PERSONAL MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 147, 18 December 1925, Page 8

PERSONAL MATTERS

The Hon. B. Moore, M.L.C., arrived iv Wellington ' this morning by the ferry steamer from Lyttelton. The Hon. G. W. Russell arrived in Wellington this morning by the Wahine from Lyttelton. The Hon; Sir Francis Bell is presenting ; the prizes at the Wanganui Collegiate School to-day. He- will afterwards go on to New Plymouth. Sympathy with Mr. J. Moffitt in his recent bereavement by the death of his mother was expressed at a meeting of the Mount Cook School Jubilee Celebrations- Committee. On behalf of the members of the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society, Mr. j N. T. Watkins, president of the society, at its meeting on Wednesday, presented Mr. C. E. Buckingham with a handsome watch, suitably inscribed, as a token of .appreciation of the valuable services he had rendered to fhe society in many ..capacities. The death bccurr'ed'at Masteiton cf Mr. James Atkinson, for many years a highly-respected officer of the Land and Income Tax Department, Wellington; *>n his retirement from the service Mr.: Atkinson and his family removed to Ma?terton. ;He is survived by his widow, two sons (Mr. It. W. Atkinson,,of Welf lington and Mr/ James Atkinson, cf Dargaville), and three daughters (Mrs. Hector West, Dunedin, Mrs Leonard Lancaster, Auckland, and Miss May Atkinson, Masterton). Mr. R. D. Spraggon, who has been < n the staff of the National Provident and Friendly Societies Department for the past twenty years, and is leaving the Department, was oh Tuesday met by his fellow officers to receive a presentation. The presentation was made by the Superintendent (Mr. A. T. Traversi), who referred to the able and willing: services rendered by Mr. Spraggon during his long connection with the department. Mr. G. S.'Nicoll also expressed his own and the staff's regret at the loss of s, capable and popular officer. Mr. Spraggon was entertained in the evening by his fellow officers. A pleasant gathering of officers of the Native Department was held last evening to make a presentation to Mr. A. H. MacKay, Registrar of the Native Land Court, who is retiring on superannuation at the end of tho year after_4o years' service. In the absence of Chief Judge Jones, the toast of the evening was in the hands of Judge Rawson, who spoke of Mr. MacKay's long and faithful service in the interests of the State. In presenting a handsome oak chiming | clock to Sir. MacKay, he expressed ilia wish that Mr. and Mrs. MacKay would live many years to enjoy their well-earn-ed leisure. Mr. G. R. Kidson, headmaster of' the Kilbirnio School, has been appointed headmaster of the Kelbura Normal School in succession to Mtes W. G. Maitland, who is retiring. Mr. Eidson was born in South Staffordshire forty years ago, and commenced his career as a pupil teacher at Nelson, and;after being there for four years went to tho Teachers' Training College at Christchureh. ; After spending three years as an assistant in Christchureh schools, he was appointed secondary assistant teacher at the Greytown District High School, where he . remained for nearly five years. He then received the appointment of science instructor.at the Wellington Teachers' Training College, and in 1915 he went "to the Thorndon Normal School as first assistant. Four years ago he was appointed headmaster at the Kilbirnie School. Mr. Kidson is a brother of Mr. H. P. Kidson, whose appointment/to tho headmastership of the Hutt Valley High School was announced yesterday.