BANQUET AT TE AROHA

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16896, 9 September 1926, Page 8

BANQUET AT TE AROHA

MR CLAXTON HONOURED BY THAMES VALLEY POWER BOARD TRIBUTE TO 1115 WORK. A banquet. was tendered Mr F. H. Claxton; late rliairman of the Thames A'atlry Electric Power Hoard, on Tuesday evening. There was a large and representative gathering. Mr F. Strange, chairman of the Board, presided. Air Strange referred to Hie immense amount, of'work that had been carried out. by their guest during his chairmanship of the Board. Mr Claxlon’s decision to retire from local bodies was genuinely regretted. During the time Mr Claxton was chairman of the. Board he always evinced the deepest interest in alt things pertaining to electric energy. He was also chairman of the South Auckland Power Boards’ League and chairman of the N.X. Power Boards’ Association, and had done more towards getting electricity into the homes than anyone else in New Zealand. It, had been decided to repay Mrs Claxton in a very small way for the encouragement and assistance she had always, given her husband, by presenting her with a silver tea .service. (Loud applause.) Mr Claxton,. in accepting the gift, expressed delight, at seeing the large number present and realising, that he, still retained the good, fellowship of such.a large community. Comment had been made on his share of public body work. He- first look it up as a, duty and afterwards-as a pleasure. No right-minded man could tackle .a project and. meet men like he had and: rail it-hard work. He had had an unbroken spin in public life of 20 years. Therefore if one carried.on in public affairs for that - length of time and still retained the goodfellowship of his associates, one was amply repaid. He .appreciated t.lieir regard. He was more tha.n pleased with-the thoughtfulness for his wife. There was no doubt, that his wife and family paid a big price for his local body service. The curse of local body work was (lie neglect of the home. It needed nothing so tangible to assure bim of the goodwill of the Board members. He would always retain the kindest memories of his association with them. (Applause.)

Atr I‘\ L. Kenriek. manager of the Bank of New Zealand, proposed “The Power Boards.” Jri speaking of the difficulties-ahead of new power hoards, Mr Kenriek remarked that the fact that flic Thames Valley Board came through with so few mistakes, was highly creditable and reflected in a great measure-to their excellent chairman (Mr Claxton), engineers (Messrs (jaovnin and McLeod), and manager (Mr Sprague). Messrs Lee (Waitomo), Lockhead (Tauranga), and Price (Matamala) responded.

Mr P. W. Walters proposed- “The Government' Department,"- and Mr Strange-' responded; Air P. Gauvain “Bocal Undies, - ’ to which- A-Ir Love (chairman of the Tauranga. County Council). Air V. fi. Lowry (chairman of the Piako County Council), Atr It. Caulter (Mayor of Te Aroha), W. Anderson (chairman of the Matamala County Council), Atr P. Brcnan (Paeroa Borough Council), and Air A. A. Wagstaff (Thames Harbour Board) responded.