. Ryall, M.L.C. the Councillor who had been acquainted longest with the Engineer pointed out that the execellence of Mr Higgins’ work was recognised by the Public Works Department, who accepted his estimates without question. He had always given of hi s best, and on his part would have only the best work from contractors and employees of th e Council. This was well known to more than one contractor, who had been called upon to do over again work which was not up to the standard required by the engineer Though he always insisted on getting full value, employees of the Council agreed they had received fair and just treatment at his hands. Cr H. G. Carter said that during th e term of Mr Hi SS ins as en g ineer of the Grey County Council, the area comprised in the boundaries of the County had been converted rroin a district accessible for the most part by horse-tracks only, to the degree ol accessibility in which it is today The excellence of the roads and bridges constructed according to Mr Higgins’ specifications and under his supervision was so well recognised that his advice and assistance had frequently been sought from outside th e County. During his term of office as a Councillor, he (Mr Carter) had frequently sought and was willingly accorded advice on County matters by ?dr Higgins, with consequent benefit to his riding. He desired to express appreciation not only on his own behalf, but also on behalf of yne farmers of the County, for the assistance given by Mr Higgins to the man-on-the-land.

Cr. J. Eadie said that he by reason of being engaged in the transport busines s was equally appreciative of the excellence of th e work of their engineer as were his fellow-bouncil-lors. Mr Higgins had provd to «,im that h e was as ready and willing to give consideration and assistance to the novicp in local body matters as to those long associated with him Cr s A. Robinson, G. Blair and W. Fisher also made eulogistic refer' ences to the good work and long service of th e Engineer. Mr Higgins, in reply, expressed his pleasure and appreciation that those most intimately associated with him in his work should visit him at his home to offer their congratulations. The Grey County Council was probably singular amongst local' bodies in New Zealand in records of long service. Since its inception the position of County Engineer had been heid by one other, his predecessor Mr Butler. Many Councillors held record terms of office, well in excess of 30 years. One of the sitting Councillors had held office continuously for 36 years, and another for 21 years, and the fathers of each of these Councillors had likewise long records of service as members of the Council. One member only of th e original Council, Mr Joseph Taylor, of Cobden, was living to-day. Records of long service also applied in respect of County foreman and roadman.

Referring to th e existing reading system, Mr Higgins contrasted that part of the County on the northern side of the Grey River with its existing road communiction from the Cobden bridge to Ikamatua, and to th e northern boundary of the County at Punakaiki, with its condition when h e joined the County, ther e then being but three miles of road form Cobden to Coal Creek and another tnree miles between the suspension bridge at Brunner and Four-Mile Creek near Taylorville. The work of the Country Engineer in the <eighti.es, when the Council was chronically m the state of a. depleted exchequer, was mor e arduous than to-day, both on account of the inaccessibility of the district and the limited funds available to remedy this condition. He humorously related incidents as to how the difficulties of financing County undertakings were on occasions overcome. He expressed, appreciation of th e valued assistance m carrying out his duties accorded him by the office and outside staff. Mr Higgins also congratulated Cr. J. Ryall M.L.C. on his appointment to tho Legislative Council, Proposing the toast of Cr. Ryall, Mr Higgins stated that the appointment had given satisfaction throughout Westland, where th e ability of the appointee as a member of the Land Board, and of th e Grey County Council and the Greymouth Harbour Board wer e well recognised. His knowledge of West Coast conditions and. requirements ma.de Cr. Ryal>! pre-eminently suitable as a representative of Westland in the Legislative Council. Cr. Ryall thanked the proposer of the toast and said, that the sound novice Mr Higgins had given him as a County Councillor would prove equally beneficial to him in the carrying out of his duties as a Legislative Councillor. ;

October s—Methven T.C. October s—Thames T.C. October 12—New Brighton T.C. <■ October 26, 28—Greymouth T.C. October 28—Oamaru T.C. October 26, 28, or October 26, 30 — Auckland T.C. November 2—Wellington T.C, November 2—lnvercargill T.C. November 12, 14, 15—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 28, 30 —Forbury Park. T.C. November 30, December 7—Waikato ' T.C.