MEMORIAL TOWN CLOCK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18585, 20 December 1934, Page 6

MEMORIAL TOWN CLOCK

DEDICATION CEREMONY

RECOGNITION OF SERVICES

MAYORS . STRIKING TRIBUTE

In the presence of a large gathering of townspeople and visitors from the country, the Robinson Memorial town clock tower, raised in memory of the late Mr. It. I). B. Robinson, who for over 40 years served Gisborne ns chief executive officer of the Borough Council, was dedicatee! this afternoon by the Mayor, Mr. John Jackson. The attendance included ''cpresentatives of the late Mr, Robin .-.mi’s family.

Before proceeding with the official function of dedication, the Mayor paid a warm tribute to the services to the town of: tlie late Mr. R. D. B. Robinami, in his capacity of Town Clerk. He stated that the Borough Council had decided, at its last meeting, that no more fitting occasion for the dedication could be found than 1 his, when so many people who had known the late Mr. Robinson were assembled in town. * The tablet inlaid at the base of the clock tower carried' the name of the man whose memory it served to lamp alive in the community, continued Mr Jackson. It also briefly recorded the length of service the late Mr. Robinson had given to the town. For 42 years he had hold the important position of town clerk and treasurer of the Gisborne Borough Council, and in addition had served for three years in a minor capacity before his appointment, as town clerk. Ho had seen the town grow from its infancy, and in the 45 years of his close connection with the council, had found his responsibilities constantly growing.

His work was indefatigable, and his interest in the welfare of the town gave him happiness in service, as well as the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. For nearly half a century he had worked under a scries of prominent citizens holding the post of Mayor of Gisborne, and be had lived up to his watchword of “Service” right to the end. “T shall never forget that when ►sickness had overtaken him, and he had to lay aside his duties for ever, he came and handed to me a letter he had received from his doctor,” added Mr. Jackson. “I had boon in office only a few weeks at that time, and T was shocked to find that the letter contained what was virtually Mr. Robinson ’s death-warrant. His remark y> me was ‘That is hard luck, Your Worship. Here you are, having jn r t,-iken office, and at a time when yon need advice and experience, T am unable to help you. ’ “It was a trying moment for me,” declared the Mayor, recalling the conversation. “I realised in a flash what a heart of gold Mr. Robinson possessed. Ho was utterly unselfish; he thought not, of himself, but of the new Mayor who needed assistance lie would not lie able to give. Devotion to duty was

lii.s idval in life. I thanked aim from ilie bottom ,of my heart, •m l Died io r.ve him hope that a rest from work might help him to recover bis health, but it was not long before he was laid to rest.

“Damewlint brusque in manner at times, the late Mr. Robinson had, besides a most generous nature, a jovial temperament, a hearty laugh, and a spirit of co-operation of which his staff had many examples. He never spared himself in the slightest degree. It is to the memory of one so highly endowed and so highly esteemed that the citizens of Gisborne have raised the fine memorial which we now officially dedicate.”