PERSONAL MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1920, Page 8

PERSONAL MATTERS

The Hon. W. ¥. Massey, Prime Minister, returned to Wellington, from, the Auckland district to-day.

The Hon. Dr. Pomare, C.M.G., representative of: the Native race on the Executive -Council, returned to Wellington from the North on Sunday.

A considerable improvement in Mr. James Lockie's health is reported.

Councillor E. J. Guiness, of Lower Hutt, who has been ill for some days past, has been removed to a private hospital ..

Mr. F. Wilson, Inspector of Factories in Wellington, has been, transferred to the new office at Hamilton, and leaves for the North to-morrow evening.

Air. M. Beck, who has been on an extended health-recruiting visit to Pelorus Sounds, has returned to Wellington, and resumed his duties in charge ol tho Even,ing Post's publishing department.

The Rev. Father Phelan, who has been transferred from tha Masterton parish to CaTterton, was farewelled at a social on Thursday last. In presenting Father Phelan with a purse of sovereigns, Mr. S. O'Regan mentioned the good work done by him at Featherstot during the influenza epidemic of 1918. when he was a chaplain at the camp.

A presentation was niada on Saturday by the firm of Charles Hill and Sons and ' the staff 'to Mr. Edwin Ho well, who for twelve years has been mercery manager and buyer, for the business, and is now leaving on an extended holiday to England. A gift was also made to Mrs. Howell. Mr. E. J. Hill, in. making the presentation, conveyed tho best wishes of the firm, and expressed regret at the loss of Mr. Howell's services.

The Rev. J. G. Chapman, who has been minister of Wesley Church, Tara-naki-street, for the past nine years, intimated to his congregation yesterday his intention to retire as minister of tho church in April next. Some months back Mr. Chapman ha-d a nervous breakdown, from which he believed he had recovered, and resumed his duties a few weeks ago, but the trouble has returned, and, acting on medical advice, he is taking a year's rest. The church officials met and passed a resolution of sympathy, expressing a hope of a speedy recovery, and thanking Mr. Chapman for the splendid service ho has rendered the church during his long pastorate.

The death occurred at Karori on Saturday of Mr. Edward Randell, who for many years was on the staff .of the Land and Income Tax Department. Deceased was born 57 years ago in the house in the Wellington Botanical Gardens, now used as a nursery.. He was educated at Mowbray's School, Thorndon, and on leaving it he obtained a position with Messrs. Izard and Bell, solicitors, whose office was in Willis-street on a portion of the site now occupied/ by the Grand Hotel. He joined the Land and Income Tax Department soon after its establishment, and remained on the staff until he was compelled, owing to ill-health and failing eight, to give up active work. For five or six years before his death he was totally blind. In his younger days Mr. Eandell was a prominent yachtsman, and was also a member of the Karori Rifle Club and of the Poneke Football Club. Ho has left a widow and three sons—Mr. Guy Randell (now living in America), Mr. Boy Bandell (representative of. Messrs. Dalgety and Co. at the Upper Hutt), and' Mr. Parcy Randall' (Lo Grove Co., Wellington). His mother, who is over 90 years old, is living at Karori, and in excellent health. The 'funeral took place this morning. Deceased's' two sons and his brothers (Messrs. Richard and William Randell) were the chief mourners, and amongst others present were representatives of the Land and Income Tax Department. The interment was made at Karori, the Rev. G. Y. Woodward officiating.

Mr. Percy Jones, who is to adjudicate at tho band contests in Dunedin this week, at an early age distinguished himself as a cornet soloist and as a conductor of the St. Augustine's Boys' Band, o£ Geelong (states the Otago Daily Times). His success as a cornet soloist was remarkable. As a lad of 17 Mr. J. Ord Hume placed him second in the Championship Cornet Solo, at Southstreet competitions, Ballnrat, and in 1904 and 1905 he succeeded on both occasions in annexing the championship with 99 points out of a possible 100. Equally successful with his, band, Mr. Jones won the A Gteadts Championship at Ballarat in 1906, and the same year tbe band undertook a tour of the Eastern States of the Common-wealth, which was conspicuously successful. So convinced wore Mr. Jones's admirers of his outstanding ability that a- movement was set on foot to send him to Europe to further his studies, and a sum of over £800 was raised for this purpose. He studied under th« best masters in London, Vienna, and Berlin, Ins subjects being pianoforte, composition, and instrumentation. He also studied 1 the organisation and instrumentation of the military bands of .England, France, Italy, Germany, and Austria. Returning to Australia* in 1911 he was appointed conductor of the Geelong Municipal Band, with! which he appeared at Ballarat competitions the following year, find won the A Grado Championship. Since that time Mr. Jones has made a reputation as a, sound and thorough musician, and his services as an adjudicator are mu<:h sought after throughout Australia.