PRESENTATION TO MR JOHN GOODALL, M.I.C.E.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3303, 29 April 1885, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO MR JOHN GOODALL, M.I.C.E.

When it became known that Mr Goodall, thejEngineer to, and designer of, the Timaru Harbor Works, was about to leave us, there was but one feeling amongst the people of South Canterbury — one of deep regret. It was somewhat relieved by the knowledge that he would still have control of the works, and that he would visit us at regular intervals, but for all that the fact of his taking up his residence m Napier made us feel that we were [to no small extent losing a gentleman who has bold a very prominent position here for many years. The name of John Goodall will ever bo associated with that; of Timaru and its breakwater, and with the prosperity the work has tended to bring about m tho town and district. Indeed, hud the Breakwater not been carried out so successfully, there can be no two opinions that with the strong opposition we have had to contend with at the hands of Lyttelton to the North, and Dunedin, Port Chalmers and Oamaru, to the south, our. shipping trade would have been reduced to very slight dimensions, and nearly the whole of our imports and exports would have been earned by rail from and to one or other of the ports named. It was no wonder then that the people felt they could not allow Mr Goodall to take his departure without giving him some token of the esteem m which his services publicly had been appreciated, and of the regard heM for him personally. It was only a few days ago that several of our leading citizens initiated a movement to make Mr Goodall a presentation, but despite the short time at their disposal, they had no difficulty whatever m collecting a very handsome sum, part of which was spent m the purchase of a very handsome piece of plate, while the balance was turned into sovereigns and " pursed." At four o'clock yesterday afternoon some fifty of the subscribers to the testimonial met at the Grosvenor Hotel, Mr William Moody, Chairman of the Harbor Board, being m the chair, and after all had been seated, Mr Jonas called on him to make tho presentation. Mr Moody, addressing Mr Goodall, said he felt highly honored at the position he was placed m, and his. only regret was that the subscribers had not selected a better speaker. All were aware that Mr Goodall had for seven years held a prsition of the highest kind, while at the same time he had never been ostentatious. He could not refer m too flattering terms to Mr Goodall's merits as an official, but he was now speaking more as a citizen than anything else. It had been his (tho speaker's) good fortune to be associated with him for a number of years, and he would always look back on those associations with pleasure. ■He might say that Mr Goodall's official relations with the Board had ever been satisfactory. In the face of extraordinary difficulties, scientific and otherwise, . he had achieved immense success, — success which fell to the lot of few men. Mr Goodall would therefore not take it amiss if he said that he had learnt not a little and been partly educated by the experience he had gained m carrying out tho harbor works at Timaru, with which he had been so long connected. They all felt parting with him very much, but it was a pleasure to know tho position he _ had achieved at Napier, and that he was still to be connected with the Timaru Breakwater. The best wishes of one and all would follow him and his wherever he went. Mr Moody concluded by asking all' present to drink " Long life, good health, and all prosperity to Mr John Goodall." The toast was received with continued cheers, and responded to most heartily. Mr Moody then asked Mr Goodall to accept as a slight token of their esteem a piece of plate m the shape of a silver salver and a bulky purse of sovereigns. The salver, which cost £26, bore tho following inscription :— " Presented (with a purse of sovereigns) to John Goodall, M.1.C.E., Engineer for the Timaru Harbor Board, by the public of South Canterbury, m recognition of his skill m designing and carrying out the Timaru Breakwater, and of his many estimable personal qualities. April, 1885. Mr Moody added that the testimonial had been got up very hurriedly, but had been responded to most heartily, and he wished the recipient to understand that had more

time been at their disposal it would have been a far more fitting one. However, he asked Mr Goodall ■to understand the pleasure the people of South Canterbury felt m giving it to him, and he trusted his name wonld ever be inseparable from the Timaru Breakwater. (Continued cheers and applause). Mr Goodall m responding said that he could not find words to express his gratification »t the kind remarks mado by Mr Moody on behalf of the people of the district. He did not value the testimonial for its intrinsic worth, but for the feeling which prompted its being given. Many and many a time, when m trouble about the Harbor Works, he had been cheered by the knowledge that ho knew they were with him. He had tho satisfaction of knowing he had always done his duty. He had had a lot of trouble with the structure, but as they wore all aware of the details it was unnecessary for him to go into I them. He took credit for the initiation of a scheme for meeting the travelling shingle difficulty. Timaru was the place m which that difficulty had been first successfully overcome, lie referred to Sir John Coode having gone down m a diving dreßs to endeavor to find out whether the shingle that traversed the Chisel Bank could possibly come from the sea bottom, as a sample of his indomitable pluck m the course of scientific enquiry. Sir John's experiences had certainly helped him (tho speaker), but as a whole, they had not j been considered of such a nature as to be [ depended on, and wore opposed by Professor Airy, late Astronomer Royal, and by leading French engineers, who had projected harbors against his theories with success. In Timaru the force of the waves had been utilised to keep the shingle back, and ho could assure them that from careful observation it was notadvancing m the neighborhood of the Breakwater, nor was there any possibility of its going round tho worki. Mr Goodall then recalled the fact of tho shingle getting round the works shortly after their start through the crane " Hercules " breaking down. At that time the mole had not been carried out far enough for the recoil of tho waves to have any effect. Ho had no time to hesitate, and went on continuously putting down blocks until he got over the shingle. Ho did so with the approval of the Board, and the rosult wns that they now had a safe harbor. Had he hesitated, Sir John Coode's plan of a viaduct and an island made m tho sea would have been carried out, and the works would not have been utilised for years. From tho first Commission the Government Engineers were excluded as they would necessarily be biassed m opinion, and Messrs Heale and Henderson were appointed. These gentlemen agreed that 300 feet should bo made, which he interpreted to mean 150 feet from low water mark. Since then tho Government had always been m accord with the Board and himself m the work he j>roposed to carry out. Though leaving Timaru with feelings of the sineerest regret, it was yet a pleasure to be where the work had to be clone, and at Napier he had all before him. It was quite truo, as Mr Moody had said, that he had learnt a lot here, but any man with a mind should continue to learn to the last day | of his life. His opinion was that Napier would never have had a breakwater but for the experience he had gained m Timaru, and he was proud of the opportunity which had been afforded him. He need hardly tell them that he was coming down regularly, and would meet their many kind faces ngain. Ho would again express his deep thanks for their testimonial, for the kind manner m which they had met him, and for their many good wishes. Mr Goodall sat down amidst applause, and during his short speech he was constantly interrupted by cheers. The toast of " Health to Mrs Goodall and Family," coupled with the name of Mr Henry Goodall, having been warmly responded to, the gathering broke up after one and all had given our Engineer a hearty shake of the hand. We understand Mr and Mrs Goodall leave for Lyttelton, en route to Napier, by the Express train this afternoon.