PERSONAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 64, 24 December 1936, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr William Watson, of Wellington, yesterday celebrated his ninetieth birthday. He is a well-known figure in banking in the Dominion, and has been a director of the Bank of New Zealand, representing the ordinary shareholders’ interests, since 1898.

Mr Hcctcr Macdonald, who has-been in Australia for the last three years, arrived in Ashburton this morning on a visit to his parents. Mr Macdonald, who is accompanied by an Australian friend, Mr Lewis Hair, of Brisbane, expects to be in Ashburton for a couple of months.

Mr R. Johnston, who has retired from the Ashburton Borough Council’s outside staff after 25 years’ service, was met this morning by his fellowemployees, on whose behalf Mr T. Gibson (Borough Foreman) presented him with a silver-mounted walkingstick as a, small token of the esteem he is held by them. Mr Gibson paid a. tribute to Mr Johnston as a faithful and conscientious workman.

Adjutant N. E. Bicknell, in charge of the Salvation in Ashburton, will leave on transfer from this town about the middle of January. He has not yet been informed of his new station, and the name of his successor has not been announced. Adjutant Bicknell, who was recently promoted from the rank of Captain, has been in Ashburton for about three years,, and was previously at Devonport, Auckland.

The following Ashburton candidates passed the Training College examinations held last month: Joyce Sarah Campbell, lan Alister Colquhoun, Eileen Joan Driscoll, Ronald James, Bruce Grant, Roderick William MacMillan, and Barbara Sim. Partial passes were obtained by George Eric Gucksell, Margaret Williamson Tlay, and Megan Hope Loy.