AFTER FORTY YEARS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11253, 4 July 1922, Page 3

AFTER FORTY YEARS

STATE ARCHITECTS RETIRE PRESENTATION FROM P.W.D. STAFF. A gathering of officers of the Public Works Department and the Finance Department was held at Parliament Buildings yesterday afternoon for the purpose of farewelling Mr John Campbell, F.R.1.8.A., Government Architect, who has retired on superannuation after 40 years in the public sorrire, and to Mr L. L. Richards, Assistant-Govern-ment Architect, -who has also retired on superannuation. The Hon. J. G. Coatee (Minister for Public Works) presided ; and a telegram was received from Mr Furkort lengineer-in-chief to the Public Works Department), regretting his inability to be present, and wishing the two officers every happiness in their well-earned holiday. There was a- large attendance, including Mr W. 31. Holmes (ex-enginecr-i»-chief to the department! and Dr. Hay (head of the Mental Hospitals Department). "EXCELLENT WORK.” ' The Minister paid a high tribute to the twt) retiring officers. Architecture, he said, probably did more to build up a. country than -anything eke. At any rate, it left behind great structures testifying to a nation’s progress and development. Mr Campbell arid Mr Richards had done very excellent work in connection with the designing of the post ‘offices and: other public buildings‘ in the Dominion. Among three the new Parliament Buildings stood out preeminently, and he thought that it reflected great credit upon the Government Architect, and all his assistants, and on the Public Works Department as a whole. (Applause.) It was an honour to the architectural staff and to the department that its design bad been chosen by the Government and vf-s expert .advisers f-or the new Parliament Buildings. (Applause.) He, the Minister, had known many Ministers who had come into contact with Mr Campbell and his\ assistant, and each and all of them spoke in very high terms of these officers. (Applause.) “A FINE RECORD.” It was always a matter of regret los ing men who had been 60 long associated with the public service. Mr Campbell had served under the State close upon 40 years; and he felt sure that he had sot an example that would be a very fine one for any man who followed him. He was known throughout the service as being a real—he would not say English, but Scotch gentleman. (Laughter and applause.) Mr Campbell was 'born in the city of Glasgow in 18-57, and received his early training in Scotland. He entered tiho profession of architecture in 1572, as a cadet in the office of the late Mr John Got don. who for a long period was president of the Glasgow Institute of Architects. Arriving in New Zealand in 1882, he entered the staff of the PuhlJp Works Department at Dunedin in February. ISB3. In November, 1888, he was transferred to the Wellington head office, and’ became Government Architect, a position he had held for over thirtythree yearfi. He was the fourth who had hold that office. His was a very fine record. He was to be congratulated upon having carried out his work so faithfully and so well; and on behalf of t'he staff he had: great pleasure in presenting him with a handsome suitcase suitably inscribed, and a travelling rug. (Applause.) LOYAL ANQ CAPABLE ASSISTANCE The Minister highly complimented Mr Richards on the loyal and capable assistance he had rendered Mr Caxnp bell, and eulogised the fine team work cf the staff as a whole. Mr Richard*, he stated, was iborn near Newport, W-a'les, in 1860, and educated at the Monmouth Grammar School. He was articled to a leading West of England architect, but, in 18S8, went to Tasmania. After three years in Australia he returned to England, and sumed practrioe with the same architect for another four years. After a further spell in Australia, Mr Richards came in 1899 to Wellington, and joined the Public Works Department as a temporary draughtsman. He was appointed Assistant Architect in 1908, and hie total service witfi tho department was years. On behalf of the staff, the Ministe? presented Mr Richards with a f»olid silver entree dish and an eiderdown quilt. OTHER TRIBUTES. Mr C. .T. Mackenzie (acting chiefengineer) paid & high tribute to both officers, and, on behalf of the staff, wished them every happiness and euccess for tho remainder of their days. (Applause.) Mr It. W. Holmes (late ongineer-in-chief) also spoke in high terms of their services. For nearly thirty years, ho said, he and Mr Campbell had worked side by .side, and during tho whole of that time their relations had been of the most harmonious character. He was not there, like the rest of them, to say good-bye to the two retiring officers, but “to welcome them across the bar which we must all pas 6 over.” (Applause.) Mr Campbell and Mr Richards suitably and feelingly responded; and. to the strains of “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows/* the gathering dispersed.