PERSONAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18571, 25 November 1920, Page 7

PERSONAL.

A message from Hokitika states that Mr James A. Murdoch has been elected chairman of the Westland County Council.

Sir Thomas Macl«en/.fe arrived from the north yesterday, and went to Dunedin by the first express. To-day he will attend the Clutha Show.

Mr C. Torry,' a director of the White Star Line, was a passenger by the lonic, which arrived at Wellington from England on Tuesday. He is on a holiday visit to New Zealand. Mr A. L. Tressidor has been appointed clerk of the Ashburton Magistrate's Court, in succession to Mr A. H. Cutler, who has been appointed DeputyRegistrar at Christchurch. Mr Willis T. G. Airey, who has been selected as the 1920 New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, is 23 years of age and a returned soldier, having served in France with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (says the " Post"). Ho is a Master of Arts of the University of New Zealand with second-class honours in EngMsh and Latin. He gained a University Entrance Scholarship in 1914, and in 1916 won the college premiums for English and Latin. Ho held the Senior University Scholarship in English for 1918. Generally his scholastic career at the Auckland Grammar School and the Auckland University has been a particularly brilliant one. His athletic record is also a good one. He played cricket for the North Island in the University Inter-Island match at Wellington last Easter.

Complimentary references to the work of Sir Thomas Mackenzie as High Commissioner for New Zealand were made at yesterday's meeting of the Farmers' Union executive. A vote of appreciation was moved by tbe vice-president, Mr W. Mulholland, who said that the Commissioner had had a strenuous time. His services diiring the past three or four years had been of inestimable value to the producer. Mr Sheat endorsed Mr Mulbolland's remarks, stating that it was in that same room, when Sir Thomas was a defeated politician, that the speaker had suggested sending him Home to .look after, the interests of the farmers. " And Hie farmers would be wise to Becure bis services again and send him back," ho concluded.

There was a good gathering of members of the Canterbury Press Club at the club rooms yesterdav afternoon, to bid farewell to Mr J. O. P. Watt, a prominent member of the club, who will leavo Christchurch on Saturday to *ake up a position on the literary Btaff of the Greymouth "Star." The president of the olub, Mr W. G. Atack, presided, and said that Mr "Watt bad been one of the foundation members of the club, and # one of its most earnest and enthusiastic workers. His personality had made him deservedly popular. All would miss him, and all were satisfied that in his future work as a journalists he would do credit to the training he had received in Christchurch. On behalf of the club and of other local Pressmen, Mr Atack handed to Mr Watt ■ a handsome case of goldmounted pipes. Mr D. Morgan, a member of the club's executive. described Mr Watt as one of the most thorough and conscientious men in the profession, and, in club life, one of the best members the club had had. Mr G- Brown (secretary and treasurer of the club). Mr H. R. T. Spanner (exsecretary), Mr A. W. Dunkley, and Mr D. Kirby endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers, and all wished Mr Watt the best of happiness and success in bis new sphere or activity. Mr Watt in responding, expressed his regret at leaving Christchuroh, and his pleasure -at having made so many genuine friends amongst the Pressmen of the city. Hearty cheers were riven I tor Mr Watt, and his health was drunk with musioal honours.