PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 July 1924, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

There being no other nominations received, Mr J. Gray becomes president, and Mr A. Good viee-oresident, of the Egmont Racing Club ‘for the coming year. Mr W. C. Adamson, who for the past 34 years has been one of the most prominent members and officials of the Egmont Racing Club, is retiring from office this year, and does not offer himself for re-election as either steward or committeeman.

A. Barnett, a New Zealand research student at Clare College, Cambridge, has been awarded the Denham Bavnes studentship of £4OO a year for “two years for research in physics.—London cable.

At the hunt on Wednesday afternoon Mr. H. B. Gibson had the misfortune to be throwui heavily from hi® house, and had to be removed to the Manaia Hospital, where it was found that he was suffering from concussion. Mr. Gibson is reported to-day to be grossing, and it is hoped to bring him back to Hawera oh Sunday. Mr. W. A Veitch, M.P., who has not been well for-some time, has been ordered to undergo an operation shortly. The operation is not of a serious nature. Mr.Veitch was yesterday granted one week’s leave of absence from his duties in the House of Representatives.

One of the oldest of New Zealand native-born colonists, Mrs. Ann Cossey passed away at Papatoetoe, on Sunday morning at the age of 81 years. She was born at Hokianga in 1843, and was married to Mr. James T. Cossey by the late Rev. Thomas Norrie. Her husband, who died in 1917, was a wellknown settler of Drury, and received the New Zealand War Medal for services rendered against the hostile Maoris m the sixties around the Sjueen s Redoubt storm centre. -4 contract has lately been let on behalf of the Roman Catholic congregation to a Palmerston North monumentl S *r/°i r Erection of a memorial in he Pafeiatua, cemetery to the late Dean A.’ McKenna, who was for many years the !oeal parish priest. The memorial will be a particularly fine one and of striking design, surmounted by an imposing Celtic cross. The is expected to be completed about the middle of November.

An old colonist, Mr. Henry Martin, died at Auckland at the age of 83. Mr. Martin, who w r as born at Bortala, England, arrived at Auckland in 1868. .bor a number of years he worked on sheep stations in Canterbury, but later joined the Armed Constabulary.. Subsequently he was transferred to the police, and after being promoted to sergeant in 1875, he was for ten years in charge of the water police. Mr. Martin was then appointed crier of the Auckland Supreme Court, holding that position for 26 years. He then becameassistant librarian for the Law Society until his retirement in 1919. As a testimony of his long connection with the court Mr_ Martin was then presented with an illuminated; address and a cheque by Mr. Justice Edwards: on behalf of the society.

It is with regret (says the Chronicle) we have to announce the death of another pioneer settler of Wanganui in the person of Mr. James Malcolm May who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 74 years. The deceased, who was born in Edinburgh, came to New Zealand with his parents 65 years ago. The family came to Wanganui and resided on what is known as the May estate at Gonville. The deceased spent all his early days there. He served in the Maori war and was present at Weraroa. After the war he went to Wellington, where he carried on business as a draper till he retired some twelve years ago, when he returned to Wanganui. The late Mr. May was predeceased by his wife, who died three years ago. One son was killed when on active service in the Great War. Two sons remain to mourn their loss. Mr. Matthew Michael Cleary, an exgovernor of Lyttelton gaol, and’ probation officer for Lyttelton, who. died at Christchurch on Friday last, aged 90 years, was bom at Milltown, County Clare, Ireland. He joined the Royal Irish Constabulary at Dublin at the age of 17, and wa s a sergeant at 20, having been speedily promoted for saving life at Cork. Resigning from the Constabulary in 1857, Mr Cleary left for Melbourne, where he subsequently joined the police force, and remained there till 1861. On the outbreak of th§ Gabriel’s Gully gold rush the Provincial Government of Otago organised a police force, and Mr. Cleary was appointed a sergeant on the goldfields when he came to New Zealand. He resigned from the police force and joined the prison service at Dunedin in 1863, and two months later was promoted to the-rank of sergeant. In 1867 Mr. Cleary was appointed gaoler at Hokitika. and held the position until 1882. when he became governor of the Mt. Eden gaol. A few months later, at his own request..he returned to his former position at Hokitika, and in November, 1888, was transferred to Lyttelton to take up the governorship of the prison there. .He wa s in that position for many years.