PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 August 1924, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Official advice has been received by the Government (says a Press Association message) that Vice-Admiral Sir J. H. de Robeck has declined the Gover-nor-Generalship.

The death of the Rev. T. N. Griffin, a well-known Methodist minister, aged 71, is reported in a Christchurch telegram. The rev. gentleman was at one time stationed at Hawera, and during his ministry in South Taranaki he made many friends.

A special meeting of the Eltham Borough Council, held last night, decided to appoint Mr. C. Bagby to the position of gas manager at the municipal works. Mr. W. S t Heyes, the present manager, has resigned and will be leaving Eltham shortly.

The Governor-General and Viscountess Jellicoe arrived in Hawke’s Bay yesterday and attended a Maori ceremony at Omahu, later coming on to Napier as guests of Mr R. D. D. McLean. They left tins morning by car for Gisborne.—Press Assn. Viscount Grey’s successor in the Liberal leadership of the ' House of Lords will probably be either Lord Beauchamp or Lord Buckmaster (states a London cable). Prior to his elevation to the peerage in 1916, Viscount Grey was Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He conducted the negotiations which ended with the declaration of war in 1914. Of late years he has been threatened with blindness. An old and respected resident of Lower Hutt, Mrs Catherine McGurk, died on Sunday evening at the age. of 80. Airs McGurk was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and on arrival iii New Zealand took up her residence at Lower Hutt, where she spent all her later years. Two sons and a married daughter' survive her. Mr W. A. Dean, agricultural instructor for the Stratford district under the Taranaki Education Board, has resigned his position to take up an appointment in England. Mr Dean, who has previously been in England, has specialised in dairying, especially with regard to the production of grade A milk, and modified milk for infant feeding, and his appointment, is the managership of a large milk laboratory in London, with which firm Mr Dean has had previous experience in a similar capacity.

A very old and highly-respected resident of Napier, Mr Edward Coe, ))assed away on Thursday last at the age of 70 years. . Born at Howiek, Auckland, in 1854, the late Mr Coe arrived at Napier, when six years of age, and resided there until his death. He was a prominent athlete: in his yooing days, being a noted runner raid bicycle rider. He took a keen interest in volunteering, and was a good marksman, winning many trophies and cups with the rifle. For many years he was a member of the Napier City Band and the Napier Fire Brigade. He was employed at the Vulcan Foundry for 46 years, and retired about four years ago. He leaves a widow and a grown-up family of one son and three daughters.

The Parish Hall, Eltham, was well filled on Tuesday evening, when Mrs. Green and family were farewelled on the eve of their departure for Ancleland. On behalf of the Catholic congregation Father N. Moore referred to the good work Mrs. Green and family had rendered during their long residence in Eltham. On behalf of the congregation he presented Mrs. Green with a cameo brooch, and to her two daughters, Miss Molly and Mrs. Reardon, Those assembled rose and sang lustily “For they good fellows,” and Mrs. Reardon suitably responded on behalf of lierself, her mother and sister. Dancing was indulged in till a late hour, and a capital supper was served by the ladies’ committee. Musical items were con-' tributed by Airs. Iv„Nodder, Aliss AI. Green, and a duet, assisted by a chorus, by the Carey family, of Stuart Road. Alembers of the ’Wanganui Education Board (says the Chronicle) were deeply shocked last evening when they learned that between the .adjournment of the afternoon meeting and the hour for resumption in the evening the wife of their esteemed chairman, Mr W. A. Collins (whom they had just previously unanimouslv re-elected to that responsible office) had passed away. The sadness of the occurrence was accentuated by the pathetic coincidence that the day of his great bereavement was also the sixtieth anniversary of bis own birthday. The deceased lady had been undergoing hospital treatment for several weeks, following a severe, operation, and was believed to be progressing satisfactorily towards recovery. Yesterday, however, she suffered what proved to be a fatal relapse, and Air Collins left the Board meeting only to learn the sad news of her death. Mr and Mrs Collins had resided at Kai Iwi fpr over 30 years, and no one was held in hfgher esteem throughout the district than Airs Collins. She was one of Nature’s gentle-; women, known to all as a good wife and wise and loving mother, a kindly neighbour and a worthy citizen. She was spared to bring up a family of three sons and three daughters: Mrs W. Farquhar, of Waiho, Mrs M. J. Crowley, of Raetihi, and Aliss Elsie Collins, of Kai Iwi; Air H. Collins, of Kai Iwi. and Kenneth, who is at the 'Wellington Training College.