PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 14316, 15 March 1910, Page 4

PERSONAL

Tlio officers of the Audit. Department at Wellington yesteiday made presentations to two retiring officers—Mr J. K. Warburton (late Auditor and Controller-General) ami Mr J. 13. Hey wood (Assistant Controller and Auditor). Mr Warburton received a silver coffee pot and salver, while to Mr Hey wood, who leaves shortly for England, was give.ll a photograph of the staff, a cigar ease, a sovereign case, and a rug. The Prime Minister presided. Yesterday was regarded as the critical day for Lady Dudley. The medical attendant tor the night reported that there need bo no anxiety that the patient had been restless. Under all the circumstances the improvement noted was as great as couid reasonably bo expected. Mr J. J. Hay, who left for Sydney yesterday to take an important position in the Public Works Department of New South Wales, is a graduate of Otago University, where lie gained special distinction in mathematical subjects. Before joining the engineering branch of the Public Works Department in Wellington he spent a yc/.r in improving his knowledge of his profession in Europe and America. Mr R. D. Watt, who is to institute the new School of Agriculture at the Sydney University, is only twenty-eight years of age. He was born in Scotland, and worke-d as a farmer in his mother country before lie began a Jong theoretical and scientific training at Glasgow University. Ho took his B.Sc. and M.A. degrees there. In the examination of the two great agricultural societies of England and Scotland he won honors and the gold medal. Ho was then awarded a Carnegie Trust research scholarship, with which ho went to Rothamstcd, the oldest agricultural research station in the world. From there he went to _ the Transvaal, where in a short time he gained the position of Chief Government Agricultural Chemist. Sir E. Shacklcton, in response to a London interriewer, confirmed our Christclnircb special correspondent's references to Arnvytage, who committed suicide. Armytage, said Sir Ernest, was a loyal and zealous comrade, good in any emergency, and always ready for work. Profefsor David, of the Sydney University, pays a tribute to Arrnytago. He. says he. was one of the most fearless, conscientious, and unselfish members of the Antarctic expedition., Mr A. C. Hanlon left for Wellington this morning to attend a hitting of the Supremo Court there. Mr Oscar Cook, of the Telegraph Department, who has been transferred to Ashburton, was presented last night with a travelling rug by the departmental officers. Mr Keys made tho presentation, and expressed regret at losing so capable and popular an officer, and wished liim success in the future. Messrs Itonnyno and Beattio, of tho Railways Department (says "Our Own"), passed,through Christclvurch this morning en route to Invercargill.