Our Illustrations.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 6, 7 February 1912, Page 16

Our Illustrations.

POINT CHEVALIER BEACH. POPULAR PLEASURE RESORT. /~T ACH year the fine stretch of sandy fl beach at Point Chevalier becomes niore and more popular with holiday makers, and on Anniversary Day fully 2000 people wers assembled there. One great advantage from a family point of view is that this pleasure resort can be reached without crossing the water, and this fact no doubt impels many who own their own vehicles to drive out to the beach on Sundays and holidays. It is quite a fine sight- to see the numerous camping parties On and around the beach, and it is a matter of some interest to find that the number of visitors has increased considerably since the local Board provided water from the city supply down for the benefit of the whole district, and also the holiday frequenters. So popular is the beach that it is no unusual sight bn Sundays to see quite a number of family, parties camped there, and this season a regular daily "bus service has been started. On the Anniversary Day, however, the demand for vehicles was greater than the supply, with the result that-intending , visitors were riding out in any trap that ca-me along, including the carts of Chines? vegetable growers. During the last couple of years the Point Chevalier district has made wonderful progress, many residents in Auckland having suddenly awakened to the fact that tend within easy reach of a fine beach is worth securing, more especially as the distance there and back is bound in the future to be materially reduced when a road is formed across the water front to connect with Herne Bay. This important scheme is practicable by meansof an embankment, and two small bridges iover creeks. Further up the main road and a bridge across EdgCumbe’s Creek would enable residents to have access to the tram terminus at Richmond, Which would result in quick connection with Queen-street. Of course as the district grows there can be but little doubt that the tramway service will be extended from Arch Hill right down 'to the beach. In fact, Mr. Tegitmeier, who recently received a deputation from the Point Chevalier Board, stated, that in company with the general manager of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, he had "been all over the dist rict , and was much- delighted with the possibilities of the suburb expanding, and added that in the event of the progress of the last few years being maintained, the possibility of extending the tram Service to the beach would be a matter of certainty. The rapid progress referred to many he gauged by the fact that during the .lasft 18 months, five estates have been cut up for building purposes, and these have been properly roaded and a water supply laid down. Over 100 sections have been sold quite recently,

and some of the purchasers have already erected summer cottages, while others have "had permanent residence# built) Eight new- roads have been made Hitting the last year, ami the Board has -now in contemplation a general scheme for improving the main road down to the beach.

HONOURING A PIONEER SETTEER. PRESENTATION TO MB. W. H. JACKMAN. Mr. W. H. Jackman, whom the settlers of Otamatea, honoured by \m enthusiastic gathering and presentation in the Garrison Hall at Papawa, possesses a record of colonisation and useful service on public bodies, which has rendered him deservedly popular and respected throughout the Kaipara. His record as a County Councillor dates back from the time the Local Bodies’ Act came into operation, and as far back as 1887 he journeyed from Pahi to Warkworth in his capacity of member for the scattered ridings, which then formed the northern outskirts of the Rodney County. Mr. Jackman, who came to the colony in 1865, has taken an active interest in Anglican Church matters, having been the first to initiate regular services as a lay reader 4-5 years ago. His services as Councillor and chairman of the Otamatea County Council have been rendered since its origin some 25 years ago. he having been returned term offer term by the ratepayers. _ During his long residence.in the neighbourhood his life lias been marked by many acts of kindness, more especially noticeable among which were his desire to help on the young men to positions of honour and usefulness, and his cordial welcome, advice, and helping hand extended to new arrivals..

Air. Gordon Coates, M.P., presided after justice had been done to the good things provided under the excellent catering of Mrs. G. S. Niehl, the toast of “The King” was proposed by Mr. J. Milne, and duly honoured.

In proposing the toast, “The, Guest of the Evening,’' Mr. Coates said the district towed a deep debt <of. gratitude to Mr. Jackman, and they had all met to testify to their appreciation,' friendship, and gratitude, to a man. who) bad 'teen a living example of what brotherhood, fellowship, and citizenship should be. Mr Jackman had always encouraged the young men, and he (the speaker) owed his present public position largely to him. Mr. Jackman was a man Who never Considered his own time or money if ho could extend a helping hand to anyone) or advance the district. He had thrown intense enthusiasm into every public movement, which he had experienced. Mr. Coates honoured the guest of the evening as a citizen, a friend, and a man, and wished him still many years of health and active public service. Mr. T. W. Wilson, one of Paparoa'st oldest settlers, supported the toast with pleasure. He had known Mr. Jackman since' he came to the colony, and with an increasing respect and a growing faith in his wisdom as a citizen and a settler. A concrete instance of this was his forceful leadership of the agitation for the extension of the North Auckland railway, and of the western route. He had enabled the local Railway League to .widen its sphere of influence, and at the time when the crucial question of the road east and west had been in the balance; he had done yeoman servi.de at the cost of incessant work and watchfulness, and expense. The presentation to ite made was not in any sense a pension-, ing off, but implied the hope of continued, health and usefulness for Hie guest of the evening. Mr. Coates then made the presentation of a purse of sovereigns, a.s a small recognition of the services Mr. Jackman had rendered during his long residence. Mrs. Jackman was the recipient of a handsome silver plate.

Mr. Jackman said that until he had heard his good qualities recounted that night he had been quite unaware that he possessed them all. It had teen no hardship for him to do anything for the people, but one of the greatest pleasures of his life. As an old pioneer, it had l«oen his ambition to make thia new land as much like England M possible.

without England’s faults. The young men of the pre«ent-werc trying to develop the country, but they had not exactly the same incentive that appealed to the pioneers. In the matter of the railway agitation, he knew he had pffended personal friends in the stand he had taken, but he Had sought the good of the whole district. He had known aIF through that the western advocates would win, because ‘they bad a good case. In the past the oil pioneers had endeavoured to secure public improvements,. and payed the way for the present generation. On -behalf of Mrs. Jackman he also thanked the friends for their graceful recognition of his wife. The. "Army and Navy,” proposed by Mr. S. Rathbone, and responded to by Nir. Ariell; “Tire. Parliament of NewZealand,” Mr. T. W. Wilson and Mr. J. G. Coates; “The Mayor of Dargaville,” iMr. R. C. Smith and Mr. F. J. Darg.iville; “Local Bodies,” Mr. 1.-. Wallis and Mr. W. H. Jackman; “The Press,” Mr. H. Rathbone and Mr. H. Hook; “The Ladies,” Mr. J. H. Cartwright and Mr. Hayes.

To an excellent musical programme Miss R. Aickin, Mr. ■!>. Dufaur. Air. G. Ta King, Mr. ft. J. Baff, Mr. E. Evans, and Mr. T. Wilson contributed items, which were much appreciated. 11. 11. A VETERAN CIVIE SERVANT Mr Frank Waldegrave. who occupies the dual position of t’nder-Secretary for Justice and Commissioner of Police, has decided to retire from the public service at the end of March, and will leave on a trip to the Old Country in April. Starting as a cadet in the Colonial Secretary’s office as far back as 1874, the subject of our . sketch steadily rose to higher posi-tions-in the civil service, attaining to the Under-,Secretaryship of Justice in 1896. Four years later Mr Waldegrave was entrusted with the onerous duties of Commissioner of Police, and he is in addition a member of the Police Service Superannuation Board and the Public Service Guarantee Board. The Vogel Ministry was in power when the retiring officer started on his career, and since then he has survived through sixteen Miius tales.