BUILDER OF A RAILWAY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1933, Page 9

BUILDER OF A RAILWAY

MR. B. C. ANNA'ND RESIGNS . \ J. • _ •. '/ ; WORK PRAISED AT STRATFORD. TWENTY-THBEE. YEARS IN P.W.D. After 23 years of service, in tije Public Works Department Mr. B. C. Annand, engineer at Tangarakau in charge of the construction of the Stratford-Mam trunk railway, - has > resigned from the department to engage in a private enterprise at Wanganui together with Mr. R. Lancaster, a member of the staff at Tangarakau, who has ~alsb resigned. Members of ■the,..staff .met .at the Stratford office. of the departrnent yesterday, when a fare-well function-was tendered to Mr. Annand. Mr. Lancaster, who is at Wanganui,-was riot able to be present. The district engineer, Mr. P. Keller, presided. On behalf of the staff, Mr. Z. Aagaard presented to Mr. Annand a tray containing a crystal jug and goblet and a crystal jug for Mr. Lancaster. “I 'have known Mr. Annand for 18 years, and I first met him at a time when I was overworked and had no clerical or engineering assistance,” Mr. Keller said. “At that time, in addition to my ordinary work on the -line, at-Kohura-' tahi, I had to run trains and collect freights, so I" was very glad when Mr. Annand arrived, as many of.the cadets had gone to the war and the department generally was short-staffed.” About ‘ a year later, Mr. Keller coritinued, Mr. Annand volunteered for service and went with the tunnelling corps. Mr. Keller came into contact with him when he returned as a lieutenant who was very well spoken of by officers of the company,, especially by Major Vickerman,. a man sparing in Ills praise, who described Mr. Annand as one of the best officers in a. corps that earned for itself the highest commendation during the war. The record of that corps was due to the fact that it was made up of men and officers from the Public Works Department.

On his return Mr. Annand was appointed engineer of the Stratford-Main Trunk railway construction work, which included the tasks of establishing the present township of Tangarakau and of breaking in the heaviest section of the line. It was an onerous task,, for the work presented many problems for the engineer, but Mr. Annand handled the job in a way that left no room for valid criticism. He had completed that work because any clearing up that remained to be done was of a purely routine nature, Mr. Keller said. FATE OF DEPARTMENT. - “I greatly regret that Mr. Annand is leaving the department, but he has left on his own initiative, realising that in the present times of depression the department is not, and will not be as active as it used to be,” Mr. Keller continued. “The time for borrowing has passed, end,- naturally, the- department,' with ■limited finance at its disposal, canriot employ the staff it used to. Mr. Annand saw this, and, together with Mr. Lancaster, has ventured into a private enterprise at Gonville. Should better days return and the department be in heed of experienced men admission could not be refused Messrs. Annand and Lancaster owing to their outstanding qualities.Both will be missed by their confreres, who all-join With me in voicing regret ■< at- their departure.” • The . chief clerk, Mr. C. A. Turner, remarked upon- the -cordial relations be- , tween Mr. Annand and the other members of the staff. Mr. Annand had played a major part in the construction of . the line, and Mr. Turtier hoped every success would attend Mr. Annand’s future enterprise. “I have known Mr. Ahnand since he wore knickerbockers,” said Mr. J. Jones, ' “and I have always held him in high esteem. He leaves the district with the best wishes of the workers, and in tiie line he leaves a monument that testifies to his Ability as an engineer.” . Mr. Anriand said the function that day would live long in his memory.' Tt wss encouraging to know that he would leave the goodwill of-other officers of .the department. Hl- had worked a great dfeal under Mr. Keller, who had helped him.- ; in different ways on many occasions. He was leaving the department, mainly far health reasons, and he did not want it thought that the department was a’ sinking ship which he was deserting. Toasts, besides those to the King; arid Messrs. Annand and Lancaster, were honoured as follow: MY. G. A. -Lindell (on his marriage), -propbsed by Mr. E. Lampshire and responded to by Mr. IMdell; Mr. and Mrs. G. D. ■ AsChrisSa (hydro-electric branch), Mr. T. A. Urwin —Mr. Aschman; Mrs. Annand arid family,. Mr. B. Seyb—Mr. Annand; Mrs. Lancaster and family, the chairman —Mr. and; the ladies, Mr. J.- Jones— Messrs. C. B. Homig and E. J, Triggs; the chairman.