PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 December 1928, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Hon. Sir James Alien underwent a slight operation at Dunedin last week and will be unable to get about for a while. The trouble is aiot serious. After 30 years’ service as engineer to the Rangitikei County Council Mr S. A. R. Mair has resigned. Mr Mair is recognised as one of the foremost local body engineers in the Dominion. The Rev'. E. Nicholls, pastor of the Ponsonby Baptist Church, Auckland, has accepted a call to the Hastings Baptist Church, and will take up his new duties at the end of February. The death of Gunnar Knud sen, exPremier of Norway, is reported by cable from Oslo.

At the ordinary meeting of the Otakeha Farmers’ Club last night, Messrs DavkHsou, Wood, Byrne and Bas Word were elected delegates to the meeting of the combined local societies rut Auroa. The death is announced of Mr. Arthur Wentworth Gore, a former tennis champion of England, aged 60 years. He was captain of the first international tennis team England v. America in 1900, and champion of England in 1901, 1908, and 1909. Though confirmation is not available from official quarters (writes our 'Wellington correspondent) it is understood that Mr J. S. Barton. S.M., is to be transferred to 1 the Wellington district-as a result of the changes made necessary bv the retirement of Mr W. G. Riddell, S‘.M.

Captain S. G. Stringer (late superintendent of Mercantile Marine), who is the guest of Mr P. J. Allen, of Waitara, passed through Hawera by ear this morning accompanied by Mr Allen, on route for Palmerston North and Napier. At last night’s meeting of the Hawea Main School committee, the appointment of Miss Edith Kennedy, of the St. Hilda College school, Dunedin, as assistant in charge of special classes at the Hawera school was confirmed. Miss M. Flynn and Mrs Wilson, of Bulls, are staying at the Central Hotel during a short visit to Hawera. Dr. Mecredy and Dr. W. Shaw, of the Health Department, are at present in Hawera on departmental business, and are staying at the Elgmont Hotel. Mr W. Kinross White, o.f Napier, is a guest at the Elgmont Hotel during a short stay in Hawera.

Mr T. A.. Winks left, for Wellington this morning by the mail train. Tauranga reports that the death has taken place of Mr. William Darragh, aged 103, who came to New Zealand in the Carisbrook Castle about 50 years ago and has been a resident of Tauranga ever since. Although confined to his home for some years, Mr. Darragh was in possession of his faculties to within the past day or two, when he became indisposed and unable to rally. He leaves three sons, all residents of Tauranga. FoVowing a lengthy i linens, the death occurred on Friday of Mir Adrian Porter, an old and respected resident of b'eildling. The late Mr Porter retired some years ago from his profession of dentistry, and some twelve months back commenced to fail. He was the youngest son of the late Rev. George Porter, of St. Leonard’s Rectory, Exeter. Devon, England, and was in hiis 62nd year. Mrs Porter and three sons are left to mourn his* loss.

The death took place at Raetihi last week of Mr Charles C. Nation, son of Mr W. C. Nation, of Levin, and proprietor of the “Oliakune Times” and the the Waimarino County Call (Raetihi). Born in Christchurch, the late Mr Nation removed with his parents successively to Greytown and Shannon. Entering the newspaper business early, he established the “Manawatu Farmer” at Shannon in 1893, also publishing there the “Foxton Telegraph.” Three years later, at Levin, the existing paper there was incorporated in the “Farmer,” of which the “Levin Chronicle” is the present day representative. The late Mr Nation, when the firm’s interests at I.evin were disposed of, joined the saff of the “Oliakune Times” which he eventually purchased. Later, he also took over the “Waimarino County Call” mib'.ishedi in the neighbouring town of Raetihi carrying qh these organs and the associated printing offices with ability, the late Mr Nation built up a substantial business, and was held m general esteem by his fellow townsmen.