PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 25770, 17 April 1946, Page 6

PERSONAL

—Ministerial.— A Sydney message states that the Doputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Walter Nash, and Mrs Nash passed through Darwin yesterday by air for England. The Australian Prime Minister, Mr J. B. Chifley, and Minister of External Affairs, Dr H. V. Evatt, arrived at Singapore- en route • to London. They were greeted by Lord Louis Mountbatten and a big staff. Tho Minister of Health, the,Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, arrived in Dunedin last evening, lie had yesterday visited the Waipiata Sanatorium, after having made calls at Alexandra and Clyde for the purpose of conferring with the Vincent Hospital Board and investigating the staffing problems of the Maternity Hospital. He was engaged on departmental business this morning and left for Oamaru this afternoon. Mr C. R. Spackman left by thtexpress this morning for Napier, where he will act as adjudicator for the vocal and instrumental classes at the Easter musical competitions. At a meeting of the Royal Dunedin Male Choir on Monday night a vote of sympathy was passed to the-con-ductor, Mr Ernest Drake, on the death of his brother, Canon W. T. Drake, of Hastings. A curtailed practice was held, and was conducted by Mr A. Fleming, the deputy conductor. Commodore G. H. Faulkner, First Naval Member of the New Zealand Naval Board, who is making a tour of the South Island, arrived m Dunedin yesterday from Queenstown and Invercargill. He was engaged on official duties to-day, and will leave for the north to-morrow. Wing-commander Lloyd J.. Joel, D.F.C. and bar, who has been spending two months' leave in Dunedin with his parents, left yesterday for Auckland, where he will begin his return flight to England. W'ing-commander Joel has accepted the offer of a permanent commission in the Tt.A.F. Visiting Dunedin this Easter will be Mr Herbert H. Neere, who comes to this city as bandmaster of the Wellington Citadel Salvation Army Band. Bandmaster Neeve (then a lieutenant) spent three years overseas during the war and gained the M.C. for outstanding courage in the Pacific fighting. An appointment as senior lecturer in geology at Auckland University College has been accepted by Dr C. R. Laws, D.Sc, a member of the staff of the Auckland Teachers' Training College since 1932. He was formerly on tna staff of the Dunedin Training College. —Auckland Press Association. Tho resignations of Professors C. E. Hercus and F. G. Soper as representatives of the Professorial Board on the j council were received with regret by the Otago University Council yesterday. They will both leave at the end of the month to proceed overseas as Dominion representatives at a series of Commonwealth science conferences. It was stated that the Professorial Board would be required to appoint other representatives on the council. The two professors expressed their appreciation of the happy relations which had existed between the board and the council. Mr F. Gordon Bell, professor of surgery at the Otago Mecveal School, will act as Dean of the Medical Faculty during the absence overseas of Dr C. E. Hercus, according to a decision by the Otago University Council yesterday. Dr F. G. Turner, lecturer in geology at the University of Otago, who has been appointed one of the professors in geology at t.he University of California, was entertained by the Otago University Council yesterdayafternoon and officially bidden farewell. The Chancellor, the Very Rev. D. C. Herron, said that the council regretted that Dr Turner was leaving, but felt proud that one who had received some of his training in tho University should be considered to have qualifications justifying appointment to such an important position. It was the first time in the history of tho University inat a member of the staff had been appointed to such an important post overseas. Dr Turner bad brought honour to the University, and he would be regarded as an ambassador from it to the United States. In acknowledging the good wishes, Dr Turner said he owed a debt to tho University of Otago. No one could be associated with Professor W. NBenson without becoming ardently interested in research. He had had th« privilege of living in the home of tho former Chancellor, the Jate Mr W. J. Morrell, who had been so keen!? interested in the progress of the University, and he had also had the guidance of Professor R. J. T. Bell in administration matters. This experience would be extremely valuable to him in his future work.