PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 78, 26 December 1925, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) arrived in Auckland by the first express this morning, cn route to his home at Paparoa for a Christmas vacation (telegraphs our special correspondent). His stay in the city was limited to an hour, for after breakfasting at the Northern Club, and exchanging the season’s greetings with a few personal friends, he went north by the Whaugarei express. It is Mr. Coates’s intention to spend_ about ten days as quietly as possible in the province before returning to his Ministerial duties in Wellington.

Mr. A. Shelton, superintendent of mails at the Wellington Chief . Post Office, has been appointed relieving officer for the General Post Office. Mr. Shelton, who commenced at the Christchurch office, was later transferred to Auckland and was next appointed supervisor the postal branch at Napier. For three years be was an inspector in the General Post Office, subsequently being appointed superintendent of mails.

Captain Caldbeck, F.R.G.S., and Mrs. Sackville Caldbeck have arrived in Wellington after a four months tour of the North Island. They are remaining here till the New Year, and will then proceed to the South Island. The death occurred in Huntiy, Auckland, on Thursday, of Major James O’Sullivan, for many years Director of Stores to the Defence Department, Wellington, and who for a quarter of a century resided in the Defence Department’s cottage in Buckle Street. Major O’Sullivan, who was a native of Ireland, came to New Zealand in the early days, and became attached to the old armed constabulary, which the Government set' up in the early days as the nucleus of a permanent force. He was immediately concerned in the equipment of the various contingents at the time of the war in South Africa, and was also Director of Stores during the earlier years of the Great War. Whilst in Wellington he was a member of the Hibernian Society, and for some years was a member of the Wellington Bowling Chib. On h : s retirement from the Government service some seven or eight years ago Major O’Sullivan took up land in the Waikato, near Huntly, and has resided there ever since. A pleasant gathering look place at the Community Club on Tuesday evening, when Mr. I’. G. Thomson, Director and Gymnastic Instructor, was presented, on behalf of the boys of the club, with a gold-mounted leather tobacco pouch, and three pieces of Queen Anne glassware for Mrs. Thomson. Mr. H. McMaster, who made the presentation, said the senior cadets and territorials, who regularly attended Hie club, all wished to express their appreciation of what Mr. Thomson had done for them during the past vear, and to extend to himself and Mrs. Thomson the compliments of the season. Cheers were given for the recipient, who suitably replied. Members of the Wellington Merchants’ Association met on Tuesday afternoon to bid farewell to Air. John Myers, chairman of the association, who left by the Manganui for Sydney, en route to the Old Country. In presenting Air. Afyers with a gold fountain pen, Air. Mowbray referred to the cordial relations which had always existed in the association, and extended to him seasonal greetings and best wishes for a pleasant trip. Air. Alyers suitably replied.

A recent arrival from Rome is the Rev. Father Chapman, a New Zealander, who has obtained his ecclesiastical degree, and is also Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy. Father Chapman is at present on the relieving staff, being temporarily attached to the St. Mary of the Angels’ Church, and lie is to take charge of a parish in the new year. Air. Harold W. Hesse, 8.A., B.Sc.. Instructor in Agriculture, Auckland Education Board, is nt present in Wellington.