A VETERAN OFFICER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11857, 22 May 1909, Page 5

A VETERAN OFFICER.

TWENTY-NINE YEARS OF SERVICI Few public .servants are as well aiu. favorably known as Air Jo.hn Warren, clei'ki of the Cook County Council, win. yesterday completed" his twenty-ninth year of service with the parental County of the East Coast. Referring to the fact at the conclu sion of yesterday's meeting, the County Chairman, the Hon. Captain Tucker, said lie did not think they should ailov. such an occasion to go by without saving a word or two. He did not intent to say much, as Mr Warren was knpwi so well that it would be like painting! the lily white. His qualities were si well-known, so universally admitted wen his excellent qualities that it was unnecessary to go further. He could not. however, let the occasion go . withou. congratulating him on his lengthy tern of service, m the course of which he ha< gained tlie highest respect, and regare Jri the administration of his duties. Hi had gained the confidence and respec. of all persons with whom he- had conn m contact, whether Councillors, county ratepayers, or the - general public. No words that he (the speaker) could say would be too generous m praise, of Mi Warren — (applause) — .and no 1 wish' thai he could express Yijould be too fervent, (Applause.) To have attained*, that- respect and cohfid'ehce was; li£ thought, the highest aim any man could have. A man might aim at wealth or fashion, j but he did not think there .could be any higher desire m any man's mind than to be honest-minded, and to know his fellow men all regarded him as such. Hi» could not sa}* more to express his admiration of Mr Warren. (Applause.) Mr DeG. FraSer, County Engineer, said tliat from the day he had come to Gisborne to the present time he had received valuable assistance from Mr Warren. He had never begrudged assistance/ and' coming as he did o stranger to the district, it hod been greatly appreciated. He had much . pleasure m congratulating Mr Warren upon the friends, he had made and the confidence he. had attained. The Chairman : Any Councillor wish tp say anything? Councillors (m a chorus) : Only to endorse what you have said. Mr .Warren, who replied feelingly, said he was very .thankful for the kind expressions. He could only say the work had' been a- pleasure, to him, a pleasure that came from the fact that his work was not found fault' with. He wou'd ' he supposed', have to look forward to the time when, he must retire, bub looking back over his service, he would taki pleasure in/it. He only regretted he had nob htfd four times the money to spend to serve-the; ratepayers better, .for it was he who heard all their complaints of bad 'roads. He only wished , he could have done more for them.