PERSONAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 18 April 1934, Page 6

PERSONAL.

Following a visit to the Galatea estate, Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Lands), returned to Wellington yesterday.

Mr T. C. Brash, secretary of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board, entered a private hospital in Wellingtqn yesterday to undergo a minor operation.

The Exarch Nicola. Shehade, head of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Sydney, died last week, at the age of 76 years. He went to Australia in 1914 and founded the St. George Syrian Orthodox Church with which he had been since associated. A Wanganui Press Association message states that the funeral of Rev. Father Celestine Le Groix was the largest seen in Wanganui for many years. It was attended by Archbishop O’Shea and priests from many parishes throughout the Island. Inspector D. C. Fraser, who has been transferred on promotion from Hamilton as superintendent at Dunedin, was farewelled by members of the Police Force last evening prior to his departure for the south, says a Press Association message.

On Easter Day Mr C. H. Handley presented All Saints’ Church with two solid silver chalices and patens, beautifully designed. Warm tributes to the generosity of Mr Handley, who is a faithful supporter of the parish, were paid at the annual meeting of the parishioners last evening bv Canon G. Y. Woodward.

Dr Leonard Cockayne, C.M.G., F.R-.5., has,been elected an honorary life member of the British Ecological Society in Cambridge, England, which was established twenty-two years ago, and now contains only three honorary members. Ecology is that branch of biology connected with the relation of plants and animals to their environment, and is the fundamental science on which agriculture is based.

The general manager of the State Fire Insurance Department, Mr J. H. Jerram, left Wellington yesterday by the Maunganui for San Francisco. Mr Jerram, who will proceed to Great Britain, expects to be abroad about five months. He will investigate the question of earthquake risks and developments in accident insurance in relation to the Workers’ Compensation Act and other developments in insurance practice.

Extended leave of absence has been granted the Public Service Commissioner (Mr P. Verschaffelt). The Prime Minister, in making thit announcement, said Mr Verschaffelt had made application for leave, acting on medical advice, and the Governor-General had been pleased to grant the request, it being recognised that Mr Verschaflelt, during the past few years, had had a particularly arduous time. During Mr Verschaffelt’s absence Mr A. D. Thomson , who previously acted as deputy, will carry out his duties.

The appointment of Mr E. C. Fussell, of the National Bank of New Zealand, to the staff of the Reserve Bank of rvew Zealand, is announced. For the time being he will act in the capacity or pnvate secretary to the governor, Mr Leslie Lefeaux. Mr Fussell, who has been for several years on the head oihce staff of the National Bank of Aew Zealand, Ltd., as private secretary to the general manager, Sir James trrose, is regarded as one of the most brilliant students in the banking professioii in the Dominion. In company with Mr J. Shaw and Mr T. G. A. Harle, Mi t ussell recently presented the evidence on behalf of the Associated Banks to the Monetary Commission.