PERSONAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 71, 23 February 1932, Page 6

PERSONAL.

Professor A. G. B. Fisher, professor of economics at Otago University, returned this week after a 15 months visit abroad.

Messrs B. J. Jacobs and Arthur Akers, of Palmerston North, have left for the north for a “fortnight s fishing at Russell. Mr W. 'G. Rutherfurd, secretary, of the local R.S.A., has returned to Palmerston North, after his annual vacation, which he spent at Paekakariki.

Sir Joseph Robinson, a prominent South African sportsman and erstwhile politician, arrived at Wellington from Sydney yesterday on a pleasure visit to New Zealand. - ’ Mr J. McDavitt, of Wanganui, who lias been appointed assistant town clerk to the Palmerston North _ City Council, will take np his • duties at this Centre early next week. Mr Cyrus J. R. Williams, formerly engineer for 25, years to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, returned _to New Zealand yesterday" after a visit to Britain and the Continent.

Rev. J‘. J. North, principal of the Baptist College, Auckland, arrived in Palmerston North by the Auckland express this morning, later proceeding to Napier by . the Hawkp’s Bay express. Rev. C. Hyde, curate of St. Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico, London, has been appointed to succeed Rev. J. R. Neild, as vicar of the cure of Takaro. Rev. Mr Hyde will commence his new duties early in June. Rev. G. T. Brown, M.A., minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, left for Christohurclr to-day to attend the General Assembly of the Church. Rev. L. G. B. Whitehead, of St; David’s,'Terrace End, left yesterday -for the south. A London cable, message announces the death of Sir Maurice de Bunsen, the diplomat, aged 80. The late Sir Maurice de Bunsen entered the diplomatic service in 1877 and served in Tokio, Siam, Constantinople, Paris, Lisbon, Madrid, and Vienna. In 1918 he acted as Special Ambassador to South. America. He retired in 1919. The death occurred at his residence in Masterton, on Sunday, of ME Lewis Nix, an early Wairarapa settler. The late Mr Nix, who was 82 years of age, came to New Zealand about 1853. He was at the Hutt for a brief period, but soon removed to the Wairarapa, where he had resided practically ever since. He was engaged in farming pursuits in the Parkvale, Carterton, district for a number of years.- He took a keen interest in local body affairs. Mr Nix is survived by his wife and a family of three daughters. Rev. A. J. Seamer, president of the 1933 Methodist Conference, is a Victorian who came to New Zealand early in his ministry and entered the Maori Mission work. He acted as assistant of Rev W. Gillis, Superintendent of Maori Missions, but later was appointed to the pastorate of'Petone, whence he went to St. Hilda. At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the forces as a private, serving in Egypt and France. At the wish of the authorities he became a chaplain, but was severely wounded. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed General Superintendent of Home Missions and eventually became General Superintendent‘ of Maori Missions in combination with' his Maori missionary work—a position he holds, to-day. He is an able administrative officer, of statesmanlike views and no man has a more thorough knowledge of Maori life and • problems than Mr Seamer.