PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 December 1925, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr. Percy G. Budd, formerly of the Loan and Mercantile, Stratford, and afterwards of the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-p)). Association, Wairoa, and Levin and Co., Feilding, has joined the staff of the Farmers’ Co-op. Organisation Society, as auctioneer at Stratford and the northern end.

Sister E. Kidd, matron of Dr. Hockins’ private hospital at Kaponga, and Sister A. Iveyte, of the staff, were the guests of Mrs. Hockin at a farewell gathering arranged in their honour on Monday afternoon. Sister Kidd leaves the Kaponga hospital to take up an appointment at Wanganui, and Sister Reyte is retiring from the profession. Sister B. Carter, formerly of the Hamilton public hospital, arrives to-day to take over the matron’s duties at Kaponga, and Sister Kcyto will he succeeded by Sister Cage, late of St. Helen’s Auckland.

The death occurred in St. Alary’s Convent,' Ponsonby (Auckland), of a pioneer sister, Mary Augustine, aged 81 years. She arrived in New Zealand from Dublin in 1874. She had already given proof of her brilliant mental gifts and! high academic attainments at South Abbey, Dalkey, and Sion Hill, Dublin, asi well as at various' schools on the Continent, and was at once given a post in the: State teaching service. It was in 187 G that she entered St. Mary’s: Convent, where her life as a Sister of Mercy and her devoted. service made her known to a wide circle of friends and to the pupils passing through the school in the- past fifty years.

lii the, tea kiosk at the Kiecarton (Christchurch) racecourse last evening representatives of every hamlet and constituncy in the Kiecarton electorate gathered' to do honour to the Hon. George Witty, avlio did! not contest the seat- at the general election after holding it for twenty-three years. Hie Prime Minister was among the guests. Eulogistic reference was made to Mr Witty’si service to the constituency., and he was made the recipient of an inscribed wallet containing a cheque for £SOO and a lady’s handbag for Mrs Witty with a cliequ© therein for £-o. There is a further £l5O to come m for the main presentation.

Many friend s in Hawera and district w iH learn with pleasure that Mr H. G. Sellar, formerly of Hawera, has benefited verv much by a, stay in the South Sea Islands, mainly at Samoa. Speakin <>■ to liis brother, Mr D. A. Sellar, of Hawera last week, Mr Sellar was enthusiastic in his praise of. th© administration of affairs by Major Sir (*. o. Richardson, who, he said, had completely gained the confidence of the natives, and had proved’ himself to be quite the right man for this important post. Mr Sellar was the guest ot Mr Griffin. ITnder-Secretary for- Native Affairs, and therefore had exceptional facilities for getting an insight into the affairs of the Government. It is worthy of mention, in order to show the thoroughness with which General Richardson tack'ed his job, that be wa s able to speak the native language six months after he arrived in the islands. Mr Sellar had three- months away, and returned to Auckland a fortnight ago.