BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25208, 12 June 1947, Page 8

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Sir Thomas Anderson Hunter, K.8.E., of Heretaunga, retired in 1930 from the position of Director of Dental Hygiene of the Health Department. Born in Dunedin in 1863, he received his early : education in that city, and later studied dentistry in Great Britain and the United States. For many years heJ practised in Dunedin, and from 1918 to 1920 he served as Director of Dental Services of the N.Z.E.F. He was awarded the C.B.E. in 1920, and took up his position with the Health Department. He is an honorary life member of the British Dental Association, and represented New Zealand at the fiftieth anniversary of the association. Sir Harold Johnston, Kt., retired from the Supreme Court Bench last March after 13 years in office. A son of Sir Charles Johnston, a life member and at the time of his death Speaker of the Legislative Council, he was born in Wellington in 1875. His early education was received at French Farm, Banks Peninsula, where his tutor was Mr T. S. Barker, a well-known Oxford Blue. He attended the Wanganui Collegiate School, and later went to England. where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1897. In that year he was called to the English Bar, and later in the same year was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. In 1928 he was elected president of the Wellington Law Society, and in 1929 he was appointed King’s Counsel. He unsuccessfully contested the Hutt seat as a Reform candidate in 1929. Sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court on February 1. 1934, he continued to serve on the Bench until he reached the retirI ing age. Mr A. F. Nicol!, 0.8. E., is a wellknown artist, and has painted many portraits of prominent New Zealanders. He was director of the Canterbury College School of Art from 1920 until 1928. w hen he resigi ed to devote his whole time to painting. He was born at Lincoln in 1886. and educated at the Springston School, Christchurch Boys’ High School, the Canterbury College School of Art, Westminster Art School. London and the Edinb rgh School of Art. During 1911 to 1914 he exhibited his works in New Zea.and and Great Britain. He served with the New Zealand Field Artillery during the First World War. and was wounded In 1928 he exhibited at the Societv of Artists. Sydney,., and two year* later at the Royal Academy He has served on the council of the Canterbury Art Society, .he board of management of the National Art Gallery and the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. His works have been purchased for public galleries in Christchurch, Auckland, Wanganui, Dunedin and the National Art Gallery

Mr Colin Miln, 0.8. E., was president of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association for two years, and a member of the executive of the associ?tion for 12 years. This year he did not seek re-election. The association’s gold star badge and certificate of merit were awarded to him earlier this year. Mr C. 1. Jennings, M.8.E., who is 87 years old, is the oldest native-born resident of Rangiora, and has playeo a large part in the development of the borough. He was a member of the Rangiora Borough Council from 1885 to 1929, and was Mayor from 1896 until 1897. and again from 1914 until 1921. He was a member of tae local school committee for more .than 30 years, and served on the Rangiora H’gh School Board for an even longer period, holding the office of chairman for many years. During the 1914-18 War, Mr Jennings was secretarytreasurer for 23 war funds, and chairman of the local patriotic and repatriation committees. For more than 5U years he has been a Justice of the Peace. A journalist by profession, Mr Jennings represented ’ the “Lyttelton Times.” and later New Zealand Newspapers, Limited, in North Canterbury for more than 50 years, and is an authority on the history of the district. For 61 years he was secretary of the Ashley district. M.U., 1.0.0. F. He is senior elder and session clerk of John Knox Church. Mr T. B. Smith, M.8.E., has served in lighthouses in various parts of New Zealand for 42 years, and for the last 20 years has been in charge oi the Godley Head lighthouse. Born in Dorsetshire in 1882, Mr Smith went to sea on a sailing ship when he was 15 years old. After two and a half years’ service he left the ship at an Ausl 'alian port, and worked in Queensland. He joined the armed forces during the F.oer War, but because of his age he was not sent overseas. He became a member of the Strait Settlement Police, and was in a party sent to New Guinea after the murder of a British missionary, Dr. Chalmers, and his followers. During his service there he was wounded by an arrow. After leaving the police force, Mr Smith came to New Zealand, and joined the Marine Department. His apprenticeship as a lighthouse keeper was served at Moko Hinau. northr-west of Great Barrier Island. He rater served at Nuggets. Puysegur Point, Stephen’s Island, Cane Egmont, Cape Maria van Diem°n. Pencarrow, Cape Palliser, an«‘ East Cape. ,

Mr E. J. Daniel, M.8.E., retired recently from the position of secretary of the Ashburton Returned Services’ Association, after about 10 years He did much valuable work in assisting applicants for war pensions. His retirement was caused by ill-health which resulted f r om injuries suffered in the 1914-18 War. Mr H. Digby-Smith, 1.5.0., was the first Social Security Commissioner, and retired from the Public Service recently. He had long service with the Pensions Department, of which he became permanent head before the establishment of the Social Security Department. Mr W. Macdonald, 1.5.0., joined the Government Life Insurance Department in 1902, and in 1943 was appointed commissioner of the department. He retired from the Public Service last year. Flight Lieutenant Bridget, who is a flight commander in the navigation flight at Wigram, served on operations during the war in the Pacific, and over Europe. Flight Lieutenant Obery is a pilot ir the navigation flight, and served on operations in the Pacific