PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 November 1924, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The death of the Earl of Verulam, aged 72, is reported by cable froin London.

Mrs Harding, widow of the late President of the United States, is'Critically ill, a cable message from Washington reports.

News of the death of his mother, Mrs Mary Westaway, of Teignmouth, England, was received by Mr J. M. Westaway, of Hawera, this morning. Mr Robert Bremner, of Wavorley, who has been on an extended trip to the Old Country, arrived home by the mail tirain yesterday. Mr and Mrs 6. A. Wilkinson, who have been on a trip to England daring the past few months, arrived in Eltham by the mail train last night. A London cable 'reports the death at the age of 68 years of the Earl of Middleton. He held various Cabinet positions between 1886 c-yid 1905, the final one being Secretary of State for Tndia, and m 1917-18 he served on the Irish Convention. Lord Middleton was the owner of about 9600 acres of land

Eulogistic reference concerning the ability displayed by the county clerk, Mr - .V. H. Hobday, in the discharge of his duties was made at the meeting of the Waimate West County Council yesterday. The chairman, Cr. E. Long, said that on the occasion of the recent audit the Government auditor had highly commended Mr. Hobday on the exceptionally fine standard maintained in his work. To this the chairman had pleasure in adding his personal tribute, and on the motion of Cr. A. Gamlin the council unanimously resolved to place on record its appreciation of Mr. Hobday’s work and the outstanding efficiency with which he attended to county affairs.

Major F. V. Sand ford, Scoutmaster in charge of the Arawa Scouts, who arrived back from England on Wednesday, returned to New Plymouth last night. Major Sandford is 72 years of age, and was, with the exception of a veteran from - Ireland, the oldest scoutmaster present at Wembley. Ma jor Sandford was accompanied by Scouts Rogers (Eltham) and Trueman (New Plymouth). Major Sandford,- who is looking very fit and well after the trip is enthusiastic regarding the hospitality that was showered on the party everywhere, and he speaks highly of the behaviour of the boys.—News.

The General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, Mr R. W. McVilly, will retire within the next few months—some time between the end of the present and the end of the financial year, March 31. It is impossible at present to say who Mr McVilly’ s successor will be. Messrs Mason and Sterling are the first and second assistant general managers. Mr McVilly was born in Otago. He ioined the Railway Department in 1880' and dur r j»g Mr E. H. Hiley’s term in New Zealand, he was assistant-general manager. When M,r Hiley 'returned to England in 1917 Mr McVillv assumed control.