PERSONAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 88, 13 March 1934, Page 6

PERSONAL.

Hon. J. Bitchener (Minister of Public Works) has returned to Wellington from a visit to the East Coast district. The death of Mr John Duder, a pioneer Auckland resident, at the age of 86 years, is reported in a message from Auckland.

Mr James Arthur Thomson, a prominent veteran Auckland angler, has died in England, says a Press Association message from Auckland. Visiting Rotarians at last evening’s gathering of the Palmerston North Rotary Club were Messrs J. T. Martin (Wellington) and P. Barr (Dunedin). Mr J. H. Stevens, of Palmerston North, is representing the Manawatu Justices of the Peace Association at the conference in Auckland of the New Zealand Federation of the Justices of the Peace.

Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Lands) and Hon. R. Masters (Minister of Education) visited Pahiatua yesterday, when they heard representations concerning the damage caused by the earthquake. Colonel N. W. B. Thoms, D. 5.0., formerly of the New Zealand Staff Corps, has returned to London on the completion of his engagement as Commandant of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps. Colonel Thoms will settle in Kent.

A pioneer settler of the Carterton district, Mr Humphrey Callister, celebrated his 97tli birthday last week. Mr Callister still enjoys good health, and is able to work in his garden. He came to New Zealand from the Isle of Man when 22 years of age. Rev. H. W. Newell, who is at present' attending the conference of the Congregational Church in Palmerston North, and Mr It. H. Hooper have been elected to fill the vacancies on the Dominion Council of the League of Nations Union caused by the resignation of Mr H. P. Kidson, who has been appointed principal of Otago Boys’ High School, and Mr W. J. McEldowney, who has removed to England. Rt. Hon. Earl Beauchamp and his son, Hon. Hugh Lygon, passed through Auckland on Saturday on their way back to England after a prolonged holiday in Sydney. Earl Beauchamp was unwell some two years ago and was obliged to resign from the leadership of the Liberals in the House of Lords. He came to New Zealand and took the baths at Rotorua, which he states benefited him considerably. He later went to Sydney, where lie and his son have been living for the past year.