SERVICE TO BOROUGH

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19455, 20 December 1934, Page 8

SERVICE TO BOROUGH

MR J. R. FOW’S RECORD.

27 YEARS ON COUNCIL. PRESENTATION FROM ASSOCIATES Warm tribules lo the loyalty and efficiency of the borough staff and the spirit of co-operation which existed in the council, were paid by the Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, at tne e.ose of the Hamilton Borough Council’s meeting last evening, when he extended seasonal greetings to the council and -staff. Reviewing the past year, Mr Fow said tiie council had started with the realisation that it had not a ’great deal of public money to spend, but anyone who went around the town to-day could not help being impressed by the wonderful improvements which had been affected ail over the borough, .under the direction engineer and his staff. Unsightly places had been removed and streets and footpaths improved, and it could he said that a very great advance had been made in tiie physical features of the town. Tiie speaker thanked the council and committees for their work, and spoke in eulogistic terms of the staff in the main office. It had been a memorable year for tiie to\vn clerk and his assistants. The loan conversion scheme and preparation of debentures had entailed a lot of work, and they had done it well. The council had a staff, both indoor and outside, of which any community might well be proud.

Reoord of Service.

In responding on behalf; of the coun« oil, the Deputy-Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro, reiterated tiie Mayor’s tribute to the staff, and thanked Mr Fow for his gift of a diary to-each member of the council. On behalf of the council Mr Caro asked him to accept a leather coat as a token of their esteem. “ You have had a wonderful record of .service on the council," said Mr Caro, in making the presentation. Ha mentioned that Mr Fow had joined the oouncil 27 years ago, and was elected Mayor in 1916, remaining in office until 1931, with the exception, of the year of the amalgamation of Hamilton and Frankton into one borough, when he graciously made way for the late Mr J. W, Ellis. On another occasion lie stood downdn favour of Mr P. H, Watts. His untiring efforts in the interests of the town had .seen Hamilton grow from a village to the most prosperous and progressive town in the Dominion, while through his vision and foresight wonderful Improvements had been carried out which would stand as a monument to him. By his initiative he had made it possible for the school children to hear the Grenadier Guards Band, while in his mayoral capacity he had shown administrative ability. Mr'Fow briefly replied, following which the town clerk, Mr W. L. Waddel, returned the thanks of the staff for the council’s good wishes.