NOTABLE SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23059, 9 June 1938, Page 15

NOTABLE SERVICE

HONOUES RECIPIENTS RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY WORK OF SIR ALBERT ELLIS TWO ARTISTS INCLUDED Biographical sketches of the men and women whose names appear in the King's Birthday honours list, published on another page, are as follows:—• SIR THOMAS EASTERFIELD Distinguished services in the field of agricultural research are fittingly recognised in the knighthood conferred on Professor Thomas Hill Easterfield, who was the first director of the Cawthron Institute. After a notable academic career in England, Professor Easterfield, who is 72, was selected for the Chair of Chemistry at Victoria University College, Wellington, and he held that position from 1899 to 1919. During that time he carried out considerable work in agricultural chemistry and research and when the project for the establishment of the Cawthron Institute at Nelson was first put forward he became one of its most enthusiastic supporters. At the invitation of the trustees he became a member of the Commission of Scientists who framed the scheme of operations for the institute and he was appointed its first director in 1919. Ho resigned from the directorship of the institute in 1933.

SIR ALBERT ELLIS

Credit for the discovery of the rich phosphate deposits on Nauru Island—a discovery which has been of marked importance in the development of New Zealand agriculture—belongs to Sir Albert Ellis, of Auckland, New Zealand Commissioner on the British Phosphate Commission. Not only was he the discoverer of the deposits, but he has since taken an active part in organising the working of them and making available supplies of an essential material for the fertiliser industry. Sir Albert was born at Roma, in Queensland, in 1869, but came to New Zealand as a child and received his secondary education at the Cambridge District High School. He was trained as an analyst, and in 1899, when working in a Sydney office, his interest was aroused by a large piece of rock used to prop open a door. It had been brought back from Nauru three years earlier and had been classified as fossilised wood. Mr. Ellis analysed it and found it to he phosphate rock of the highest quality.

MR. R. 0. GROSS For some years now there has been general recognition of Mr. R. O. Gross as one of the finest artists in New Zealand. He showed early ability as a sculptor in South Africa, and after settling in Auckland some years ago made an extended visit abroad to further his studies. Some of his work has been exhibited abroad and in 3930 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, being probably the first New Zealand artist to receive this honour. MR. JOHN WOOD Nearly 40 years' service in the Public Works- Department stands to the credit of Mr. John Wood, who was promoted to his present position as engineer-in-chief in 1936. Mr. Wood entered the department as an engineering cadet in 1900. As a district engineer, Mr. Wood was stationed at Westport and Whangarei and in 1920 he was appointed inspecting engineer at the head office, Wellington. He was promoted to the position of assistant engineer-in-chief in 1933, and three years later, on the retirement of Mr. C. J. McKenzie, he became head of the department.

MR. W. S. LA TROBE The direction of technical education in New Zealand was the responsibility of Mr. W. S. La Trobe for 20 years until his retirement earlier this year. He was born in the Waikato 68 years ago and was educated at the Paterangi School, the Auckland Grammar School and Cambridge University. Mr. La Trobe spent 10 years in England, chiefly engaged in studying developments in technical and vocational training, and then returned to New Zealand as director of the Wellington Technical College; Ho was appointed Superintendent of Technical Education in the Education Department in 1918. MRS. ELIZABETH KELLY A considerable reputation as an artist has been earned by Mrs. A. Elizabeth Kelly, of Christchurch, who has been made a Commander of the British Empire. - She is the wife of another well-known Christchurch artist, Mr. Cecil F. Kelly, and she exhibits regularly at the Royal Academy, London, and the Paris Salon. Mrs. Kelly is • the only holder in New Zealead of a Paris Salon Silver Medal a;id two years ago an exhibition devoted entirely to her work was held in the Whistler Gallery, London. MR, JAMES WALLACE Mr. James Wallace, of Dunedin, was born in Dunedin in 1865. He served his apprenticeship as a compositor and about 50 years ago, with Mr. D. S. Jolly, entered the printing business, with which he still retains an active association. He was elected a member of the Otago Education Board in 1914 and at every election since has been returned at the head of the poll. In 1918 ho was appointed chairman of the board 1 and ho has held this office continuously since 1922. He has been the board's representative on the Otago University Council on two occasions, and has boon chairman of tjie Dominion conference of education boards. Mr. Wallace was a foundation member of the Otago School Committees' Association and his interest in this direction has been recognised by his election as a life member. He has also taken a keen interest in Church matters.

MRS. S. MacDONALD Mrs. Sadie Mac Donald is a daughter of Mrs. J. Thurn, of Sydney. After training as a nurse at the Balmain and Prince Alfred Hospitals, she came to New Zealand in 1912. She married Dr. W. M. Mac Donald in 1913. Ineligible as a married woman for service with the British Army during the Great War, she joined an American ambulance in Paris and later the United States Army Nursing Corps, serving for four years and a-half. Returning to New Zealand, Mrs. Mac Donald was for 10 years a member of the Otago Hospital Board. In 1932 she established the Waikouaiti children's health camp, which she has continued personally to organise and supervise each year since. While in Dunedin, Mrs. Mac Donald was prominent in many branches of women's work. She moved to Wellington five years ago. Her chief work now is the Waikouaiti health camp.

MAJOR E. CLAYTON GREENE * Born in Richmond, Surrey, 41 years ago, Major Clayton Greene is a son of Mr. C. F. F. Clayton Greene, of Hamilton. He was educated at the Hamilton High School. On leaving school, he joined the staff of the Bank of NewZealand. He enlisted' with the New Zealand Field Artillery when the war broke out and served lit the front Avith Colonel, now Mr. Justice Northcroft. On his return he read for the law and served in Mr. Northeroft's office in Hamilton. On qualifying, he began practising in Hamilton and later joined the legal firm of Speight, Course and Clayton Greene. Major Clayton Greene has taken a keen interest in the territorial movement and was officer in charge of the second medium battery, Hamilton. He was president of the Waikato branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association for several years.

PAYMASTER-LIEUT. SLEEMAN Paymaster-Lieutenant H. R. Sleeman, assistant naval secretary and. controller of finance at the Navy Office, joined the Royal Navy in 1913, his first ship being the Admiralty survey ship Endeavour. He was in a naval cruiser at the landing at Dardanelles on April 25, 1915. After the evacuation Lieutenant Sleeman served on the Mediterranean and East India stations for the remaining period of the war. He was on the Australian station for some time before coming to New Zealand several years ago. WARRANT-OFFICER SIMPSON Warrant - Officer W. S. Simpson joined ithe Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1923 soon after his arrival in the Dominion from England, and has been stationed at Wigram ever since. His career in aviation, however, dates back to 1917, when he joined the Royal Flying Corps in England at the age of 19. He served with the Royal Flying Corps in India in 1919, but was invalided home and discharged from the* service in 1920. For a brief period after his arrival in New Zealand he was employed by the Canterbury Aviation Company, and when it went out of existence he joined the New Zealand Air Force. He has the distinction of being the first and only non-commissioned officer pilot in New Zealand, and has been lent by the Government on several occasions to service aeroplanes that have made historic flights to New Zealand, among them being the Southern Cross and the Faith in Australia.