ENGINEER FAREWELLED

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4807, 7 July 1939, Page 5

ENGINEER FAREWELLED

PRESENTATIONS TO MR. B. J. DRAKE. MUCH TOWN. APPRECIATION OF SERVICES. Most appreciative remarks of Mr. B. J. Drake's work as Borough Engineer and as an unassuming but hard and willing worker for many town organisations, were made at a farewell extended to him in the Borough Council Chambers last evening.

Mr. Drakes leaves to-day to take up the position of engineer of the New Lynn Borough Council. A total of fifty men, representing many phases of activity in the town, were present at the gathering which was arranged by the Te Kuiti Amateur Athletic Sports Club. The president, Dr. L. R. de Castro, was in the chair, and during the evening he presented Mr. Drake with a dinner service.

In opening the proceedings Dr. de Castro said that during his 10 years' stay here Mr. Drake had played such an important part in the life of the town that everyone was very sorry he was leaving. The Amateur Sports Club had been particularly fortunate in having his assistance —Mr. Drake had always carried out a thousand and one tasks on his own, without anyone asking him to do so, and they were always successfully and well carried out. As a Borough engineer the people appreciated his work very much, and he was always most obliging. Dr. de Castro concluded by wishing Mr. and Mrs. Drake and family the best of fortune in New Lynn. Mr. T. Carroll said that having been closely connected as member of the Council, chairman of the Works Committee, and as Mayor, with the work of Mr. Drake, he was one of those who believed that Mr. Drake had given excellent service to the Borough of Te Kuiti. As engineer he had the difficult job of pleasing both the Council and the residents with a bare minimum of financial resources, but he had done well and carried on with a smile right through the piece. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. T. M. Hetet, said he also was one of those who had always appreciated Mr. Drake's services. Particularly did he realise the worth, of Mr. Drake as Borough Engineer when he took into account the small amount of money with which Mr. Drake had to carry on his work here in Te Kuiti. His position would be most difficult to fill, because as Borough Engineer his duties had been many and varied.

Mr. R. H. Browne said that as a member of the community and as an engineer, he greatly appreciated the work carried out by Mr. Drake. Local body engineers had a most onerous job—where they wanted a pound for a work they were given ten shillings, but Mr. Drake had proved his worth in getting the best value for the money spent. Mr. Browne also referred to Mr. Drake's work for the Sports Clubs and other organisations. Mr. J. N. Davidson, Waitomo Power Board Engineer, said that he had always found Mr. Drake a good man to work with in co-operation, and, apart from his duties as Borough Engineer, Mr; Drake had performed excellent' work for the town. He was one of those who got into the job, but did not make a song about it after he had completed his task. , The Town Clerk, Mr. M. J. Strange, assured those present that after five years' association in Borough work with Mr. Drake, the speaker ranked him as a fine fellow. He had been most helpful in all matters which had come up for mutual discussion, and despite "any difficulties; he always came to light with a smile and was always most obliging. As a member of the Sports Club •he had carried out a tremendous amount of work, and he was also a very active member of many organisations in the town.

Mr. E. M. Mackersey held that Mr. Drake was a man that Te Kuiti could ill afford to lose. He had not only served the Borough Council well, but he had performed fine work for town organisations, such as the Sports Club, Scouts,' Acclimatisation Society —in fact, for every organisation that could call upon his services. When the speaker was on the Council Mr. Drake had carried out the housing survey, in itself practically a full-time job, in conjunction with his other work, and had produced a water supply scheme which was adopted after exhaustive inquiries by the Board of Health.

Mr. Drake was described by Mr. W. S. Cato, Jnr„ as the keenest sportsman that had lived in the town for many years. Mr. Drake had built the holding pond in Te Kuiti from which he distributed 10,000 trout fry to the

district streams every year, he had arranged the liberation of pheasants, and had in many other ways improved the sport obtainable in this area. Other speakers were Mr. C. S. M. Johnstone, who wished Mr. Drake the best of luck in New Lynn; Mr. R. S. Craig, who spoke of Mr. Drake's readiness to help any organisation, whether personally interested in it or not; Mr. G. Cameron, who said Mr. Drake had always been helpful to footballers and had been a very good citizen; Mr. J. M. Hine ("half the Borough solicitor") who recalled trapsing round the country with Mr. Drake looking for such diverse things as water leaks, noxious weeds and golf courses; Mr. W. F. Seeker, who said Mr. Drake was one of the most valuable members the Sports Club had ever possessed; Mr. H. R. White who, on behalf of the business community, thanked Mr. Drake for the generous -help he had always been so ready to extend to local organisations; and Mr. J. G. McKenzie, who referred to the fact that though Mr. Drake on- the day of the Easter Sports meeting was always given the onerous task of traffic inspector, and could not see the gathering, he was always working hard on the Friday before and the days after to ensure the success of the day. Dr. de Castro then presented the guest of the evening with the dinner service, and musical honours were accorded Mr. Drake as the toast was drunk.

In returning thanks, Mr. Drake said it was' very pleasing to see that his work for the Sports Club, Acclimatisation Society, Scouts and other organisations was appreciated. He had been told there was to be a small gathering that evening, not such a large gathering as was present, but it was good to know that his efforts, in which he had always done his best, were being appreciated.

Borough Staff Farewell

The staff of the Te Kuiti Borough Council gathered in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon to farewell Mr. Drake, the Borough Engineer, who is leaving to-day to take up the position of engineer at New Lynn. The Town Clerk, .Mr. Strange, in presenting Mr. Drake with a travelling rug on behalf of the staff, congratulated him on his new appointment, whilst at the same time expressing regret that Mr. Drake's career was taking him so far away from Te Kuiti. Mr. Drake suitably responded.

Fishermen Gather.

On Wednesday evening Mr. Drake was the guest of honour at a gathering of fishermen, Mr. K. W. Low, on Behalf of those at the function, presenting Mr. Drake with a fountain pen. The manner in which Mr. Drake had sought to better fishing in this area, and in which he had given support and tuition to learners of the art of fishing, was the subject of much appreciative comment. Motion picture entertainment from Mr. E. J'. Garlick's projector proved most interesting. »

Outside Staff Presentation,

The permanent outside staff and the Scheme 13 workers employed by the Te Kuiti Borough Council gathered in the Council Chambers last evening to bid farewell to their engineer, Mr. B. J. Drake, who leaves today .to take up a position with the New Lynn Borough Council. Mr. Johansson, on behalf of the staff, presented Mr. Drake with a set of pipes and a magnificent crystal bowl as a token of their appreciation of the excellent manner in which the engineer had carried out his duties. Mr. Drake, said Mr. Johansson, had been a wonderful boss and the staff at New Lynn are indeed lucky in getting such an engineer. The speaker also referred to the diplomatic manner Mr. Drake had in handling the men and to the way in which he had, at all times, looked after their interests. Other members of the staff, as well as exmembers who were present, spoke in a eulogistic manner of Mr. Drake's "services. Mr. Drake suitably replied.