PERSONAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 219, 12 August 1930, Page 6

PERSONAL

The Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe, will leave for Christchurch to-night, and will return, to Wedington on Sunday morning.

No change was reported to-day in the condition of Mr Francis McLean, of Marton, who is seriously ill at the Palmerston North Hospital. At last night’s meeting < f the College Street School Committee, Mr C. L. Turnbuil was elected a member to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr P. W. Barnard, the fo.mer secretary.

A cable message from Sydney announces the death of Mr H. T. Hamilton, a former judge or the New South Wales District Court and Quarter Sessions. Mr Hamilton was a leading golfer and vice-president of the Royal Agricultural Society. The death occurred yesterday, after a short illness, of Mr Frederick T. Leighton, of Eastbourne, Wellington. Mr Leighton was first assistant chemist in the laboratory of the Department of Agriculture and had been in the Public Service for twenty-three years. Mr Leighton leaves a widow and two children.

At to-day’s meeting of the Kairanga County Council a letter was received from Mrs L. G. Rawlins, of Surrey, England, thanking the chairman and councillors for their cable of sympathy in her recent bereavement. Mrs Rawlins is the onlv sister of the late Mr F. W. Connell, formerly clerk of the Kairanga County. Ninety years of age last Saturday, Mr Edwin Auger, of Ponsonby, is among the oldest inhabitants of Auckland and the most healthy. During 68 years’ membership of a friendly society he has not drawn any sick pay, for the reason that he has had no illness which has necessitated this. Mr Auger is still so active in body and mind that he continues to attend and take part in evening meetings of bodies with which he is connected. The death occurred at Timaru recently of Mr Kenneth McDonald, one of Southland’s pioneers, who for over 40 years was a farmer in the Redan Valley, Wyndham district. Born in Plocton, Rosshire, Scotland, in May, 1844, deceased migrated to New Zealand, together with four older members of his family, in 18C0. Deceased leaves a family of four sons and four daughters to mourn their loss. Mr Kenneth McDonald, of Palmerston North, is a nephew of the deceased. His many friends in the Manawatu will regret to learn of the death of Mr Walter Richmond which occurred at Hamilton on Sunday after a long illness. The deceased gentleman was born at Frome, Somerset, in 1861 and came to New Zealand as a young man. He followed farming pursuits m the Sandon, Rongotea and Taikorea districts for many years where he was well known and respected. In the early days of the dairy industry he became a member of the hrst Board of Directors of the Rongotea Dairy Company after it was taken over by the shareholders. Later he was chairman of the dairy company at Taikorea. On his removal to Waikato about 20 years ago, Kir Richmond made his home at Leamington, near Cambridge, where lie was aiso identified with many public movements. He was twice married and is survived by his wife and a large family of sons and daughters and by his mother, aged 90 years, who resides at Fernhill, Parewanui. A brother, Mr Alfred Richmond, is a well known Taikorea resident.

After three and a-half years’ service, Rev. J. G. T. Castle, M.A., has resigned from the position of headmaster of King’s School, Remuera, Auckland. It was in 1927 that lie succeeded the first headmaster of the school. Mr S. Clifton Smith, and directly previous to that he was the headmaster of Heretaunga School, Havelock North. Mr Castle was prominent in sport in his younger days at "Wellington, and represented the Victoria University in both cricket and hockey, while in 1907 he represented Wellington at hockey. His first appointment on leaving University was as assistant master at Waitaki Boys’ High School. The following year he was appointed to a position on the teaching staff of the Wellington College, and was there for four years. From 1912 to 1915 he was assistant curate at All Saints’ Church, Kilbirnie, and for the next four years vicar at Island Bay. He later went to Eitliam, and in 1921 returned to teaching, being appointed to the Palmerston North Boys’ High School, where he again excelled himself at cricket. He remained on the staff of this school until his appointment to Heretaunga. It has not heen decided at what date Mr Castle’s resignation will take effect.