Valedictory : Mr S. B. Steedman

Northern Advocate, 18 October 1947, Page 8

Valedictory : Mr S. B. Steedman

Mr S. B. Steedman, of Whangarei. and formerly of the field staff of the State Advances Corporation, who has been appointed district valuer (rural) of the corporation in Palmerston North, was farewelled at his office in Whangarei yesterday. Representatives of tfc rehabilitation committee, the legal profession and the valuers institute, besides other Government department friends, were present. Mr Steedman received his early education in the Thames district and when his father, Mr J. D. Steedman, was appointed Crown lands ranger for Whangarei in 1912, attended the Whangarei Boys’ High School.

Mr Steedman worked on various well-known properties in Northland, including Rehia, Northern Wairoa, and the Nukutawhiti estate.-

Returning from the Tokomaru Bay district, where he spent some years shepherding, he joined the Valuation Department, under Mr A. Blackburn, in 1934.

CROWN VALUER When the field staff of the State Advances Corporation was formed in 193 G Mr Steedman transferred to that department and. except for a short period in Gisborne, he has worked in the Whangarei district since. For some years he served on the vestry of Christ Church. At the farewell eulogistic reference was made to Mi - Steedman’s sterling qualities as a man and a valuer. Instances were quoted of his intimate knowledge of the district, his great capacity for work, and his tenacity of purpose. He would be missed greatly by the large circle of colleagues and friends he had made among the farming community. With the Land Sales Committee in operation a Crown valuer’s task was not an easy one but Mr Steedman had done his work without fear or favour. His opinion was held in high regard by all who knew the background of his knowledge and his. infinite capacity for detail.

“STICK TO OPINION” Mr Steedman was presented with an enlarged coloured air photograph of the Matapouri Bay* area. In reply to the good wishes expressed for his future success and happiness he said that he had always endeavoured to do his job on the same basis Tor whatever purpose.

His sympathy had always been with the working farmer, the man, who, during the years, had to make his living from the land. Giving a word of advice to young valuers, Mr Steedman urged them to assemble all the knowledge they could from all sources about the job in hand, to make up their minds on that basis, and then to stick to their opinion. Mr and Mrs Steedman and family will leave for Palmerston North on Monday.