PRESENTATION BY STAFF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19661, 1 December 1933, Page 7

PRESENTATION BY STAFF

TRIBUTES OF HARBOUR EMPLOYEES.

In the morning Captain McDougall was met by representatives of the harbourmaster’s and engineering staffs when the popularity and esteem w ? hich he enjoyed among his colleagues was testified to. An apology was received from members of the dredge staff who are absent in Dunedin. In presenting Captain McDougall with a handsome upholstered easy chair for himself and a dinner waggon for Mrs McDougall, on behalf of the Board’s staff, Mr Metson said they were gathered to bid fare*,, ell to one who had been associated with most of them for just on 16 years. During that time Captain McDougall had played a very active part in the controlling of the harbour, and his foresight had been outstanding. In many cases he had met trouble before it had arrived, but to be forewarned was to be forearmed. Members of the staff had not always agreed with the captain's methods, but in the end, his ideas, when carried out, had generally been for the best. Personally, he would miss Captain McDougall very much, as he had always been very willing to give expert advice and very seldom was wrong in his assumptions. He had been a proper maritime lawyer. He was sure that all present and all other members of the staff hoped that Captain McDougall during his retirement would enjoy good health for many ye&rs. He feared, however, that the call of the sea would be too strong, and that he would visit the waterfront every time he came to town, if the farm did not claim too much of his time. The staff joined in extending Mrs McDougall best wishes, and trusted that she and Captain McDougall would be spared many happy years to enjoy the richlydeserved retirement. While regretting Captain McDougall’s retirement, the staff wished Captain Wlvte a long spell of “fine weather” and that he would enjoy the run of good luck experienced by his predecessor and that at the end of his time he would be able to look back with satisfaction on his work.

Captain H. C. White, acting-Harbour rooster, wished Captain McDougall the best of health and good luck in the future and expressthe hope that he would have the same measure jf success on the farm tc which he was retiring as at sea. Similar sentiments were expressed by Messrs G. Phillips and J. V. Carlsen, who said they would miss the captain's familiar hail on the water front. They expressed the hope he would not forget the boys and would often visit them.

Captain McDougall suitably replied, thanking the staff for their gifts.

The function concluded with the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”.