PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 58, 3 December 1923, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Minister of Customs (Hon. W. D. Stewart) will leave on December 10 for the South Island. He will attend the annual break-up of Waitaki High School on December 12. He will leave Christchurch on December 14 for Hokitika, where he will open the exhibition on December 15, in his capacity of Minister of Industries and Commerce. He will attend several school functions in Otago, returning to Wellington early in the new year.

The Minister of Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes) returned from his North Island tour on Saturday. The Minister of Mines and Labour (Hon. G. J. Anderson.) leaves to-night for the South Island. H© will attend the Gore show on Wednesday, and later visit various parts of Southland and Otago Central. The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) returned from Wanganui on Saturday night. Mr. Justice Reed left for Auckland on Saturday. The hodv of the late Captain Gilbert Mair was interred in the grounds of St. Faith’s Church. Ohinemutu, yesterday afternoon (states a Press Association message from Rotorua). A large concourse of Maoris and Europeans, including the Hon. Mr. Coates, Messrs. Stocklv. MacMillan, and Williams. M.P.’s. and several European and Native veterans of the Maori War was present. The Rev. F. H. Spencer conducted the service, and Mr. Coates pave a short address, in which he paid a tribute to the late. Captain Mair’s services. and eulogised! the Arawa’s loyalty and generosity, especially in giving valuable reserves to the nublio.

Dr. H. Adams, of Silverstream. returned by the Ruahine yesterday from England. Mr. E. J. Baldwin (Palmerston North), who has been at Cambridge University, returned by the Ruahine yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. W. Elliott (Auckland) were returning passengers by the Ruahine yesterday. Dr. Frew (Johannesburg) arrived by the Ruahine yesterday, on a tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Mr. C. E. Richardson returned yesterday from a visit to the United Kingdom. Mr. A. G. Scott, Writer to the Signet, Edinburgh, arrived by the Ruahine yesterday.

A large and representative gathering of business men assembled at the Nelson City Council Chambers on Saturday to hid farewell to Mr. Cecil King on his retirement from the National Rank after 32 years as manager of the Nelson branch. Verv strong.appreciation of his services as banker, citizen, and gentleman was expressed. It was stated that Mr. King was accessible to all and he had been of great service to business men. and his unselfish interest in all public movements was specially mentioned. Mr. King (says a Press Association message) was the recipient of a purse of sovereigns.

Mr. Thomas. Bailie, a prominent Westport merchant, died on Saturday, aged 90 (says a Press Association telegram). Mr. Bailie was born in the North of Ireland, and came out to Victoria in 1852. Ho was on the Victorian goldfields until he was attracted to Otago bw Gabriel’s Gully in 1861, and he was all through the Lake diggings. Ho afterwards commenced business in Invercargill, whence he removed in 1865 to Hokitika. Two years later he went to. Westport. For many years ho was a member of the Nelson Education Board, and for about ten years ho was a member of the Westport Borough Council. He was one ot tho first members of the Westport Harbour Board, on which he served two years, and he was also for many vears on the Hospital Board. Mr. Bailie established himself as a general merchant in Westport in 1867. Mr. Richard D. Benge, an old resident of Wellington, died suddenly on Saturday. The late Mr. Benge, who was 74 years of age, had been for many years in business as a butcher.