PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 17850, 22 December 1921, Page 6

PERSONAL

Oar Parliamentary Reporter advises that the Hon. Downie tSewart leaves 'Wellington on Friday for Terauka, where ho will spend Christmas. He will be in Dunedin early in the new year. Misses Hettie and Annie Hutton were the recipients of a gold pendant each from the congregation of Port Chalmers Presbyterian Church in recognition of service

given. Anxiety is expressed for the health of the South African Prime Minister (General Smuts). Doctors have warned him to observe the greatest care, and that ho must have rest for at least a month before Parliament meets. It is understood that he is suffering from catarrh of the stomach (states a cable message from Capo Town to the Australian papers). Mi- C. B. Smith, director of the 1 Star,’ who attended (ho Press Congress at Honolulu, and afterwards visited the U.S.A., returned to Dunedin yesterday. The death occurred on Tuesday night of one of Wellington’s oldest identities, in Mr Paul Coffov, aged eighty-seven years, who was born in London. At an early age ho joined the British Navy, and was engaged in carrying troops to the Bosphprus Sea during the Crimean War. He came to New Zealand in 1857, and was one of the original founders of the Wellington Harbor Board.

Mr C. E. Matthews, who has been appointed Under-Secretary for Justice, joined the Civil Service in 1889 as a cadet in the Treasury. Later lie was transferred to the Justice Department, and then he entered the rallies of the Ministerial private secretaries, his first post being with the Hon. T. Thompson, the then Minister of Justice. Having served also in this capacity with the Hons. J. M'Gowan (with whom ho completed his fourteenth year as private secretary to a Minister of Justice) and 11. M'Kenzio, lie became chief clerk of the Police Department upon its reorganisation,, and then once more became associated with the Justice Department, this time as chief clerk. When the work of the Prisons Department began to grow he became deputy-inspector under Dr Hay, and subsequently, when the department was separated' from the Justice Department, assumed full charge. During the time he was Controller-General of Prisons most of the great strides made in remodelling the prisons took place. His new appointment has been received with evident pleasure by the leading officers of the department. Mr Hartstonge has been appointed secretary of the Otago District Council of the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

During the priSe-giving ceremony and concert at West Taieri a silver tea service was presented from the residents of the district to Mr and Mrs M'Kenzie, who have gone to reside at Fairfield. Mr Eordyce, in making the presentation, spoke in eulogistic terms of the guests. During the Christmas closing meeting of the South Dunedin Presbyterian Y.M.8.0. on Sunday last Mr E. Jowsey, sub-leader, on behalf of the class, presented the Rev. 11. Fairmaid, their leader, with a mounted Swan fountain pen and cordially wished him the compliments of the season. Miss Grace M'Farlane, leader of the Y.W.8.C., was also the recipient of a handsome writing case from her class, accompanied by hearty Christmas greetings.