PERSONAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 135, 20 March 1931, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr J. N. Harle, formerly of Winslow, has been selected by the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee to contest the North Caie terbury Hospital Board election on May 6.

Mr S. M. Harrison (Chief Postmaster at Dunedin) has been promoted to a similar position at Auckland. Mr Harrison will he succeeded at Dunedin by Mr J. P. P. Houston (supervisor of the staff division at the General Post Office, Wellington).

With 100 candles stuck on it, the birthday cake of Mr Thomas Inger (one of Albertlnnd’s original settlers) did look rather crowded, even though they were only miniature opes (says an Auckland telegram). There was a largo gathering of relation's and friends yesterday at Port Albert to wish the old gentleman hearty congratulations on attaining his century. In spite of his great age he enjoys good health.

Mr W. ,T. P. Hodgkins, for eight years manager of the Bank of New South 'Wales in Auckland, has been granted leave until the end of the year, when lie will retire on superannuation after forty-eight years’ service. Mr Hodgkins has been' stationed in various parts of New Zealand, and for live years served in Australia. His previous* managerial positions were Ashburton, Masterton, Tam worth (New South Wales) and Invercargill. Mr S. -J. Gaiulon, who is at present doing special duties in the London office, and acting as secretary there, has been appointed to succeed Mr Hodgkins. He will arrive in July. Mr Hodgkins was manager of the Bank of New South Wales in Ashburton for several years prior to 1900, iu which year lie was transferred to Mastertori.

■ .Mr J. E. Purchase, M.A., principal of the Teachers’ Training College, Christchurch, handed in his resignation to the Canterbury Education Board yesterday. He will shortly retire on superannuation after 40 years’ service with the Department. Mr Purchase began his career in 1891 as a. pupil-teacher at the Ashburton Borough School, remaining there for four years* He spent one year at the Training College, and subsequently, in turn, had sole charge of the Riverside and Green street schools for some years. Mr Purchase took up an appointment as assistant at the Ashburton School in 1901, and in 1910 went to the Richmond School in a similar capacity. He accepted in 1915 a position as lecturer at the Training College, and four years later was made principal. Since his appointment to this position he has been a lecturer in education at Canterbury College. Mr Purchase has always taken an , active interest in teachers’ organisations. He has been president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, president of the North Canterbury branch of the Institute, and is at present one of the teachers’ representatives on the Superannuation Board. The resignation takes effect in August.