POPULAR P.W. ENGINEER

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 97, 6 December 1928, Page 5

POPULAR P.W. ENGINEER

SERVIGES APPRECIATED. PRESENTATION TO MU BALL. The esteem in which Mr T, M. Ball, who has been district Public Work s engineer at Stratford for some years, is held by members of local bodies in the province wtis testified yesterday afternoon by the large gathering of representatives of local bodies which met him at the Stratford Borough Council chambers. Numerous speakers made eulogistic references to Mr Ball's work in Taranaki, and on behalf of the Txrauaki Local Bodies Association the chairman that body, Mr 0. Belcher, presented Mr Ball with a handsome silver tea service. The proceedings were of a particularly cordial nature, and the references to Mr Ball’s good work in the province were heartily applauded. The Manaia Town Board sent a telegram of congratulation. MONUMENTS I>TWORKS.

'file Mayor of Stratford, Mr J. W. McMillan, who - presided, said Mr Ball had always met the local bodies ijn, an (exemplary manner —ht\ was always courteous, and, to the speaker’s knowledge, never out of temper, fiber o were monuments to their guest’s Work which, would stand in Taranpki for all time —the Mokaui bridge and the railway work, for instance. Mr Ball would always bo remembered with respect in Taranaki, as on© of th© best engineers of the Department in the province. More than ’bis. public worns, however Mr Ball took pride in the fact that hel had raised a fine family in Stratford, and if. the young ‘Balls follow in their ’father's! footsteps they would do very well. Mr. J. O. Belcher said Mr. Ball’s relations with the Eitham County had ahvlay been of the best. He hau been especially helplull to; the Eitbam (Jauntyhardships than in other' (remities. There had been some bad cloudburst, and then quick action was required. Mr. Ball acted quickly land before long Ire bed men from all over, the place to help th© settlers. ‘

UNIVERSAL GOODWILL Mr. J. B. Commit (Taranaki County) said Mr. Ball sto)jj in N good position, from, the fact that he enjoyed the goodwill of all the local bodies in the district, while being looked upon by his department as a very worthy representative. early days of the Highway Board w r ete very difficult, jn that the legislation was new and it { pook local! bodies some time to get used to it. The levy on motorists was being paid without any complaint, the motorists recognising that the best possible was Trying done with their money. The results achieved by the Board were due to the good men the Highways Board had to carry odt their work, of whom Mr Ball was one.

Mr H. C. North (Stratford Borough Council) said he was an officer of the Department when Mr BjiH joined it as a cadet. At that tim© he wa.s looked on as a very promising nerson. After being in the office for a time ho had gone into the field and the speaker had seen- no mor© of ■him till he oivme to Stratford as resident engineer. 'Hie speaker had it on the authority of visiting engineers that Mr Ball had given some of the best engineering Taranaki had had. , ! i [

"KEY-NOTE OF SERVICE. Mr H. -V. S Griffiths (Mayor or Now Plymouth) stated that it coaid not be said) of many public servants that they endeared themselves to those with whom they cam© in contact, but it could be said without fear of contradiction that Air Ball had done so, by the manner in ■which he had carried out his duties. They knew that he would ris ( e still further m the Depur (.meat, because service had been the key-note of his career. SOLVER OF PROBLEMS. Mr P. Nkegluud (Town Clerk, Stratford) icsMied to Mr Ball’s un, failing courr-esv when lie had to be consulted at hm off. «. and ten his ability io elm idrjt* any (problem presented to L a. H wished every prosperity to Air Br.! and that he one day be iiugitieer-in-Chier. Air S. dickers (Taranaki Comity) also spoke. Mr S'. A. Ward (Stratford Borough) said hje had chiefly come m contact with Mr Ball in connection with Automobile Association work, and in that regard he had always been very helpful. Air P. J. Fennell (Public Works slbff, Wanganui) tendered congratulations on behalf of the Wanganui staff. Air A. T. Moore (“Taranaki Herald’’) testified to Air Ball’s helpfulness to the press on all occasions. Other speakers were Alessrs U. 'Stuart (Inglewood County), A. .T. Hansen (Waimate County), C. Clarke (New Plymouth), N. C, Fookes (Clifton County). Al r Belcher then made the pi'Caontation on behalf of the Local Bodies Association, and the rom-i ' j. -

pany sang ‘‘For He’s a Jolly-'Good Fellow”. MR BALL’S REPLY. In acknowledging the gift Mi' Bali thanked those present lor their kind, remarks, \vheu lie Had come hrso to Taiunaki ne had neen proud vo Have keen placed in charge or such a progressive (hstrict. He had! bot out to get road communication with Auckland, and that dad been done, and Be \WOUId have liked to have been able to stay to see the completion of the railway. When lie had come to Taranaki he had found the Public men to. be line gentlemen, and Ire had been rather 4 indent ih apprepphing them, but hje soon found that they were keen on their work, thht they were fail* men, energetiq and sympathetic, and willing to take advice''from a person, very much their junior. Therefore his work had been rendered easy and a distinct pleasure, and to be district engineer in Thranaki had] been an honour. He was glad) his work had been appreciated, though certain work's had not turned out just as he desired,. Vdhe (gift woiuiA, give pleasure to Mrs Ball 1 , as also would the many kind remarks about himself. Ho hoped Taranaki people would extend to Ins successor the good) feeling extended to himself. If they did that their province would continue to. go anead. All tlie credit for the work done had been given to himself, but if lie had not had a loyal and efficient staff, tab ways willing to jump to the work in Hand, the work could never have been dene.