PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 October 1924, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr J. R. Corrigan, M.P., left this morning for Wellington. A Paris cable reports that M.’ Anatole France, the famous French writer, is unconscious, and is sinking rapidly. An Auckland message reports the death of the Rev. Robert Sommerville, aged 85. For many years he was clerk of the Auckland Presbytery. For the purpose of conducting confirmation services, the Right Rev. Dr. Sprott, Anglican Bishop of Wellington, spent Sunday in Eltham. In the morning and evening Dr. Sprott conducted the services at All Saints’ Church, and in the afternoon he visited Mangatoki to confirm candidates. At Eltham and Mangatoki over 30 candidates were confirmed.

The Mayor (Mr F. E. Wilson) was appointed last night the delegate of the New Plymouth Borough Council to the conference of the Municipal Association to be held in Auckland bn October 23. Mr Wilson will also represent the Borough of Inglewood at the request of that council. Mrs. Sarah King, an old settler of the Wairarapa,, died at Westshore, Napier, on September 26. Mrs. King was the wife of Mr. John King, civil engineer, of Gisborne. She arrived in the Wairarapa 56 years ago, and for many years resided in Masterton. A family of six sons and six daughters survive her. • Mr. B R. Stock, manager of the Dunedin branch of the A.M.P, Society for the past 37 years, is retiring after having completed 48 years’ service with the company. On Wednesday he was presented with a- handsomely’ fitted suitcase and a rug on behalf of the outside branches’ in New Zealand, and a case of pipes, a walking stick, and a cheque on behalf of the local staff. Mr. H. D MacDonald, who died at Christchurch on Wednesday last, was a well-known stock auctioneer, having been in the business for over forty years. For many years he was connected with the old firm of Pyne and Co., and at the time of his death was an auctioneer for Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd. He was a familiar figure at the Addington and . other saleyards in Canterbury, and was well known in business circles and by the farming community. New Zealanders will regret to learn of the death at Johannesburg of W. H. (Bov') Morkel, who skippered the Springboks in their three test matches in New Zealand in 1921 (the New Zealand Times states). “Boy” Morkel and Gerard Morkel were members of the Springboks team which toured the United Kingdom in 1912, and which won its five international games. Wales was beaten by a penalty goal to nil, hut Newport (9 —3) and Swansea (3 —0) made amends for the loss of the Welsh test match. It seems strange that the news of “Boy” Morkel’ s death should reach New Zealand on the day after the 1924 AH Blacks met Newport. Mr J. M. Giasson, who returned to Christchurch by this morning’s express, was met at the railway station by representatives of the Male Choir. Mr E. Dixon, the president, on behalf of the choir, made a short address expressing the appreciation of the choir to Mr Giasson for his work, which had resulted in such a success. During his short stay in Hawera Mr. Giasson had made a great many friends, who expressed to him the best of wishes in his new home, and trusted that his health would greatly improve, and that he would be able again to> visit them in a similar capacity. Mr Dixon expressed much pleasure in presenting him with a slight token (a silver cigarette case) as a mark of the esteem with which he was held by the members of the choir. Mr Giasson suitably replied.