PERSONAL MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 77, 1 April 1914, Page 7

PERSONAL MATTERS

The Right Hon. W. F, Massey is at Christchurch, and will return to Wellington to-morrow morning. The Hon. R>. H. Rhodes left for the South last night, and the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher returned froni'Foxton. The Hon. J. Allen is at Hamilton, the Hon. W. H. Herries is at Cambridge, and the Hon. Dr. Pomare at Huntly, Mr. G. Girling Butcher, organising secretary of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, returned to Wellington last .night from, an organising tour of the Auckland districts. He reports that the tour was very successful, and resulted in a large accession to the ranks of the federation in that part of the Dominion. Dr. C. Prendergast Knight (representing Parliamentary electors), Mr. H. H. Ostler, LL.B. (graduates), Rev." W, A. Evans (teachers of primary schools), and Mr. R. M'Callum, M.P. (Education Boards) have been re-elected members of the Victoria College Council unopposed. Mr. C. P, Powles acted as neturnmg officer. The Wellington Education Board yesterday accepted the resignations of the following teachers :— Mr. A. Anderson (head teacher, Newman), Miss R. Wickens (sole teacher, Tane), Miss E. 1 ( . Crierson (sole teacher, Weraiti aided school), Misa 3. Mountfort (sole teacher, Stronvar aided school), Mr. H. K. Laurenson (pupil teacher, Mount Cook Boys'), Mr. L. M. Moss (student, Training College). Mr 1 . M. Meehan, who died at his son's residence afc Petone yesterday evening, Avas for about thirty years connected ■with the New Zealand Prisons Service. Born in Wanganui, he spent some time iu # the Armed Constabulary, and then joined the Prisons Department, serving h've years at Devonport and for the rest of the period at Wellington. Deceased, who was sixty years of age, leaves a family of three sons and five daughters. There was a representative gathering of the Bar yesterday morning at the Auckland Supreme Court to welcome his Honour Mr. Justice Hosking, who w«as recently elevated to the Supreme Court Bench. The event was all the more interesting from the fact that his Honour served his articles with the legal firm of Messrs. Jackson and Russell, of Auckland. His Honour was welcomed by Mr. J. A. Tole, K.C., Grown Prosecutor, and he replied in felicitous terms. The Rev, David Meadowcroft, who died at his residence. Mount-street, yesterday, -was a retired Congregational minister, and several times preached at the Terrace Congregational Church, of which he was a member. After spending some time as a missionary in India, he took charge of the Congregational Church at Perth, Western Australia. Later he accepted the pastorate of the East Melbourne Congregational Church, where he remained for thirty-two years and until his retirement from the active ministry four or five years ago. Since, then he has resided in Wellington. Deceased, who was seventy-five years of age, leaves a widow and four sons and four daughters, most of whom are Jiving in Australia. One of the sons is Mr. Frank Meadowcroft, of Wellington, New Zealand manager for Messrs. Cadbury Bros., who is now on his way to England. Deceased was an expert Egyptologist, had made a study of the religions of India, and was prominent in Masonic circles. Mr. John Strauchon, 1.5.0., who retired yesterday from the position of Under-Secretary of Lands, was farewelled by officers of the Lands and Surrey Department last evening. 'Mr. J. Mackenzie, Surveyor-General, who succeeds Mr. Strauelion as Under-Secretary, f.aid that he and Mr. Strauchon had been closely associated in the Work of the Department for some forty-five years, and he had always found Mr. Strauchon fair and just to th'o officers. On behalf of himself and all the officers of the De< pjirtment throughout the- Dominion, he wished him every happiness in his well- ' earned retirement after a period of service extending over fifty- two years. With the exception of Mr. T. Humphries, Jate Surveyor-General, he was the long-est-service officer in the Department. Mr. F, O'Neill (Assistant Under-Secre-tary). Mr." Maurice Smith (Chief Draughtsman), and Mr. E. 11, Wilmot (who succeeds Mr. Mackenzie as Sur-veyor-General), spoke on similar lines, all expressing regret at Mr. Strauchon's departure from the Service. In replying, Mr, Strauchon, speaking with evident feeling, thanked the officers -who had made such kindly reference to him, and expressed the opinion that his successor, Mr. Mackenzie, would capably fill the position, In a. week or two another gathering will be held, at which Mr, Strauchon will be presented with a token of esteem subscribed to by the member* of the Service from ttU |>arte of the Domjnion.