A PRESENTATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16610, 6 December 1919, Page 6

A PRESENTATION.

TO MB. H. FOWLER.. GOVERNMENT AUDITOR. ° There was a pleasing little gathering l at Messrs. May and Arrowsrmth’s Central Tea Rooms, New Plymouth, ojj Friday afternoon, when officials of many local bodies in Taranaki gathered together for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr. H. Fowler, who tor tho past seven and a-half years has been Government auditor in the Taranaki district and who is being transferred to Wellington. Mr. F. T. Bellringer, general manager of the Borough of New Plymouth, presided, and there were also present: Messrs. P. S. Whitcombe and E. G. Johnson (Taranaki Education Board), E. Holden (Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board), P. Skoglund (Stratford Borough Council), R. Ellis (Taranaki County Council), G. Rogers (Egmont County Council), E. Olson (Inglewood Borough Council), R. Buckley (Moa Road Board), and a number of assistants from several Now Plymouth offices. Mr. G. H. Richardson, who succeeds Mr. Fowler, was also present. The chairman announced tho receipt of a number of letters and telegrams of apology* from the executive officers of local bodies who had found it impossible to be present. All spoke in eulogistic terms of the manner in which Mr. Fowler had always carried out his duties and expressed regret at his departure from the district. Afternoon tea was served and later the chairman expressed pleasure in presenting to Mr. Fowler, on behalf of local body officials, a suitably inscribed gold watch as a mark of their esteem. He spoke in eulogistic terms of the manner in which Mr. Fowler had always carried out his duties, and the assistance and advice he had always been ready to give, and said it was with general and sincere regret they learned of Mr. Fowler’s removal from this district. Mr. Fowler’s duties were not always pleasant and though at times he had to be severe he never made himself disagreeable. He had won tho high esteem of all local body officials in Taranaki and although they might in time forget him as an auditor they would never forget him as a kind and" considerate friend. He wished Mr. Fowler the best of good fortune in his new sphere and hoped that his future would be one of prosperity and happiness. (Applause.) All the representatives of the local bodies present endorsed the remarks of Mr. Bellringer, acknowledging the assistance they had at all -times received from Mr. Fowler, and extending their best wishes for his' future.

Mr. Ellis also took the opportunity of acknowledging the ready and valuable assistance Mr. Fowler had given to public functions in the town and to the different sports bodies. . (Applause.) Mr. Fowler, in responding, said he had never expected to hear so many kindly expressions and that he felt they were not altogether deserved. Regarding his work, his endeavour had always been to do it thoroughly and properly and he found the best way to do that was to give all the help ■ he reasonably could to those with whom he had to work. He appreciated the expressions of goodwill towards himself and also the very handsome present they had made him, but which he could honestly assure them was not necessary to remind him of his association 'with Taranaki. .(Applause.) He had become very much attached to the district and confessed that ho did not like leaving. Mr. Bellringer extended a cordial welcome to Mr. Richardson, who suitably acknowledged same, expressing the hope that his relations with the executive officers of local bodies of Taranaki would he as as Mr. F.owler’s had been.