PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 50, 22 November 1928, Page 11

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir Thomas Mackenzie is returning to New Zealand by the Remuera, which sails to-morrow (states an Australian Press Association-United Service message from London). Dr. MacMillan Brown, Chancellor of the New Zealand University, will arrive in Wellington from the south this morning. Mr. P. Halley, Conciliation Commissioner, will leave Wellington to return to Auckland to-day. Mr. W. AV. Stewart, officer in charge of the publicity branch of the railways, is at present in Auckland. Mr. W. H. George has arrived in Wellington from Australia on a business visit. Dr. F. Kemp, of Upper Hutt, will accompany the party at the Toe H school camp at Oyster Bay, Tory Channel, as medical officer. Mr. G. A. Rotherham, the well-known Cambridge University and Warwickshire County cricketer, who has been residing in Auckland, has taken up his residence in Wellington, and is reported to have thrown in his lot with the Petone Cricket Club. The. death’ occurred in Sydney on November 12 of Mr. Gilbert Ryan, a well-known Australian and New Zealand journalist. The cause of death was heart failure. Mr. Ryan, who was one of the original staff men of the “Daily Guardian,” Sydney, leaves a widow and one son. Dr. and Mrs. W. Wylie, of Waimate, returned to New Zealand on the Port Wellington, which arrived in Auckland on Tuesday. They have spent the last 10 months in England, Scotland, and on the Continent. Dr. and Mrs. McGusty, of Fiji, are on a visit to Auckland. Mr. Thomas J. Confoy, governing director of the Southern Cross Assurance C 0.,, Ltd., arrived in Wellington yesterday from Melbourne, accompanied by Dr. Bennett, of the head office directorate, and Mr. Aubrey, the general manager. Mr. Confoy will make an inspection of the company’s branches throughout the Dominion. Dr. J. B. Condliffe, Research Director of the Institute of Pacific Relations, Honolulu, according to a letter received from him by a Christchurch resident, intends paying a visit to Christchurch early in the New Year. Messrs. M. Dennehy (railway solicitor), A. S. Wansborough (designing engineer), and T. Snow (railway land officer) are at present in Palmerston North on departmental business, and expect to return to Wellington at the end of the week. Mr. Percy Hutchison and members of his comedy company will leave Wellington on Saturday morning by the Port Darwin for London. There are many who have been associated with acclimatisation matters in this province who will regret to learn of the death at the Wellington Hospital yesterday of Mr. Frederick Whitley. The deceased, who arrived in New Zealand a good many years ago from Yorkshire, England, was an ardent angler and sportsman, and quickly took an active and enthusiastic interest in the work of the Acclimatisation Society. He had deep stores of knowledge concerning trout and game, and was a most interesting conversationalist on these topics, as w ell as a practical worker in stocking the streams in and around the Wellington area. .

News was received in Dunedin yesterday that Mr. Robert Hay, civil engineer, of Dunedin, had died on Tuesday night at Waitomo Caves. Mr. Hay, who had been making a motoring trip of the two islands, was very well known, and in his time was a very prominent citizen of Dunedin. He was born in London in 184 i, and arrived in New Zealand in 1565. ( After serving in the Provincial Government employ he was assistant engineer in the construction of the Port Chalmers railway. From 1876 to 1920 he was in private practice, and during this period he was consulting engineer to the City of Dunedin, engineer for the Otago dock, and for various water drainage and sewerage works, railways, dredges, bridges, hydro-electric and hydraulic installations in all parts of New Zealand. He was formerly a director of the Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company, the “Otago Daily Times.” the Milburn Cement Company, and other concerns. —Special Service.

At the meeting of the Wellington Education Board yesterday Mr. H. .T. Robinson, who recently retired from the headmastership of Picton School, after 41 years’ service in the Marlborough district, was warmly congratulated by Mr. T. Forsyth (chairman) upon the close of a successful and useful career. All members hoped Mr. Robinson would long be spared to enjoy his retirement and were glad to see him in such excellent health. Mr. D. McCallum, who joined in the good wishes, said Mr. Robinson and himself were schoolboys together. Messrs. W. D. Pike, G. T. London, and others also congratulated Mr. Robinson, and it was suggested that one day Mr. Robinson might render further service to education by joining the board. Inspector Strachan and Mr. Hylton also spoke very highly of the ability of Mr. Robinson, and Mr. G. L. Stewart referred appreciatively of the help and information supplied by Mr. Robinson when asked for. Mr. Robinson, in reply, said it had been a great privilege to be associated with such a profession, and spoke of the good work done by the early headmasters and the splendid work done by many educationists in Marlborough. He did not propose to sit down and just play bowls—-although he did play bowls—for he would enter into other activities. He thanked all for the kind things which had been said of him.

Mr. A. M. Taylor, chief inspector and distribution engineer of the Wellington Gas Company, Limited, has been appointed engineer and manager of the Timaru Gas, Coal, and Coke, Limited,-and will take up his new position at the beginning of the New Year. Mr. Taylor was appointed to his present position with the Wellington Gas Company from a large number of applicants in London in 1914, having held prior appointments in the gas industry in England, Scotland, and Wales. During his fourteen years' service with the Wellington company the output of gas has increased from about 350 million to 650 million cubic feet per annum, and the number of consumers has increased from around 16,400 to about 24.000. Mr. Taylor has been responsible for the laying of 90 miles of gas mains, the installation of 7600 new services, 13,700 gas cookers, 3800 gas water heaters, 1680 gas coppers, 2600 gas fires and radiators, and many thousands of pounds’ worth of gasfitting and appliance manufacturing, and the installation of gas for industrial purposes. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Institute of Gas Engineers, London, and also of the Gas Institute of New Zealand. He was . auditor for two years, treasurer for two years, and now holds the position of hon. secretary to the New Zealand Gas Institute