A NEW PEER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 27, 2 January 1931, Page 7

A NEW PEER

SIR ERNEST RUTHERFORD. KNIGHTHOODS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 1. An announcement has been issued by His Excellency the Governor-General to the effect that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the New rear, to confer the following honours: — KNIGHT BACHELOR: Arthur Dudley Dobson, Esq., a wellknown Christchurch engineer. Cecil Leys, Esq., managing director and editor of the Auckland Star. COMPANION OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND Sl'. GEORGE (C.M.G.) : George Alexander Troup, Esq., Mayor of Wellington. Alexander Crabb, Esq., Secretary to the High Commissioner’s Department, London. COMMANDER OF THE CIVIL DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (C.8.E.) : William Waddell, Eso., Superintendent of the State Advances Department, Wellington. HONORARY OFFICER OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (HON. 0.8. E.): Malietoa Tanumafili, Western Samoa. A London cable announces that among the peorages is one to Sir Ernest Rutherford, the famous New Zealander, who is now one of the world’s loading scientists and a noted authority on radio activity.

PERSONAL NOTES. LORD RUTHERFORD’S CAREER. The elevation of Sir Ernest Rutherford to the peerage in the crowning award in the brilliant career of this illustrious New Zealander, who for many years has ranked as one of the world’s greatest scientists. He was born in 1871, at Nelson, where his parents, Mr and Mrs James Rutherford, lived for some years before going to Taranaki. After passing through Nelson College young ltuthorford went to Christchurch, where, in 6pite of the lack of facilities at Canterbury College, he carried out an original investigation of fundamental importance in wireless telegraphy, which he followed up at Cambridge in 1895. As an 1851 Exhibition Scholar, he went to Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge, where his initiative, enthusiasm, and experimental skill put him among the foremost physicists of his generation. At the early age of 27 he became MacDonald Professor of Physics at McGill University, Toronto. It was hero that he carried out investigations which led him to make the revolutionary announcement of the disintegration, or the spontaneous transmutation of contain elements. In 1907, ho was asked to take tho chair of physics in the Manchester University. His discoveries were of such farreaching importance that in 1908 lie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. When Sir J. J. Thomson resigned the Cavendish Chair at Cambridge, in 1919, it followed almost as a matter of course that Sir Ernest Rutherford should be selected as his successor. He has been honoured by all the learned societies of the world, he received a knighthood in 1914, and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1925, tho year in which he visited New Zealand. In 1900 he married Mary, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs A. de Renzy Newton, of Christchurch. There was one daughter of the marriage, but she died in England on Christmas Eve. Lady Rutherford is at present visiting England. SIR CECIL LEYS. Sir Cecil Leys, whoso knighthood has been conferred in recognition of services performed in tho profession of journalism in New Zealand, is managing director of New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., which controls the Auckland Star and Christchurch Times. Born in 1877, he was educated at tho Auckland Grammar School, and ho won diplomas at Lincoln Agricultural College. He joined the reporting staff of the Auckland Star in 1895, and in 1897 he spent a year in London with tho New Zealand Press Agency. He became assistant-editor on tho Auckland Star in 1903. During the war, from 1915 to 1918, Sir Cecil saw active service, first in the Balkans with the Red Cross, to which he presented an ambulance car, and later as an officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the operations in tho Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed editor of the Star, and managing director in 1926. When New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., was formed last year, he became managing director of tho company. In addition to his journalistic associations, Sir Cecil Levs has taken a keen interest in the social and cultural lifo of the city of Auckland. He is president of Leys Institute, founded by his uncle and father as a library and community centre for young people. He is a director of tho New Zealand Press Association. SIR ARTHUR DOBSON. In 1862 Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson wan the successful tenderer for tho contract to survey an unknown block of country on tho West Coast, extending from Grey River southwards, a distance of about 75 miles, one of his biggest works. He began his adventures and privations in this virgin country. It was during one of his journeys from Christchurch to tho West Coast that ho discovered Arthur’s Pass. In 1885 he revisited England, returning the same year. Work was ■ now very slack and he decided to go to Melbourne, the construction of the Warrnambool harbour works being his chief engineering work there. The year 1897 found him in Sydney, whence lie returned to New Zealand to take over the business, until then carried on by his father. More engineering works in the province were carried through until in 1901 ho was appointed city engineer in Christchurch at the age of 59. From this post he retired in 1921, at the ripe ago of 80, but continued to practise his profossion privately. Indeed ho has never ceased from practising Ins profession ns consulting engineer. Ho has live children two sons and three daughters. His wife died in September last. MR G. A. TROUP, C.M.G. After 39 years’ service in the Railway Department, all but two of which were spent in Wellington, Mr G. A. Troup retired in April, 1925. His last position with tho department was that of engineer and oflicei-in-charge of tho architectural branch. He has taken a loading part in the civic life of Wellington since April, 1927, when he was elected Mayor. Mr Troup was born in ■ London of Scottish parents. Ho__ landed in Dunedin in 1884, where he joined the staff of the Survey Department, and two years later ho entered the railways as an enginering draughtsman.

