PERSONAL ITEMS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 29 May 1930, Page 11

PERSONAL ITEMS

VICE-REGAL. ' His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) left Wellington for Auckland last night. His Excellency will be in residence at Auckland foi; some time, Mr. T. Moss was granted six months* extended leave of absence by the Harbour Board la-st night. . ■ Mr. W. TV. Armstrong, former Australian cricket representative, is at present in Wellington. -The Wellington Hospital Board this afternoon passed a resolution thanking Dr. Giesen, Dr. Usher, and Dr. Doctor, who are retiring from the honorary; staff, for their valuable services. Mr. H. E. Fraser has been appointed assistant dental surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, in place/of Mt. B. X; Page, who has resigned.' Mr. W. L. Lowrie, American ConsulGeneral to New Zealand, and Mrs. Lowrie, are leaving for the United States, via Panama by the Mataroa, on. a four months' leave of absence. The Consulate-General will be in charge of the Consul, Mr. Bernard Gotlieb,. dur-• ing the absence of the Consul: General, At last .night's meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society, Mr. J. C. Andersen was presented with a cheque in recognition of his services for many years as editor of the "Transactions." In responding, he said that ho had enjoyed doing the work, but haft to admit that it took up a considerable amount of time. . • .■:.'..■ Mr. K. L. Usmav, of the literary, staff of "The Dominion," has accepted a position on the "Auckland Star,"and will act as Parliamentary represent < tative for that paper.' . Before proceeding with routine busi. ness to-day, the executive of the North; Island Motor Union placed ..on record its appreciation of the services of the Hon. W. A. Veitch as Minister of Transport. Mention was made of the . help that motorists had received from Mr. "Veiteh, and the good work he had ■ done. . ',•■■•.■ Members of the Wellington Federation of Educational Associations stood in. silence at their annual meeting: last night as a mark of, respect to the lato ■ Mr. .C. W. Tanner. Mr. N. A. Ingram (president) referred to Mr. Tanner's interest in the To Aro School Committee, of which he was a member for many years, and in the School Commit-: tees' Association. It; was decided' to place on record Mr. Tanner's services to education and to send a message of sympathy from the federation to hiß rolatives. Mr. J. W. M'Ewan was ;last night .reelected" chairman of the Wellingtoa Harbour Board fora further twelve months. ' The office was not contested. In returning thanks for the honour conferred on him, Mr. M* Ewan said ha would endeavour to do his best in the interests of the board. The past year, he remarked, had been in many Tespects. a somewhat busy one, and it had been his lot as chairman to attend .a great many more functions than usual. It was not anticipated that the- ensuing year wpuld be so busy in that respect.

The- death occurred this morning of Mr. "William Charles Nation, at the age* of 91. He was a well-known journalist, and was for many years president of the New Zealand Spiritualistic Association (says a Press Association, message from Levin). He came to New Zealand in 1857, when his father founded the '< Nelson Colonist," and was subsequently engaged in journalism in. the Wairarapa and Manawatu. Mr. Nation was the originator of - tho Arbour Day celebration in the Doniin-; ion. He was deeply interested in. psychic phenomena, and almost up till his death edited and set, up and printed a monthly journal in the interests of spiritualism. ■'•'-- The death occurred at his residence, Island Bay, last evening, of -Mr, Wil-: Jiam Charles Chatfield,y at one time a well-known architect, of ..Wellington, aged 79 years. Mr. Chatfield, .tvlio w*as the descendant of an old Sussex family, was born at Greatham House, Parham Park, Sussex.. He was educated at ißrixton, Surrey, and came to New, Zealand in 1867. For the first five years of his life in New Zealand he was engaged in architectural works in Wellington, In 1872 he joined the Public Service as chief draughtsman and assistant paymaster and engineer in the Engineer's Department, Wellington province. From this time till tho abolition of the provincial form of Government in 1876, he continued to, hold these offices, and during the period he designed many of the principal bridges in the district, and was engaged on the Thorndon reclamation and other works. He .commenced, practice as an architect on his own. account in Wellington in/1876, and continued actively in his professioii until' some years ago when he retired: from business. He designed and superintended the erection of many important and substantial buildings in and arouni the city and in various parts of New Zealand, including, the old Opera House,, Wellington, .and the warehouse o£ : Messrs. E. W. Mills and Co., Ltd. At the annual meeting of the Kairanga County. Council yesterday, Mr* Jos. BatcHelar was elected chairman for1 the sixth successive time and-tribute^ were paid to the services he had rendered to the county, states the "Manawatu Daily Times. " . Mr. Batchelai; has been one of the counfy's most popular chairmen and, as Councillor P. J. Small remarked when congratulating him on, Ms re-election, a man who took a great interest in his work and lit addition, was of an approachable nature. Mr. Batehelar has had a stake in the district for 52 years, the greater part of which time has been spent in. farming. He has put a financial shoulder liberally behind many movements for progress, besides working hard on such bodies as the Manawatu. A. and P. Association (he is a member of the finance,;committee as well as of the general committee), Palmerstoa North Biver Board, Highways District Council, etc. He was also a member of the Gorge Board of Control when it was functioning, and* his name is indelibly: engraved- upon the stone which commemorates the completion of that highway. Mr. Batehelar came to Pafinerstpn North from Wang'ahuias a boy ot eight years. ■ •. • : ' ' •;