PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 50, 22 November 1930, Page 10

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Acting-Prime Minister, who is indisposed, showed no improvement yesterday. Tie will not return to his official duties for some time, and it is expected that he will go out of town for a while.

The Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Public Works, returned to Wellington from Rotorua yesterday. He will leave to-morrow evening to attend the opening of the new Auckland railway station. The Hon. A. J. Murdoch, Minister of Agriculture, will leave for Auckland tomorrow evening to attend the opening of the new railway station.

The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Dofence, left for his home at Feilding yesterday, and he will return to Wellington on Monday.

The Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Labour, will return to 'Wellington from New Plymouth this morning. The Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Railways, left for Auckland by train yesterday to attend the opening of the new railway station there. Mr. O. Thomas, Auckland, is at the Grand Hotel.

Mr. J. Frew. Christchurch, is staying at the Grand Hotel. Mr. D. G. Zwartz is a Dutch visitor who is at the Royal Oak Hotel. Mr. F. Waite, M.P. for Clutha, left for the south by the ferry steamer last evening.

Messrs. 11. H. Stewart and C. W. Slewart, of Christchurch, are at the Grand Hotel.

Mr. B. McCarthy, Hawera, and Mr. J. M. Hussey, Wanganui, are ' at the Royal Oak Hotel. Mr. A. E. Barker and Mr. J. Breeds, of Christchurch, and Mr. W. Garratt, Auckland, are at the Royal Oak Hotel. The Rev. John Dennis was yesterday elected Wellington district representative to the Dunedin Methodist conference of 1931 The Rev. G. S. Harkness was elected substitute representative.

Mr C. E. Daniell, of Masterton, was felicitated by the Methodist Synod this week, upon his long and valuable association with the young peoples work, both in Sunday school and orphanage. The Rev. W. Beckett, of Levin, is about to sever his connetion with the New Zealand section of Methodism, and intends to take an appointment in Victoria, Australia. Regret at Mr. Beckett s projected departure was expressed at the Wellington Methodist Synod, and reference was made to the valuable work carried out by him. Mr. A. R. Hutchings, of Wellington, has received advice that at the recent examination held by the Australasian- Institute of Secretaries, he was successful in obtaining' the highest marks for Australia and New Zealand, and has been awarded the gold medal of the institute. Mr. Hutchings is a member of the accountants’ branch of the Department of Health, Wellington. Another New Zealander, Mr. W. R. Mathieson, of Wellington, obtained second place. Mr. A. G. Butchers, author of “Young New Zealand," "After Standard IV, What?” and “Education in New Zealand,” has been elected a Fellow of the Roval Historical Society. Mr. Butchers gained the degrees of M.A. (with final honours in Classical Philology) of the University of Melbourne in 1912, LL.B, of the University of New Zealand in 1026, and M.Ed. of the University of Melbourne in 1928. He is the only New Zealand educationalist who has so far obtained this last degree.

The Rev. E. D. I’atcbett, who lias been chairman for the M’eilingion district of the Methodist denomination for the past four years, will relinquish office at- the termination of the connexinal year, -April, 1931. Many tributes were paid to Mr. Patchett bv speakers during the session- of the Methodist District Synod. The Rev. R. P. Keall expressed the sincere appreciation of the Synod for the valuable services rendered by Mr. Patchett and referred to his fine qualities of leadership, and to his genial and im partial manner of dealing with all matters connected with the office. Mr..Patchett, who was presented witli an attache case and a walking stick from the mem bars of the. Synod, thanked the donors and said that he was grateful tor tiic co-operation of all in bi* work.