In 1894 Mr Troup was appointed chief draughtsman in the Chief Engineer s office, Wellington, and in 1902 he was appointed office engineer. Upon the establishment of tbe architectural branch in 1902 ho accepted the position ot engineer and officer in charge and he held that office until his retirement, in 1906 Mr Troup was elected a bellow ol the Royal Institute of British ArchiThroughout his life Mr Troup has been a warm adherent of the Presbyterian Church. He was one of the founders, and for many years president, of the Boys’ Institute, being associated with it from its inception in the little brick building which formerly stood in Wakefield Street. Ho was also actively associated with tho ■ management of the Y.M.C.A., and his counsel was always valued. In 1929 Mr Troup was responsible for organising a successful campaign to raise money for the erection of the National Alt Gallory and Dominion Museum on Mount Cook (Wellington). Mr Troup has also been president ot the Young Citizens’ League, convener of tbe Youth Committee of the Presbyterian General Assembly, chairman of the New Zealand Council of the British and Foreign Bible Society, a member of tho advisory hoard ot tho Macarthy Trust, a member of the council of Scots and Queen Margarets Colleges and a member of the Kotaiy Club. For many years he took an activo interest in the breeding of pedigree cattle and for a time he held office as president of the I riesian Cattlo Breeders’ Association. MR W. WADDEL, C.B.E. Mr W T . Waddel, C.8.E., has been connected with tho State Advances Department since its inception in 1895. He has thus had tho advantage of growing up with the department. He is highly esteemed throughout the Public Service, and proof of the regard in which ho is held is shown by the fact that he holds office on various important bodies controlled by the Government. Born in the South Island, Mr M addel entered a mercantile office on leaving school. Ho joined the State Advances Department when it was form ed in 1895, and two years later lie was made The department’s activities extend over a wide field. A hoard deals with each application, and this body represents the Audit Department, the Public Trust Office, the Treasury, and the State Advances Department itself. In IJUi, Mr Waddel was promoted to- the position of deputy superintendent, which office he held until 1922, when he was appointed as permanent head of the department. He is also a member of the Public Trust Office investment Board, the Government Insurance Board, the State Firo Insurance Board the Dominion Land Purchase Boprd, and the Public Service Superannuation Board. MR CRABB, C.M.G. Mr Crabb who is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, was for some years on the veterinary staff of the New Zealand Government, and he later became veterinary officer at tho office of the High Commissioner He was appointed official secretary at the High Commissioner fl office in IJM, succeeding Mr T. E. Donne.

