Napier

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 17, 29 April 1909, Page 659

Napier

Mr. Michael Flannery, who, q wing to the age limit, has retired from the position of gaoler .at Napier, was presented with an illuminated address" "by, the residents of the town. The Mayor (Mr. J. Vigors-Brown, 3MT.P.) presided, and a number of prominent townspeople were present. The Mayor said that Mr. Flannery had been in charge of the Napier Prison for nine years, and that the citizens' of the town could aot allow him to retire from the public service- without giving him, some memento of~the manner in which he had carried out" his duties. Mr. Flannery '-~liad been 46 years' "in the Government service-, which was probably as long a record as that of any other public servant. He (the Mayor) knew that nothing Jbut a good account had ever been- heard of- Mr. Flannery, and he was quite sure that he had always executed his duties in a "careful and humane manner. It was to be regretted that he was leaving the service." Mk Flannery was 72 years of "age, but there were many men of 50 or 60 who were oiot as active as he was.- The Mayor concluded with a reference to Mr. Flannery's many excellent qualities. Mr. Flannery in the course of. -a brief reply heartily thanked his friends from the bottom of/his heart. Mr. Flannery was the recipient -of^-a silver tea, set and an oak and silver tray; suitably inscribed, from his former staff at the gaol. Appropriate speeches were made by Mr. J. S.~ Large "(yisiting justice), Dr. T. C. Moore^ (gaol surgeon), and Chief Warder Fuller. Mr. Flanner^ made suitable acknowledgment.- ■ >^~- A number of the friends of Mr. Flannery entertain.edhim at a farewell social held in the Foresters' Hall. During the evening a presentation .was made, by Mr. W. J. . McGrath, on behalf of a number of residents, of a gold watch to Miss Flannery and an eiderdown quilt to Mrs. Flann«ry. Mr. Flannery (says- the Napier "Daily Telegraph), -who has the. reputation of being one" of the' most humane" gaolers •<; . in the Dominion, has had a unique career in the guardianship of the criminal class. He" is a native of Sligo 1 , Ireland, and landed in" New Zealaand-aft ,Poft Chalmers, in 1862. He obtained employment foi >T *S" few months In. n store in Dunedin, hut in the first year of his arrival joined the prison service. He was appointed a warder at the Dunedin . prison under the head gaoler, Mr. Stoddart. • About two years and eight months later he was promoted to the position of sergeant-warder; a position equivalent to that of a present chief warder. He remained in Dunedin until 1884, when he was transferred to Auckland, with the rank of chief warder. In 1897 Mr. Flannery was promoted to -the. position of gaoler in charge of the Hokitika prison, and he remained there until 1900/ when 'he came to Napier in the same capacity". For the past nine years 'Mr. Flannery has carried out his difficult 1 duties with a degree of tact- and, thoroughness that has .won" the admiration of all who have had the opportunity of judging of ;fche sterling quality of his work.