VALEDICTORY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 May 1925, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

RETIRING POSTMASTER. FAREAVELLED BY STAFF. - PRESENTATIONS MADE. It must be that any man when giving up the work in which he has been engaged for many years and which has become really part of his life, must feel a great deal of regret at the severance, but when such an event does happen in hie life? it will give him a lot of joy to know that those with whom he has worked think. well of him, and this must have been the thought in his mind when Mr. O’Gorman, Hawera’s popular postmaster, was given a farewell last night in the office by a large gathering of representatives of the whole staff. There were about sixty present. Mr. J. AAA A T elvin presided, and in a neatly worded speech he said that the staff had asked him to express the sorrow they all .felt in parting with one with whom they had been associated with in their work, and to hone that he would live long to enjoy the leisure to which he was so justly entitled after a long spell of many years of official life. Mr. Velvin traced some of the great progress made during the two years past by 1 Mr. O’Gorman at the head of the office, and said he felt sure Hawera was destined to advance still more.

On behalf of the staff he had great pleasure in presenting Mr. O’Gorman with a framed and illuminated address, a case of cutlery and a pipe. He said they hoped these small presents would serve to remind Mr. O’Gofman of the days spent in Hawera and the regret hv every member of .the staff at parting with him. He wished Mr. O’Gorman and family many years of happiness in their retirement. The text of the address was as follows: “Dear Sir.—Your enforced retirement from the Post and Telegraph Department as the result of length of service offers us, your fellow workers, the opportunity of* expressing our high regard for and appreciation of your personal integrity and worth and of confirming your claims upon us founded on honourable dealings both with the staff and the general public. Your tenure of Postmaster since February, 1923, has been marked by consistent progress and an improvement in status of this office, due in a large measure to the unfailing tact, courtesy and ability with which you have discharged your onerous duties, to your cheerful and amiable temperament creating a band of sympathy between us, and to the enthusiastic interest you have ever shown in the maintenance and extension 'of the functions for which the service has been established.

In bidding you farewell, we express the hope that, with jour physical and intellectual power* unimpaired by assiduous and lengthy service, you will pass your days ox retirement in health, nappiness and prosperity, and we heartily extend to Airs, and Miss O’ Gorman this same sentiment. We have the honour to' subscribe ourselves, your grateful fellow workers in the Hawera Post Office.” The address was signed by every member of' all staffs, totalling about seventy. Air. Little, Supervisor of Telegraphs, spoke for his department and assured Air. O’Gorman that they, all parted with him with the very best and kindlies of feelings, and said that they all hoped he would long live to enjoy his leisure time—“to do us he wished and not to be wrapped up by red tape.” Air. Thwates (for then engineers’ branch), Alessrs Barge and AValsh (for the postal staffs) and Mr. Foot (for the postmen) all expressed the sincere regret they felt at the severance of the relations with the Postmaster on his retirement. His health was drunk with musical honours.

-Mr. O’Gorman, 'on rising to reply, was received with loud and prolonged applause. He said he had to thank them all most heartily for their very kind remarks and for the handsome presents. Forty-two years of service, ancl still going strong, he supposed was not a bacl record. He said he joined the service first on 5; 1883, and during that long period since then.he had seen many changes, and said that the staffs were in. a much better position now. He referred to one or two cases that had come under his notice showing the great improvement in the conditions of service. He referred to the fine co-operation of the .staff with him in the work of the office, . whithout which success would be always impossible, and added he was proud of the way the executive officers had stood by Him in all work In concluding an interesting speech he thanked all most heartily for turning up in. such numbers and in giving him such fine presents, which he could assure them would he valued very much and preserved as a memento .of many happy days spent in the Hawera office. He wished them all on .behalf of Mrs. .and .Miss O’Gorman and himself the very best of luck and also wished them all good-bye. Refreshments were kindly provided by the lady members of the staff, which were appreciated hv all and concluded a very happy little function.