PERSONAL MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 6

PERSONAL MATTERS

Mr. and Mrs.. J. W. Martin were passengers'by the'Ulimaroa to-day for sydney- jH': ■■ : ■ ■;■ ■'•'■.■ . .■;■■. Mr. Clia,rles M. Bothaniley has been appointed Second Clerk-Assistant of the Legislative Council. . : . - • Mr. Frank Glasgow, who was a member of the 1905 New Zealand 1 Rugby' team, was: a passenger by the "Ulimaroa to-day for Sydney. : . ; , ■'■■'■ ' ' Mr. E..: S. Smith,' .recently of the firm of, Messrs. Hewitt- arid' Smith, solicitors,, Hamilton,; has .been appoint.cd to the legal staff of the Public Trust Office, Wellington. ,'■ ' >. \ ■;":.' The Parliamentary Press Gallery at its annual meeting yesterday elected Mr.A. F. Grace ("New Zealand Herald") chairman, and Mr. ;T. Lindsay Buick (Press Association) vice-chairman.; ,-.' ■ Mr. John Edie ;■ (Clutha) was granted four days' leave of absence from the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon on account of illness, and Mr.' W.. J. Jordan- (Manukau) was given : two days' leave of.absence because of illness in his family.".".; „- ;-. . - • Mr. Gordon Gibson, well known locally in Rugby circles, and who served his articles with; the firm of .Messrs. Beere arid Seddqn, surveyors and civiL engineers, has been appointed to the 'position )of'; engineer's assistant to the Lower Hutt. Borough- Council; and has taken up his duties with that body. .News has been received that Mr. J. C. Smith, M.Sc, has obtained the degree.of Ph.D. (Manchester) for research work in Organic Chemistry. Dr. Smith is the son of Mr. Herbert G. Smith, :,i formerly general manager m New Zealand, of the Phoenix Assurance Company,.and was a student, of Victoria and: Auckland Universities, and- is an old boy of Wellington College. Vlho^employees of Petpne ' Railway Workshops met ysterday to-bid farewell to Mr. A. P. Godber, who has been promotedto assistant-workshops foreman at Hillside, Dunedin.-V/Mr; J. S.'Cuinmings, in presenting Mr. Godber with a silver watch, suitably inscribed, spoke an high terms of the esteem in which lie was held; in the workshops and of liis good.work as,/secretary of the railway library, which'p^ition he had held for twenty-seven years. Mr. Cummings congratulated Mr. Godber oh, his promotion, and wib'hed him every success in his new position. Messrs.; Strong and ITerron, representing the various - societies, also spoke. Mr. Godber suitably responded. .The death of Mr. Joseph William Backhouse on Wednesday removed a very well-known figure from the wateriront. .'-Mr. Backhouse, who was born at Nelson: on 2nd>August, 1866, was the third sou of the late John Thomas Backhouse, ;, who was chief wool clerk of the Harbour Board up to 1886. The late Mr. Joseph- Backhouse was one of the ■ : : oldest 1j and ; most respected servants of ■ the \'Harbour Board, and most popular with, everyone he came in contact. He first- joined;the board's service in 1886, after the 'death;.of his'father. He afterwards transferred to the Railway DeqbaKtment, but- rejoined the staff of. the kllarrjour Board in February, 1891. Mr. Backhouse ; intended to retire on superannuation next year. He leaves v a ■widow, .two sons, and a daughter, Messrs. ,C. Backhouse, of the G.P.O. staff,, C. H. Backhouse, secretary, National Dairy Association, and Mrs. B. Huxford, of Johnsonville. The death occurred in Wellington this morning of Mr. Fred. Palmer, consulting, mechanician in the Post and Telegraph Department, at the age of 56 years. The late Mr. Palmer was a son o£ the late Mi-. George Palmer, and was born hi Nelson. He was educated in Wellington, ami at an early age he developed inventive-, faculties. When ho was eleven years of age lie inado a steam engine, and lie nlso made motor dynamos at the early age of fourteen years. Ho served for a time in Cable's Foundry, but later went to America to gain further knowledge, staying there For-'four years. Oii his return to Wellington in 1898, he joined the P. and T. Department, and lie was responsible '■for' carrying out many improvements to slot .telephones and .the cable system. .■ The lato Mr. I'alm«r took an active .interest in church affairs, and was a member of the vestry of St. Peter's Church. Tl,« intevnmnl will tuko place I to-morrow at iiavori.