JOHN SAMUEL NEVILLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1096, 2 December 1926, Page 6

JOHN SAMUEL NEVILLE

Cathedral City's Home-Grown Tovon Clerk

THE boy loved mechanical things v of all kinds. A piece of maJehinery, • an engine — anything that possessed "works" attracted him like the

lighted lamp attracts the moth. ,< ■'■■'"'_. In those years of adolescence a, great ambition was born within him. John Samuel Neville had made up his. mind about his career. He would become ah engineer, and win his w&y to fame and fortune. But Fate had mapped out another plan for him, '- Destiny had marked him down as the future town clerk of Christchurch, and although his boyhood ambition was not realized, Neville has written tha word "success" across the page of his lif£. » Away back in' the late 'eighties, when young , NeviUe was nursing ' his dream of fame as an engineer, the paternal edict went forth and . the dream faded. Father knew more than his son did, and the years that have rolled onward since have proved it. . . '• It was • nevertheless something of ,a disappointment to the would-be engineer, but Neville had "saind," and he did not waste time moping around Lyttelton, where his home was, nursing vain 'and idle regrets. In. 1889 he joined the Railway Department m a humble clerical position." NeviUe applied to his job those inherent qualities that mean "a job well done" but the environment of the railway did not enthral him. But he waited his time, and for twelve years he learned all he could about life and business affairs — slowly but patiently and surely prepiaring himself for the big job lie determined to have sooner or later. At the end of twelve years he entered a wider field of ' endeavor. A young, . strapping fellow, with plenty of assurance and a pleasing - manner, entered the office of the Christchurch City Council to see if they had a job for him. Well, yes, there was a rate collector's position open, and after a few preliminaries they thought young Neville would do. He did

Pep, vigors and strict attention to his duties soon marked liim out as a, man well worth his salt. He had his reward two years after joining the Council staff, and had the pleasure of hearing that he had been appointed chief clerk. A splendid position for a young man, but still J. S. Noville had another 8 ° al And Vl h?*set himself to prepare for it. He studied every phase of local body administration, familiarized himself with legislation and delved deep into the musty volumes that have to do with rates, loan polls and all the For 20 years Neville waited. Never once did his determination lessen. "Some day it will come, so be. prepared for it," was his slogan., And then m 1923, a eulogistic council set the seal of success on all his hopes. ■-• He was appointed town clerk, and m that dignified capacity Neville presides over the staff to-day. But success has not spoilt him. Simple^in manner— but by no means soft— he has no exaggerated view of his own lmP ° rt Readily accessible to' all comers, Neville hears what you have to say and. then supplies the information needed m courteous When^you tret fo know him— and should you catch him m one of his rare intervals of "not being particularly busy"— he will crack a joke and send you away with a pleasant smile and thoughts of a jolly good fellow. ■■ ..^ . - Neville is one of the very few New Zealand-born town clerks m the Dominion, and his record is proof positive that there is no necessity for local bodies to seek overseas for men to fill big executive positions.