PERSONAL ITEMS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 June 1931, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The death of Mr Erancis Read, Pihama, occurred yesterday' at his son’s residence, Morrinsville. Mr Read was 7S y'ears of age. A Gisborne message states that the Governor-General yesterday visited the Maori community centre and received ar. enthusiastic welcome. He also inspected the freezing works and later lunched with the Rotary' Club. An official wireless message from Rugby' announces the death of Sir George Haddon-Smith, aged G 9, former Governor of the Bahamas and the Windward Islands. lie was acting Governor of Gambia Colony for a short time, and was for II years Colonial Secretary at .Sierra Leone, acting as Governor of the colony- on many- occasions.

There passed away on June II at Geraldine, South Canterbury-, one of the olcest surviving pioneers of the Aaeiiland district, Mr Peter Billings, who was born in the Jersey Islands 90 years ago. In the early- days of the colonisation of this country Mr Billings "served with the Eorest Rangers under Major von Tempsky. Later he was in charge of a schooner trading between Whangarei Heads, Kawau Island and Auckland. He finally- settled at Geraldine.

A well-deserved tribute was paid by the president of the Otakelio Farmers’ Association, Mr. E. T. Burke, at the prize presentation ceremony last evening, as to the good work done bv the honorary secretary, Mr. H. R. Wood. The president said the association was exceedingly fortunate in having a man of Mr. Wood’s qualifications for the work he undertook and carried out so efficiently. A resolution of sympathy with the widow and family of the late Mr James Phillips was passed at the monthlymeeting or the Eltliam Borough Council last night. The Mayor (Mr. I. J. Bridger), in moving that a letter of condolence be sent, briefly referred to the late Mr. Phillips’ services on the borough council .some 15 years ago. and also to his interest in public affairs generally. Mr ,L D. Sargent, of Hawera, who graduated B.Sc. at Canterbury College last year, is studying for his M.Sc. degree." Last y-ear he held the senior scholarship in botany- after holding a Taranaki Scholarship for three years, and this y-car his Taranaki Scholarship has been extended. He is at present secretary- of the Students’ Association and takes a prominent interest in crosscountry Tunning and social life at the college. Recently- he was elected a member of the committee of the College Scientific Society. The death occurred at Wanganui yesterday of Mr Prank Grotty-, aged 33 y-ears. Mr Crotty, who was a member of the 19th Reinforcements of the N.Z.E.F., saw three y-ears’ service and returned to New Zealand while still under the military age. A prominent Rugby- football player for the Marist Club/ Mr Crotty was also a Wanganui representative player, and in amateur theatricals he was one of the Wanganui Amateur and Dramatic Society’s leading comedians., In rowing circles he was known in all parts of the Dominion as a member of the Union Boat Club, having competed in most o ftlie inter-provincial regattas. Although his health was not good for some months his death at such an early- ago came as a shock to a wide circle of friends.