PRESENTATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 20

PRESENTATION

A pleasant ceremony took place at St. Clair on Monday evening, when a number of St. Clair residents called on Mr and Mrs Schruffer at their residence in Onslow street, and presented them with two divan chairs, a Westminster chiming clock and a shaving outfit. The clock bore the following inscription: “ Presented to Constable G. Schruffer by the residents of St. Clair on his retirement. November. 1937.”

Constable Schruffer has. been stationed at St. Clair for the last 20 years. He was appointed a member of the police force in 1906 at Wellington, sent to Greymouth in 1907. and at his own request transferred to Dunedin. After a short stay in Dunedin he was promoted to mounted constable at Gore. In 1913 he was appointed constable in charge, clerk of the court, bailiff, receiver of land and gold revenue, and mining registrar at Waikaia. In 1917 he was transferred to St. Clair, being in charge of that station until he retired for health reasons on August 1 last. ~ Mr John McDonald was a capable chairman, and referred to _ the many good qualities of the retiring officer, who had been a landmark in the district for the last 20 years, and had proved an efficient servant to his department and the residents of the district. He called upon Mr V R. Anderson to make the presentation <pn behalf of the residents of St Clair. In doing so Mr Anderson referred to the zealous and efficient service rendered by Constable Schruffer during his long service at St. Clair, and the capable and tactful manner in which he had handled the enormous motor traffic of the district. Pie was held in the greatest respect by motorists and pedestrians alike. Mr Falck, on behalf of himself and the St, Clair Beach Improvement Association, conveyed the association’s thanks to the retiring officer for the great assistance he had rendered them at the various carnivals and beach attractions, and wished Mr and Mrs Schruffer many years of hapniness and good health m their retired life. His well-known

figure would be much missed on the Esplanade. Mr Coxon referred to the spontaneous manner in which the testimonial had been responded to by the public, and added his good wishes. Mr J. Deaker, in his remarks, referred particularly to the care and attention given by Constable Schruffer to the hundreds of small children who visited the beach and the playground. Messrs W. H. Lacey and J. Nicolson also paid tribute to their ex-police official. , ~ Mr Schruffer. in reply, thanked the donors for the handsome presents and for the very kind remarks made by the speakers He referred to the lawabiding citizens in the St. Clair district, and said that during his 20 years service he had never had occasion to arrest a local resident. Whatever he had done had been a pleasure, and he always tried to carry out his duties conscientiously, and It was therefore very pleasing to him to _ hear the remarks made by the. chairman and the other residents. Mrs Schruffer. in a few appropriate remarks! thanked them all for the presents. . . . The evening was then turned into a housewarming, during which the opportunity was taken to make a presentation of a handsome tea set to Mrs Schruffer. Sergeant Stark, on behalf of the police officers of the South Dunedin district, expressed their appreciation to Mrs Schruffer for her many acts of kindness to them and visiting officers to the district. Sergeant Bolton also made reference to the kindly courteous and hospitable qualities of Mr and Mrs Schruffer. His remarks were supplemented by Constables Palmer. Meiklejohn. Brooks. Olive. Drake and Wroblenski , _ . During the evening Mr Schruffer introduced Constable Mannix, his successor, to those present. Constable Mannix stated that his duties would be hard in having to follow in the footsteps of such an efficient and popular officer. However, he could only do his best, for his department and the residents of the district. Mrs Schruffer thanked the police officers for their kind remarks and tllG tGS SGt. The evening was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.