FINE WORK FOR CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 12

FINE WORK FOR CITY.

TRIBUTES TO MR. W. E. BUSH.

REPRESENTATIVE FAREWELL.

TWENTY-THREE YEARS ENGINEER

" I have loved my work, I have loved this city, and I have loved to have been actively engaged in promoting its welfare," said Mr. W. E. Bush, for the past 23 years Auckland city engineer, when replying to the good wishes expressed by a public meeting of representative interests last evening, prior to his departure for Australia to-day to take up the position of engineer for tho water supply and sewerage department of the Greater Brisbane Council.

High tribute to Mr. Bush's professional ability, his excellent personal qualities, and his useful' services in many spheres was paid by several speakers. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, who presided, recalled that during his term in Auckland Mr. Bush had seen the city grow from 1800 acres to 18,000 acres. The city was dependent on tho Western ,Springs water supply in 1906, and to Mr. Bush had fallen the task of developing further schemes until to-day, Mr. Baildon confidently believed, the timo would never again come when the city would be without an assured supply throughout the year—that was, if the City Council s approved programme was carried out. Improvement of Streets.

The work Mr. Bush had carried out in streets improvements was also referred to by tho Mayor. Mr. Bush had arrived in a city which had only a meagre stretch of permanent paving; to-day there were 26 miles of concreted roads within the city, and an additional 40 miles in contiguous districts. Mr. Bush was leaving tho council's services with all good wishes. All hoped ho would make as great a success of his work in Brisbane as he had in Auckland.

No man had enjoyed a greater confidence in the commercial community than Mr. Bush, said Mr. 11. T. Merritt, president of tho Chamber of Commerce. His whole heart and soul had been in his work. On behalf of the Rotary Club, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, the president, said no member had fulfilled more completely the standards of tho movement. Further tributes were paid by Mr. C. H. Furness, on behalf of tho Y.M.C.A., with which Mr. Bush has been especially closely associated, Sir George Fowlds, who recorded the University College's appreciation of Mr. Bush's interest in the school of engineering, and by Sir. C. K. Grierson, who voiced the goodwill of the Institute of Surveyors. A telegram was read by the Mayor, expressing tho Town-planning Board's regret at the necessity for accepting Mr. Bush's resignation, and recording appreciation of his valued services.

Presentation of Address. An illuminated address was then presented to Mr. Bush by tho Mayor. The address extolled Mr. Bush's services both m the professional and social spheres, and was signed on behalf of the City Council, the Auckland Harbour Board, the Chamber of Commerce, the Auckland Power Board, the Transport Board, tho institute of Surveyors, tho Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Architects, the Rotary Club and the Y.M.C.A. Expressing appreciation of the gift and the kind references to Mrs. Bush and himself, Mr. Bush said he had always claimed that 110 city outrivalled Auckland in the beauty of its surroundings. He had always felt- Auckland would achieve a high destiny, and that it was a 1 citv worthy of any man's best effort. He had been greatly helped in the earlier years by his association with the late Sir Arthur Myers, then Mayor, who cherished the highest ideals of citizenship. Many Intricate Problems.

Mr. Bush confessed that he had thought the City Council of 23 years ago had been saving up all its most Intricate problems in the hope that he would be able to solve them, and ho had often to sit up late in the early years in attempts to find the best solutions of those problems. But he had always loved the company of his fellow-men, and if he had been able to accomplish anything on the social side of city activities, lie had thoroughly enjoyed the privilege. Although he felt he did not deserve the tributes paid to him, Mr. Bush said they would eneourago him to tackle his new tasks in Brisbane with greater heart and energy. By hard work, endeavouring to understand the points of views of others, giving most careful attention to the problems presented, and withholding a decision until satisfied in one's own judgment that th© best solution had been found, Mr. Bush believed any man could achievo much.

An enthusiastic gathering closed with the giving of three cheers for Mr. and Mrs. Bush.