ON SUPERANNUATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLII, Issue 12821, 17 April 1916, Page 7

ON SUPERANNUATION.

! Wi,..„ , .-Tt -..-.. -. nx.-i, ;.. .!.. ! ■:„.:... > • M.- I .■■.:....!■!.-_ ■.!.- |-l 'lili^ ! ;..-: ■;:■■ i;:mo-; ■>! joviality and ! :!n- •:!-■■ "ii --a; n-iay •■vfiiinc. when a ; .-■ !.->r_:,- inu-icr oi raihvav servant.-. ; . ..::.t.-T.ij.-:i :;::_r every ltr;in-.-h nt the i -,: vii- ;i--enil)lc«l in the Oddfellows' j Hull. ('•i,.n!c: sinrt. httiiiyjy to eiiter- ;;.!: ;• ri'r* make u presentation to Mr .Id).!: (;. Hroi.ker. engine-driver, to i.-.ark the completion of 40 years' servii.- and tin- attainment of the privi-j \t"j.<— atforded by the superannuation .-. 'iii-nii-. After the toast of "The Kins" had been drunk, the Chairman (Mr-.TV Rol>--on). in a brief spech, referred to the career of the guest of the'-erening, and alluded to the cordial : relationship existing between that gentleman and those numberless persons with whom he had been thrown into contact both with regard to his railway duties and S finitely. Mr Brooker had come from laidstonc, Kent, arriving at Port Chalmers in 1873. He settled in Oamaru in 1874. when, he became attached to the service as cleaner. Two years later he was appointed to the position of fireman, nntl in 1877 was promoted to bo _a driver. . Since then he had l>een engaged an the Oamara-. Christchirrch express run Tor close on 15 years, and latterly had been occupied in shunting operations in the local yards. Mr Brooker had had a lengthy and honorable career—one to be emulated by all. All who had served beneath him were loud in their praises of the never-varying kindness and genuinely good finalities of their guest. On Mia If of the whole of Tlic railway servants of tlic North Otago district, it gave him the greatest pleasure to hand to Mr_ Brooker, as a taken of their esteem and appreciation, a handsome travelling s bag (suitably ' inscriliedj and a Loewe pipe. The Cliair-rr-an trusted that the recipient would be long spared iu health and happiness to ejijoy his well-earned re-st. Almost everyone present testified to the work of Mr Brooker both when on duty and off.

-Mr Brooker, in responding, thanked them all for their gifts, which would be highly treasured. He said that it was liis pleasure to have lieen associated with such a fine lot of fellows. He had done his best on all occasions, and. he said if modestly, he thought he had merited inclusion in the superannuation scheme. He had had ''tips and downs." but they should lie taken a- a mat tor of course, and only the menns s.o an end. Mr Brooker, on resuming his sent, was greeted by prolonged applause.*'.

The following toasts were then dulv honored :—"The ' A.S.R.S." "The E.F.C.A." and "The K.O.L"

Aii enjoyable musical programme \v:t-i gone through, the following contributing to its success:—Messrs Roxburgh. Selfe, Puttick. M'Lcod-Siiiith. I.atiniorp. Fraser, Creagh, Taylor, < songs). Messrs Selfe and Johnston : recitations), and Mr M'l.eo<l-Sniitli, who capably officiated at the piano, gave piano solos. The opportunity was talicn taken of making; a presentation to Mr T. Council. who had recently joined the ranks of the benedicts.

Mr M'Ncil. in handing Mr Council a handsome clock suitably inscribed and a lieantifiil bottle of smelling salts for Mrs Couuell. said that it gave him pleasure to note the step taken by the onu whom they were honoring, and spoke of the good feeling of all towards tlie. recipient. He wished the happy pair good health and prosperity. A number of those in the. room also referred to the good qualities of Mr Council.

3lr Coiiiicll replied briefly on behalf of Mrs Council and himself. An abundance of refreshments had been 'provided, and received ample justice, the gathering 'dispersing close on midnight with the singing of the National Anthem and "Auld Lang Syne."