PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 February 1927, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr. E. J. Kirk, who until twelve months ago was associated for a- number of years with the literary staff of the Star, spent two days in Hawera. He left this morning by mail tram for W’anganui, where he is spending a holiday.

iMr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., left Hawera by mail train this morning for Tauniarunui, where he will attend a special meeting of the Wanganui River Trust Board. He anticipates returning to Hawera on Tuesday.

Mr. W A. Sheat, who is on the staff of Marlborough College, and who has been spending his vacation in his home town, left- Hawera last evening to resume his duties.

Mr. Win. Morrison, of Auckland, stayed several days at the White Hart Hotel, and left this morning for New ■Plymouth. iMr. H. H. Newton, of tlie Big Tree Company, left this morning by mail train for Wellington. He spent several days in Hawera, during which period he stayed at the Egmont Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. H. Stanbridge, who stayed at the Commercial Hotel during the race meeting, left this morning for New Plymouth. Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Herbert J. C. Goodwin, who has been appointed Governor of Queensland, is a surgeon by profession. He was born in 1871, and studied at St. Mary’s Hospital, London, and joined thei Army Medical Corps in 1893. He .saw field -service in the north-west frontier of India and elsewhere in 1897. He served throughout the war, and from 1918 to 1923 was Director - General of tlie Army Medical Service. He was for some time honorary surgeon to H.M. the King. He married Miss Lilian Isabel Ronaldson in 1897.

Mr J. Orchiston, who was in Hawera overnight as - a member of Sir William Noble’s party r , has been described as the first postmaster at Hawera. This is hardly correct, though Mr -Orchiston, who arrived in Hawera in March,-1874, was' the first postmaster in charge of the post and telegraph office worked under ordinary' conditions. Speaking to a representative of the Star, Mr Orchiston stated that the first postmaster in Hawera was a Mr Shephard, who kept Shephard’s Hotel, afterwards known as the Egmont Hotel. This was an honorary appointment* no remuneration being attached to the position. In 187-2 Mr John Black, telegraph linesman, acted as postmaster, he being the first officer of the department to fill tlie position. He could work the telegraph instruments and carried out his duties as postmaster and telegraphist as auxiliary' -to his work as a linesman, receiving £5 per. annum additional salary for the additional work. Mr Black subsequently became controller of stores in Welington and died about five years ago. Mr Orchiston, after something over two years in Hawera, was transferred to tlie constructional side of the department’s work, and ultimately rose to the position .of chief engineer for the department.