LONG SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, 1 May 1937, Page 5

LONG SERVICE.

RETIREMENT OF PBISON SUPERINTENDENT. CONGRATULATIONS ON NOTABLE CAREER. WELLINGTON, April 30. The changing of the guard was witnessed at Wellington Prison to-night, when the staff met to bid farewell to Superintendent John Down, who is retiring after 40 years’ service with the Department. A presentation of an arm-chair was made, on behalf of the staff, by Mr. B. L. Dallard, ControllerGeneral of Prisons, and a clock was presented to Mr. Down by Mr. A. Longmore, on behalf of the Wellington Justices’ Association. Mr. Down has had a wide experience in the Prisons Department. He was in charge of treeplanting camps at Hamner and Waiotapu, and also in charge of parties which opened up the Waikeria and Hautu prison farms. He was largely instrumental in starting the nursery of native shrubs on Mount Crawford, which is being developed for the purpose of replanting Watts Peninsula, in co-operation with the Wellington Beautifying Society. In expressing the Department’s appreciation of Mr. Down’s work, Mr. Dallard said that little did Mr. Down realise, when he began 40 years ago as an assistant-warder at Wellington, prison, that he had a marshal’s baton in his knapsack. His success had been due to the fact that he had invariably made the Department’s affairs his chief concern. Mr. Down’s successor is Mr. W. E. Stewart, at present Chief Warder of the Wellington Prison.—(P.A)