TRIBUTE PAID

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4125, 20 April 1949, Page 5

TRIBUTE PAID

27 YEARS’ SERVICE MR N. G. McLEOD HONOURED THAMES VALLEY POWER BOARD A very well attended farewell function was arranged in Te Aroha for Mr and Mrs N. G. McLeod, by the social club of the Thames Valley Electric-Power Board, to mark Mr McLeod’s retirement from the position of chief engineer to the board, after 27 years’ service.

Testimony in itself of the esteem in which Mr McLeod is held was the fact that all of the present board members, with the exception of a couple who were unable to be present, and several of the previous board members, as well as a large number of power board employees from many parts of the .board’s area attended the function. With their wives and friends the total number at the function was nearly 200. The evening was presided over by the manager of the power board, Mr R. Sprague. Mentioning Mr McLeod while proposing a toast to the Thames Valley Electric-Power Board, 'Mr R. Mitchell stated that the present employees would remember that they had been on the staff at the same time as Mr McLeod, the original engineer. Helpful and Courteous Replying to the toast the deputychairman, Mr H. L. Boughton, and Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P., both paid tributes to the staff and to Mr McLeod in particular. Always, said Mr Boughton, he had found Mr McLeod helpful and courteous. The toasts to the guests of honour was proposed by the board’s chairman, Mr J. F. Mayn, associated with whom

were Mr F. M. Strange, the first chairman of the board, Mr Sprague, and the assistant engineer, Mr G. P. Lindsay, who has succeeded Mr McLeod. Mr Mayn spoke of Mr McLeod’s splendid approach and restraint. He paid tributes to his ability as an engineer, as a soldier, for they had served together in the South African War, and as a citizen. He wished Mr and Mrs McLeod a happy and healthful long retirement. Mr Strange spoke of the many difficulties that the board had had to overcome in its early days and of the part Mr McLeod had played in the advancement of the power board with its role of serving the district by bringing it cheap electric-power. By tact and judgment, Mr Strange stated, Mr McLeod had overcome the difficulties and won the esteem of the consumers and the employees. “ No Precedent to Follow ” The efforts of Mr McLeod had not been bettered by any electrical engineer in New Zealand, said Mr Sprague. When he had first taken up his appointment with the board he had had no precedent to follow in rural electrical reticulation. The fact that much of his work had been copied, Mr Sprague said, proved its worth.

With the retirement of Mr McLeod the board was losing the services of a

fine man and engineer, said Mr Lindsay. All the speakers wished both Mr and Mrs McLeod well in the future. On behalf of the power board Mr Mayn presented Mr McLeod with a cheque and a bag and travelling rug. A silver tea service was presented to Mrs McLeod by the employees of the board.

In his reply Mr McLeod thanked the board and the employees for the function and for their gifts. He complimented Mr Strange on his work in the instigation of the board and spent some time in speaking on past and present employees and incidents in the activities of the board. Concluding, he again thanked the donors for the gifts and stated that he and Mrs McLeod would always treasure them and would continue to be interested in the progress of the board and the staff. After the serving of supper a dance was held.