PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 188, 11 May 1928, Page 8

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) left Wellington last night for the north, on a tour involving his absence from Wellington for a week. To-day he will open the Kopu bridge over the Hauraki River, and to-mdr-row he will be in Auckland. He will go on Monday to Helensville, and on Tuesday he will open the Kirikopuni section of the Waiotira-Kirikopuni railway. Mr. Coates will proceed thence to Dargaville, and on Wednesday will deliver a public address at Paparoa. He will return to Auckland on Thursday, and arrive back in Wellington on Friday morning. Sir John Luke, M.P., returned to Wellington from the South yesterday morning. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) extended a hearty welcome to Mr. J. Norrie, the new City Librarian, at last night’s meeting of the City Council.

Mr. G. Parker, producer for' J. C. Williamson, Ltd., is a visitor to Well ington.

At the conference of - technical school teachers yesterday the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr. L.:J.. Wild (Feilding) ; vice-president, Miss M. Wilson; bon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. L. James; executive, Miss JI. B. Robertson, Messrs. A. G. Hancox, H. A. Jones, W. G. Aldridge and W. Fraser. Mr. C. C. Odlin left by the main trunk express yesterday afternoon for the Waikato and Auckland.

Mr. J. E. Bish, second engineer officer of the Marama, has been appointed to the position of assistant mechanical engineer to the Fiji Government. Mr. Bish will leave by the Aorangi on June 5 to take up his new duties.

Appreciative reference to the services of the assistant secretary, Mr. M. Hathaway, was made at the annual conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute yesterday. A motion was carried expressing regret that, owing to continued ill-health, Mr. Hathaway was obliged to relinquish his duties as assistant secretary. The meeting placed on record its appreciation of his loyal and faithful services, and instructed the secretary to forward to Mr. Hathaway a letter to this effect.

The funeral of the late Mr. W. F. Johnson took place yesterday morning. The Very Rev. Father Connolly, V.F., celebrated a Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle Stret. and also, assisted by the Rev. Father Devov, S.M., read the service at the church, and the Rev. Father O’Sullivan officiated at the graveside. There was a large and representative gathering, among those present being Mr. P. Fraser, M.P.. Mr. W. B. McIlveney (Commissioner of Police), and representatives from the Legislative Council and the Parliamentary Library. The late Mr. Johnson retired on March 31 last from the staff of the Parliamentary Library after many years’ service. In his earlier days Mr. Johnson was an enthusiastic volunteer, being a member of the Wellington City Rifles. He also took a prominent part in the activities of the Roman Catholic Church. For some years he filled the position of honorary secretary of the Wellington Diocesan Council of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, and was an active worker in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Up till last December he was' secretary for the Wellington Catholic Women’s Hostel Board, and it was due to him that this institution became one of the most flourishing activities of the church in this city. The Hostel Board was represented at the funeral by Mr. H. O'Malley (chairman). The late Mr. Johnson leaves a widow and two sons Messrs. William Johnson, stationmaster, Ohaupo, and Robt. Johnson, of Auckland, and three daughters—Mesdames M. Martin, L. B. Quinton and G. L. Burnette. One son was killed in the Great War.