OVERSEAS LIST. FOUR PEERAGES. RUGBY, Dec. 31. New Year honours are announced as follows: — PEERS. Sir John Bindley, commercial advisor to the Mines Department; Sir Ernest Lamb, former member of Parliament and member of tho corporation of the city of London; Sir William past-president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, who has presided over many committees and Royal Commissions on commercial and financial questions; and Sir Ernest Rutherford, the well-known physicist and authority on radio-activity, former President of the Royal Society. PRIVY COUNCILLORS. Three new Privy Councillors are : Mr Thomas Kennedy, Chief Labour Whip; Mr Herbert Morrison, Minister ol Transport; and Sir George Perloy, former Canadian High Commissioner and now Minister without portfolio in the Canadian Government. BARONETS. New baronets are: Sir John Bradford, president of the Royal College of Physicians; Mr Ernest Debeiiliani, director of Lloyd’s Bank; Sir Richard Gregory, astronomer; Sir George May, member of the council of the institute of Actuaries: and Mr George Roberts, who under tho pseudonym “Audax” gave 8100,000 to hospitals as a thanksgiving offer for tho recovery of His Majesty the King. ORDER OF MERIT. Admiral Sir Charles Madden and Mr Philip Sheer receive the Order ol Merit, the former for his distinguished services in peace and war, and the latter in recognition of liis position as painter and teacher in the art world. KNIGHTHOODS. New knights include: Mr Norman Angell, tho writer; Mr William Goodchild, secretary to tho British Delegation, Reparations Commission; Dr Graham Little, member of Parliament for London University; Mr John McEwe'n, principal of the Royal Academy of Music; Mr Conrad Naef, account-ant-general to the Navy; Mr David Owen, general manager of the Port of London Authority; Mr Hugh Robertson, founder of the Glasgow Orphans’ Choir: Professor ltothensteiii, principal of the Royal Collego of Art; Air James Sexton, Labour member of Parliament; Air Robert Young, Chairman of Committees of the House of Commons; and Colonel Weston Jarvis, chairman of the Council of the Royal Empire Society. In the general list tliero are over 20 other Knighthoods for the Dominions, India and the Colonies, etc. ORDER OF BATH. Knights Grand Cross (G.C.8.) : General Sir Robert Wliigham, King’s Aide-de-Camp-Gonoral, and Sir Oswyn Murray. Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty. Knights Commander (K.C.8.) : VipeAdmiral William Kelly, Engineer VicoAdmiral Skelton, and Mr Frank Smith, secretary to the Royal Society. ORDER OF STAR OF INDIA. Knights Grand Commander (G.C.5.1.) : Alaharujnh of Udaipur and Maharajah of Kolhapur (Honorary). Knight Commander (.iv.S.I.) : The Prime Minister of Nepal. ORDER OF SAINT MICHAEL AND SAINT GEORGE. Grand Cross (G.C.M.G.) : Highness Tuanku Muhammad, Federated Malay States; Sir Francis Lindley, Ambassador at Lisbon; and Sir Robert Vansittart, Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign Affairs Department. Knights Commander (K.C.AI.G.) : Dr Arthur Hill, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew; Sir Harry Batterbee. Companions fC.M.G.) : Air Montaguo John Rendall, chairman of the School Empire Tour Committee. There are lietween 40 and 50 appointments to the Order of the Indian Empire. ROYAL VICTORIA ORDER. Knights Grand Cross (G.C.V.0.) : Earl of Albennarle and Lord Woola-

vington, who won tho Derby in 1922 and 1926. ORDERS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. Dame Grand Cross (G.8.E.) : Lady Aberdeen, president of tho International Council of Women. Knight Commander: Mr Wilmott Lewis, Times correspondent at Washington. ‘ , , . Commanders: Miss Mnjor, head or Girton College, Cambridge; Miss Martindale, vice-president of tho Medical Women’s International Association; Prebendary Rudolf, founder of the Church of England Waifs’ and Strays’ Society; Professor Sidney Russ, for work on radium; Lady McMillan, for philanthropic services in Kenya. COMPANIONS OF HONOUR. Mrs Swanwick, former British delegate to the League of Nations and president of the Women’s International League, and Miss Walker, founder of the Medical Women’s Association, became Companions of Honour.