PERSONAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 56, 3 February 1927, Page 7

PERSONAL

Dr W. J. Gray, of Perth (Western Australia) was a passenger from Sydney by the Manuka yesterday. He went south last evening to attend the medical conference at Dunedin. Mr H. A. Rees, head of the booking staff at the local railway station, left yesterday on annual leave, which will be spent in the South Island. A cablegram from Port Said states that Sir Neville Howse, Australian Minister of Defence, is convalescent, and will probaly leave for Australia on the 7th inst.

Mr H. J. Worthington, of the Department of Justice, Wellington, is on relieving duty at the Magistrate’s Court during the absence of Mr H. W. Brown op holiday. A striking tribute was paid to the late Sir Henry Brett by the Takapuna Borough Council, Auckland, when it was suggested that residents should subscribe to a memorial which would perpetuate his memory in the district for which he had done so much. Mr G. Patton, son of Mr and Mrs S. Patton, of Sydney street, underwent an operation for appendicitis this week in a local private hospital. He is progressing satisfactorily, and is expected to be able to return home by Tuesday next. Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. StnpletonCotton, who was attached to the Flying Corps during the Great War, arrived in Wellington by the llimutaka yesterday in order to enjoy some deepsea fishing in New Zealand waters. He left for Russell by the express last night.

Sympathy with Mr P. H. Smith, secretary of the Wanganui Power Board, in his present indisposition was voiced at the annual conference this morning of the power board secretaries and executive officers, and the hope was expressed that Mr Smith would speedily be restored to health. At the meeting of the executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday in Wellington, the president (Mr W. J. Poison) expressed the regret and sympathy of the executive at the death of Mr H. D. Vavasour, whom he described as a stalwart of the farmers when he kept the flag flying in very difficult times.

There arrived in Wellington by. the Rimutaka yesterday to settle permanently in New Zealand Rear-Admiral Robert N. Lawson, C. 8., Mrs Lawson and their family of five children. Rear-Admiral Lawson took part in the Battle of Jutland, in which historic engagement lie commanded H.M.S. Chester.

Feeling reference to the bereavement suffered by the Mayor, Mr F. J. Nathan, in the death of his sister, Mrs M. Cohen, was expressed at the annual conference of power board secretaries and executive officers this morning, and a motion of condolence was carried in silence, all present standing.

Mr Ken Winks, who has resigned liis position on the staff of a Napier firm to take up a position in Palmerston North, was met by the staff at a pleasing little function last week and made the recipient of two handsome presentations. Mr Winks should be an acquisition to Palmerston North musical circles. At the local competitions last year he secured several awards for baritone solos.

A resolution of appreciation of the services of Mr W. B. Mathie6on, of the Wairarapa, was passed by the executive of the Farmers’ Union at Wellington yesterday, together with the wish that he would thoroughly enjoy the extended holiday upon which he has just embarked. Members spoke particularly of the valuable work he did during the absence of the president on the subject of agricultural banks.

Mr Henry Wetherilt, wlio passed away in Auckland this week, will be remembered in connection with the wreck of tho Hudart-Parker steamer Elingamite, as on that occasion he was one of the survivors of the raft on which 16 people were saved, and from which eight were lost before the raft was picked up by H.M.S. Penguin. They were afloat for five days and four nights without food or water. Mr Wetherilt on that occasion took charge of the raft, and before that, on board the ill-fated steamer, he had also done good work in helping to save life.

The death is announced from London of General Sir George Higginson, G.C.8., the last of the Grenadiers at Inkerman. General Higginson celebrated his hundredth birthday last June. In 1845 he was an ensign in the Grenadier Guards, in which regiment he served for 30 years, being with it during the whole of the Crimean War, and was twice promoted for service in the field. He commanded the Home District from 1879 to 1884, and was Lieut.-Governor of the Tower of London from 1888 to 1893. He published in 1916“Seventyone Years of a Guardsman’s Life.”