After $4 years in the Sevice of the Shanghai Municipal Council, Mr. Charles Harpur, lately Commissioner of Public Works, sailed on Sunday in the s, Empress of Russia for Canada, from whence he will go to England. where he will reside in Suffolk with his wife and daughters, A large number of friends were at the Customs jetty to see him off and a band was resent to play pieces in honour of the occasion, Two big banners were strung across the entrances to the jetty, bidding him farewell Mr. Harpur was appointed to the Municipal Service in London in July, 1902, having been selected for a post the then Municipal Engineer's once by the late Mr. Gabriel James Morrison, M, Inst, CE. In 1908 Mr, Harpur was' made Chief Engineering Assistant and in 1909 consequent upon the retirement of Mr. Charles Mayne and the promotion of Mr. C. H. Godfrey to the chief post, Mr. Harpur followed in Mr. Godtrey's footsteps as Deputy. Although this change made Mr, Harpur's work more fof an administrative nature, Te still took a close interest in the engineer ing work of the Department as well asthe Land Ofice work.
Mr, C. H, Godfrey left the Council by reason of failing health in 1922 and Mr, Harpur was unanimously appointed Commissioner of Public additional ang unusual work was thrown upon his Department in 1927, both before and following the cupation of Shanghai. by foreign troops in 1927, and in the new year of 1929 (delayed owing to King George's serious linoss) Mr. Harpur was made an OMcer' of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE.).
his younger days Mr, Harpur was an enthusiastic member of the Shanghai Light Horse for about six years, when under the leadership of Capt. H. E. Keylock, and later he served with the Engineer Company for about the same length of time. He has been active in Shanghai club fe and is a member of the Shanghai Club, Country Club, 'Shanghai Race Club, Bowling Club and the Hungjao Golf' Club (since its establishment).
The approximate amount of money expended by the Council upon public works during the pericw Mr. Harpur has been in charge of the Department may be of interest, and these figures (exclusive of 1936) are given below, Extraordinary. Expenditure Buildings Bridges 'Municipal 'Purposes... Land' for" Road Extensions and Widenings 2 Making up Road Extensions and Wigenings reign Stall Tin On Saturday, last, Mr. Haxpur was entertained at lunch at the Metropole Hotel by his foreign staff and. was presented with a cheque to purchase 2 clock in. England 0. serve as 8 {oken of their respect and admiration 'Mr.'A. F, Gimson, who is to succeed him "as 'Commissioner, and several others spoke, eulogizing his qualities fis a Head and as a man, referred to the' tremendous loss he would be to the Department and to. Shanghai, and wished him and his family many years of happy retirement in the home country." Mr. Harpur has also been presented with a lacquered wood complimentary tablet and a piece of ivory by the Chinese stair" of the Department.
Speaks at Luncheon Me, charles Marpur Works, and he has thus held the post of Commissioner of Public Works for fourteen years and has been in the Council's "service for practically 34 years, During his incumbency of the chief post a great deal of engineering, architectural and other work has been carried out under his direction, including four reinforced concrete brides over the Soochow Creek and many other smaller bridges. 'Almost complete remodelling of the Chinese Gaol, including many cell blocks, convict hospital, administrative block, and warders' block, quarters for mar-Hed warders, anda complete new gaol for for 'A large Abat-{oir and wholesale meat market and seven new district markets have been Dullt, while others have been larged and reconstructed. Three new police: stations have been builtin Additfon to the new Central Station fand Headquarters block, three modetm barracks for married Chinese and Sikhs and for Japanese police and a police hospital and also a small T. B. hospital. Two modern sewage treat: ment works, various pump chambers and considerably over 100 miles of sewers and drains, Two refuse me cinerators have been constructed. Six modern school buildings and' the Adaptation. of other buildings for School purposes. Two fire. stations and several substations, A wharf at Yangtszepoo and many other works of varying Importance.
great deal of road construction work' has also been carried out dur-Ing Mr, Harpur's headship of the 'D, and about 2,000 cases of acquisition of land for road purposes have been settled. Considerable odditions have been made to Hongkew Park, including the Swimming Pool. 'A new patk and playing field have been made in Kinochow Road and new park to be called Jordan Park Ig in process of raising and laying-out in the Eastern District near Point Road, In 1921-22 Mr. Harpur was Presi dent of the Engineering Society of China.
Frame Commission Mr. Harpur took an important part {in the Traffle Commission proceedings of 1025-26 and received the encomfums of the Municipal Economy Com-silted of 1028-29," A great deal of Mr, Harpur, in replying to the toast of his health proposed by Me. Gioison Saturday's luncheon, gave the fol-owing parting advice to young muni= cipal engines "You will often have disagreeable duties to perform. 'There is no rea= fon why they should. not be done pleasantly "as. possible, eis a good Tule, and save one, to help in every. way' the men who' is {tying to. go straight; it lends power to your arm. in' dealing with the public offeial has no more valuable. asset than a. reputation for fiving a square deal under all clrwhether he is dealing men, contractors, architects ratepayers or councillors eliminate personal fealing, and shin ike. the plague the policy of getting a bit of your own back: It is always belter to keep friend than make an enemy.
"Cultivate a sense of humour; you wilt need itt "it you are lucky you may oeeasionally have pleasant things said about you, Don't be unduly elated you won't have to. walt long before you hear something tncomplimentary. On the other hand, don't be depressed when you are' the subject of favourable criticism. "Li. you don't deserve it, why worry? If you do, It Should: be a valuable experience.
"Remember that unkind, wnirwe, unpleasant, unfair things are often Sala in the heat of controversy, and Auickly forgotten both by those who fave said them and those who have heard' them. Why, therefore, should you remember them?
"Live on good terms with other omiciais, "cultivate 'a bad. memory when they do. anything to" offend YON" council Farewell Dinner (On the occasion of his forthcoming departure Mr. Harpur, was ow Thurs-Gay night the guest of honour at a dinner given in the Cathay Hotel by the members of the Council.
it, H. E. Arnhold, Chairman of the Council, presided over what proved fo be a most pleasant gathering and in addition to the members of Counch, Messrs, A.D, Bell, ex-Chairman of Council, aa W. P Lambe, ex-Yiee-Chairman—both of whom' have for many years been closely asso: elated as Councillors with Mz, Harpur's work—had also been invited 10 Bitend, while the permanent staff of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.