PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 21723, 18 May 1934, Page 7

PERSONAL

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) commenced a tour of Taranaki yesterday, visiting the Tangahoe deviation on the Auckland-Wel-lington highway near Hawera. The road work is estimated to cost £IO,OOO. TJie county sought a higher highways subsidy than the £2 for £1 suggested, Mr Forbes visited the Taranaki Cooperative Dairy Laboratory at Hawera, where a request was made for a grant. In the evening he was entertained by the Rotary Club, when he was welcomed by the mayor (Mr Campbell), local body and dairy representatives also being present. Mr Forbes stressed the importance of science in raising the quality of our produce to meet competition. Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., left by the 11.35 train to-day for Wellington. Mr S. C. Sutherland, manager of Wright, Stephenson, and Co., and Mr H. A. Price, the Gore manager of the firm, were passengers for Wellington by train to-day. Mr P. J. Hackett travelled north by rail to-day, bound for Wellington. Mr A. E. Mander, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, was a passenger for Wellington by the 11,35 tram to-day.

Mr P. N. Hannah, of the National Bank, left Dunedin this morning for the north.

Mr E. W. Hanson left yesterday to take up the position of sole teacher in the Owaka Valley School. Mr H. C. Jones and Miss L. Sullivan were elected to life membership of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute at the annual meeting last evening. Various speakers referred to the long and valuable service rendered by them in the cause of teaching and education generally and in the advancement of the institute.

Prior to his departure to Auckland, at which port he has been appointed Government gear inspector, Mr G. E, Brown, who has occupied a similar position at Dunedin for some years past,' was met at the Union Steam Ship Company’s office by representatives of Shipping companies and stevedores and presented with a suitable gift, as a mark of appreciation of the tactful manner in which he had carried out his duties whilst in Dunedin. After forty-seven years’ constant service with one employer, Mr Mark Higgins, who started in 1887 with the firm that is now Irvine and Stevenson’s St. George Company Ltd., has now decided to retire from business. At the morning tea interval yesterday at the St. George works a presentation was made to Mr Higgins from his fellow-employees,' when good wishes and hopes for a wellearned rest were conveyed to him by, Mr W. Stevenson on behalf of the assembled staff.

Miss Alva Myers (Kaitangata) gained second place at the Christchurch competitions on Wednesday night in the operatic or dramatic solo, soprano, and was one of the two recalls in the English song. Miss Fairlie Miller (Oamaru) was placed third in the Irish jig,, twelve and under eighteen, and a similar award was secured by Miss Noni Davidson (Dunedin) in the operatic or dramatic solo for mezzo-soprano voices.The performances of Miss Ethel Thomas (Dunedin) in the junior recitation for girls under sixteen was very highly commended, and in the same class the performances of Miss Daphne Morrison (Dunedin) was highly commended. Miss Margaret Hawden (Port Chalmers) has been recalled in the operatic or dramatic solo (contralto), and Miss Morrison lias been recalled in the character dance under thirteen. In the awards announced last night Miss Myers was placed first in the English song and also in the vocal solo with obbligato. Mr Alfred Perry arrived from Sydney in the Wanganella on Tuesday, accompanied by his wife and two children. Mr Perry is taking up an important post as aircraftsman and ground engineer to New Zealand Airways Ltd., Timaru. He passed the Iloyal Air Force examination after a course at Farnborough in 1918, and has since had a vast aircraft experience in England, South Africa, Australia, and New Guinea. He served his apprenticeship with Rolls Royce, England, remaining with that firm for seven years. He was a sergeant-major in the R.A.F. on active service; ground engineer to Aircraft Survey Company, West Africa; ground engineer in charge of Port Headland, Perth, for West Australian Airways; ground engineer in charge of a fleet of eight aircraft for Guinea Airways Ltd., Lae, New Guinea. He holds an , “A” grade automobile engineer’s certificate, Melbourne, and is a member of tho Institute of Automobile Engineers., He comes to New Zealand bearing, the highest credentials from prominent aviation experts. A Christchurch Association message records the death of Mr George Mitchell Douglas, aged seventy-eight, well-, known iu the legal profession, and a prominent Mason. At one time he was the youngest Worshipful Master in New Zealand. He was one of the founders of Christ’s College Rifles, and was also a keen yachting enthusiast. His father, George Douglas, was one of the pioneers who helped to blaze tho trail from Nelson to North Canterbury before Canterbury was a province. At last night’s meeting of the Otago Harbour Board a motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the lato Mr J. C. Stephens, the chairman (Mr H. C. Campbell) presenting the following resolution i—That the board places on record its high appreciation of the valuable service rendered by the lato Jefferson Counsell Stephens during his twenty-seven years’ association with the board as its solicitor, in winch capa'city he was recognised as one of the leading authorities on harbour legislation in the dominion, and also of the practical services rendered to the public generally by tho deceased gentleman m the various important official positions which ho occupied, and desires to express its most sincere sympathy with his widow and family in their bereavement.” The motion was earned in silence,, members standing. Sergeant A. M'Carthy, of the local Police Force, has received notice of his transfer to take charge of the New Brighton station. Sergeant M'Carthy has been stationed at Dunedin for the past ten years. ~ Staying at the Grand Hotel are Mr and Mrs C. Phillip Porritt (Rochdale, England), Mrs J. D. and the Misses Lilian and Ernestine Familtoa (Oamaru). Latest arrivals at the City Hotel are Mr A. W. H. Sinclair (Auckland), Mr H. Marriott (Timaru), Mr E, Williams ( Livingstone), Mr Alex. Robertson (Crookston), and Mr and Mrs A. Wyh® (Invercargill).