PERSONAL

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1942, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mr. and Mrs. S. . Alderson have returned from Invercargill. Mr and Mrs I. Burn returned yesterday from Auckland. • Private R. Williams arrived yesterday on leave from camp. Sergeant T. L. Mclvor, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Mclvor, of Greymouth, who was reported missing last May, is now a prisoner of war. Jack Blackburn, negro trainer of Joe Louis, heavy-weight boxing champion of the world, died in Chicago on Sunday, stated a New York cablegram. The death of Dr. Arthur, aged 92 years, Professor Emeritus of Bontany at Purdue University, an authority on plant rust, is announced from Washington. Admiral Stark, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Winant, has arrived in England. Admiral Stark, is to take up the newly-created post of Com-mander-in-Chief of the United States naval forces operating in European waters. News has been received from Canada that Sergeant W. J. Cornish, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cornish, Kokiri, has passed his Air Force exams. He received his stripes and wings in January, and was granted 28 days’ leave, when he toured New York, Chicago, Freeport and numerous places’’ of interest. He has now been selected for the Ferry Bomber Command.

Mrs J. Stokes, Preston Road, Greymouth, celebrated her ninetieth birthday yesterday. A native of Tasmania, she has lived on the West Coast since childhood. Of 19 c^ il_ dren, eleven are living. She has 43 grandchildren,, 64 great-grand-children. and one great-great-grand-child She has perfect hearing and wears glasses only for reading. A birthday party was held at the residence of he/daughter Mrs. Ilton, Preston Road, the family being present.

The c?tati.on of the award of Lie DFC to Pilot Officer Desmond James Scott, Greymouth, says: Durin0 ’ a long pei'iod of operational flying Scott carried out a large number of ’sorties, including attacks against shipping, aerodromes. night-flying operations and close bomber escorts. He displayed thoughout great £kl “ and keenness, while his exceptional devotion to duty has been an admirable example.

The following are guests at . the Albion Hotel: Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Macfarlane, Miss Macfarlane, Mr. A. B. Pyweil (Dunedin); Miss D. Gerrity, Messrs R. T. Shields, G. C. Cowie N. E. Dowsett (Christchurch); R. and J. Newton (Runanga); E. Prout, J. Mears, R. Mann, J. Callaghan, W. O. Keefe, M. Hall, J. Caldwell, I. Stannard, L. Walsh, L. Tredennick, A. J. Devesioni, E. Falconer, A. Archibald. H. Connell. W. H. Elliott, (Westport.)

The death occurred somewhat suddenly at his residence, South Beach, last evening, of a well-known and esteemed resident, Mr John Aloysius McGrath, partner in the grocery firm of Messrs Haglund and McGrath, High Street. While at work in the shop during the afternoon, Mr McGrath had a sudden illness, and his death ensued a few hours after his returning to his home. A native of South Beach, he was 57 years of age, and had been in the grocery trade for very many years, conducting a business himscif in Thompson Street for a considerable period prior to entering into- partnership with Mr F. Haglund. He leaves a wife and a family of six children. He is also survived by two sisters, Misses Mary and Margaret McGrath .(South Beach), and by three brothers, Patrick (South Beach), and Michael and William (Greymouth,'. The late Mr McGrath was forme: ly a popular elocutionijst, and the news of his passing will be learned with sincere regret by many friends, whose sympathy will be extended to the bereaved relatives. The funeral takes place, 10-morrow (Sunday), at 2.30 p.m.