Retiring After Long Service

Northern Advocate, 30 March 1946, Page 3

Retiring After Long Service

Presentations to two members of Hie Public Works Department at Whangarei ort their retirement, were made at functions yesterday. The guests of honour were Messrs W. A. Jeff and T. Chalkley. who have completed .1! years and 20 years respectively with the department. At a statf gathering in the depart -' mental office in Whangarei the District Engineer (Mr L. Mayi made presentations to Messrs JelT and Chalkley, referring to the many years of valuable service they had given to the department. SERVICE AT WORKSHOPS

Later both were guests at an informal function held at the department's workshops. Mr A. E. Jenkins, who presided, paid tribute to the manner in which they had carried out them duties.

Mr Chalkley, who had been chief

clerk at the workshops for 20 years, had become a popular figure with the men. On behalf cf the gathering, Mr Jenkins wished thorn both many happy l years of retirement, which he felt they thoroughly deserved. District plant overseer (Mr A. J Kerr) made special mention of the efficient way in which Mr Chalkley had carried out his clerical duties at the depot, and thanked him for the valuable assistance he had always been prepared to give. Messrs Chalkley and. Jeff replied Ends 51 Years With Public Works Joining the Public Works Department in 1895. Mr W. A. Jeff, of Whangarei, has retired. He was farewelled at two functions yesterday. In the 51 years that have elapsed since lie joined the department. Mr Jet!' has had a colourful career which has taken him to rnanv corners of the globe.

Engaged in railway construction work he left New Zealand for Africa in 1903. From there he went to Europe, where he spent several months. Canada and the United States were the next countries which Mr Jell' saw. before returning to New Zealand in 1907. IN SOUTH AMERICA A year later he left the Dominion for South America, where he was engaged in railway construction in the Argentine. In 1909 he worked in Chile and Peru, then ire visited Mexico and California. In 1913 he saw work on the Panama Canal, which was still in process of construction. DARGAVILLE, WHANGAREI After another year in California, Mr Jeff returned again to New Zealand. He was appointed to the Public Works Department at Dargaville in 1921, and three years later was transferred to Whangarei. ‘After 12 years in this district he was once more moved to Auckland, where he spent seven years before returning to Whangarei in 1943. He has been an engineer of tire department's staff at Whangarei for the past three years. Mr Jeff will continue to reside at vVhangarc'i