KING’S HONOURS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 69, 3 January 1936, Page 7

KING’S HONOURS

NEW ZEALAND RECIPIENTS. OUTLINE OF THEIR CAREERS. The following are brief biographical details of the New Zealand recipients of New Year Honours, as published yesterdayPROFESSOR ANN STRONG. Professor Ann Strong, 0.8. E!. as dean of the Home Science Department of Otago University, has rendered distinguished service to the cause of education in the higher branches of domestic science. Under her supervision Studholme House has attained a standing which is recognised outside of New Zealand. Mrs Strong was born in the United States, and was educated at Bueknell University and at Columbia University, where she Ob'tamed the degree of Bachelor of Science. She was afterwards appointed Professor of Home Economics and Dean of Women at the University of Tennessee. She afterwards filled the important positions of Director of Household Arts at the University of Cincinnati, and was later at Baroda, India. Mrs Strong is at present Director of the Home Science extension bureau, and president of the House Economics Association. She has always taken keen interest in women’s organisations, and as member of the provincial executives has rendered valuable assistance to the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union and the Women’s Institute. Mrs Strong has written valuable text books. MR C. J. McKENZIE. Mr C. J. McKenzie, 0.8.E 1 ., was born in Dunedin 56 years ago, and was educated at the Otago Boys’ High School. He joined the Public Works Department as an engineering cadet in March, 1897. From that date until the beginning of 1898 he was at the head office of the department, and. was then transferred to the Midland Railway constructipn works between Jacksons and Otira. He remained on this job until July, 1900, when he went to the north end of the North Island main trunk railway. He became an assistant engineer in 1901, and in 1908 was placed in charge until the line was handed over to the Railway Department in February, 1909. He was next in charge of the Taranaki and main trunk districts. In 1910 he was promoted to resident engineer, and in 1913 was transferred to Wellington as relieving officer to assist the engin-eer-in-chief. He held this position until he became, in 1915, district engineer for Otago and Southland. He was promoted to staff engineer in Wellington in 1919. In August, 1920, he became inspecting engineer, and in the same month assistant en-gineer-in-chief. In 1932, on the retirement of Mr F. W. Furkett, he was appointed to his present position. Mr McKenzie is an associate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and a member and past president of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers. MR C. A. JEFFERY. Mr C. 'A. Jeffery, C.M.G., chief private secretary to the Prime Minister, and clerk of the Executive Council, joined the Post and Telegraph Department in 1904, and served in the cable station at Whakapuaka, and also at head office in Wellington. In 1914 he was selected to assist at Government House in the extra secretarial work caused by the war. In 1915 he was appointed private secretary to the late Sir Arthur Myers, then Minister for Munitions. In 1916 he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on. active service until the end of the Avar. On his return he resumed his former position, and in 1919 was appointed private secretary to the Hon. J. B. Hine, then Minister for Internal Affairs. Later he Avas attached to the secretarial, staff of Mr W- F. Massey, after whose death ’he Avas appointed to a secretarial position on the staff of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. He became chief private .secretary on the appointment of the late Mr F. D. Thomson, as permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department, He has now been chief private secretary to four Prime Ministers. MRS MAUDE PARSES. Mrs Maude Elizabeth Parkes, 0.8. E., is the Avidow of Dr. W. H. Parkes, a leading Auckland medical man, Avho died in 1933. Mrs Parkes is a former president of the Auckland branch of the Plunket Society. From the foundation of the branch in 1908 she held various offices, and she Avas a member of the central council for many years. She resigned from the presidency of the branch in 1933. Mrs Parkes played a prominent part in pioviding for Auckland the fine Karitane hospital at Mount Albert, and the headquarters building of the branch, both of Avhich are entirely free of debt. Mrs Parkes has also taken a keen interest in other forms of social Avelfare work, and for a time Avas actWely associated Avith the work of the Auckland Little Theatre Society. MR W. FELS. Mr Willi Pels, C.M.G., who is managing director of Hallenstein Bros., Ltd., and the D.1.C., has rendered valuable service to education in Ncav Zealand through his deep interest in Maori ethnography. He Avas born in 1858 at Halle, in Brunswick, Germany. Mr Fels came to Dunedin 48 years ago, and from that time commenced his Maori collection. Mr Fels has ahvays had the welfare of the University of Otago at heart, and he presented his collection to the university museum. He has also given valuable material to other educational institutioins throughout the Dominion. In 1930 Mr Fels organised a committee to raise funds for the erection

of a new Aving at the Otago Museum, and through his enthusiasm, personal generosity and the securing of a Government grant, the building of the Aving Avas made possible, and Avas opened in alter Mr Fels. He is keenly interested in the arts, and in the classical side of the university, and besides being a member of the Museum Council is vice-president of the Otago Classical Association. Mr Fels is at present on a visit to Great Britain.