PERSONAL ITEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24875, 22 April 1944, Page 8

PERSONAL ITEMS

: ■ 'i The Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Works, will visit Auckland during tha week-end, Mr. 11. L. P. Scott, district officer 0 { the St. John Ambulance Brigade, has been promoted district superintendent, Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Hemphill liaison officer between the Army and the Maori war effort, arrived from Wellingtoii yesterday. ST. GEORGE'S DAY AUCKLAND CELEBRATION The Royal Society of St. George belt] its annual celebration of St. George's Day, April 23, at the Catholic Women's League rooms last night. The guests, who included Mr. A. G. Osborne, M.P., representing the Prime Minister. Archbishop Averill, and the -Mayor, .Mr. J, A. C. Alhun, were received by Mr. p. Heath-I'reest, president of the Auckland branch, and Mrs. Heath-Preest. The evening began with the singing 0 f rfhe National Anthem, a parade with the flag and the sounding of the "Last Post" in memory of the war dead. Other guests were Commodore S. D, Jupp, senior United States naval officer in New Zealand, and representatives of the British and American armed services and the Consular Corps. The speakers for the evening were Mr, Osborne, Archbishop Averill, Commodore Jupp and the president. The annual church parade will be held to-morrow morning at St. Mary's Cathedral. KIA ORA REST HOME AMERICAN APPRECIATION The value of the rest enjoyed at Kia Ota, formerly the Evelyn Firth Home, by American airmen on leave from the Pacific was stressed by Major Merrill Moore, of the United States Army, in a brief address at the quarterly meeting last night of the Auckland Provincial Joint Council of the Order of St. .John and the New Zealand Peel Cross Society. He expressed appreciation of the action of the council in making the home available for the purpose, by permitting its lease to the American Red Cross. "A trip to New Zealand is the one event, short of- the end of the war, to . which they look forward," said Major Moore. "Each, on his return to the islands, tells of the comforts and tLa gracious reception experienced in Auckland." Although most of the airmen were healthy and well when they came on leave, many were tired, and much important medical work of a preventive kind was carried out at the home. The men received there had gained an average of 101b. to 151b. during their nine days' stay. Most of them came from towns and cities much smaller than Auckland, and they found the experience here very interesting. Among the cultural attractions which they enjoyed were the zoo. the museum and the Art. Gallery. Very few spent their leave here without spending at least one day at the museum. They were very good patrons of the book stores, and all c-arne with long shopping lists for their friends. He knew of no institution that was fulfilling its tions better than this home. He only wished that in other theatres of war the men could have such beautiful facilities, so graciously administered. RAILWAY POSITIONS APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED (P.A.) WELLINGTON', Friday The appointments of Mr. F. H. McAuiey to the position of chief accountant and Mr. W. Robertson as superintendent of workshops, New Zealand Railways, are. announced by the Minister of Railways, the Hen. P. Semple. Both appointments are consequent on the retirement of officers who have completed the requisite 40 years of service in the department. From 1936 until 1940 Mr. Robertson served as assistant to the works manager at Otahuhu and was promoted to works manager in 1941. Later in the same year he was transferred to the Hutt workshops as works manager and in 1943 became workshops inspector attached to the chief mechanical engineer's office, Wellington. OBITUARY MR. ROBERT MUNRO The death has occurred in Auckland of Mr. Robert Munro, of Pokeno, in. his 86th year. The eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. G. Munro, of Clevedon, Mr. Munro spent several years of his early life in the Taranaki district, where he was engaged as a•- horse trainer. He settled 48 years ago at Pokeno. where he resided until his death. He possessed a wide knowledge of cattle and did much good work in the Pokeno district as a veterinarian. He was a breeder of Jersey cattle and owned a valuable dairy herd. Mr. Munro is survived by his wife and three sons, one of whom recently returned from the Middle East. HOSPITAL PRESENTATION Sisters of the Auckland Hospital Board's Emergency Nursing Service assembled at the 'Ellerslie Emergency • Hospital to make a presentation to the lady superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, Miss V. M. Cussen, on her retirement. V.A.'s and members of the canteen and kitchen staff were also present. The presentation, which took the form of a fireside! chair, was made by the sistei--in-charge. Mrs. P. J* Itut ton, and deep, appreciation of Cussen's services was expressed by DfC. Gilberd, medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, and by Dr. *•; R. Smale. medical officer-in-charge at Ellerslie. SERVICEMEN'S CLUB A decision to open a campaign on May 1 for the purpose of raising fun<u . for the proposed returned servicemen s club at Hamilton was made at a corabined meeting of interested organise*: tions. The committee intends to raise a minimum of £IO,OOO and at sonie stage a demonstration will .he ne. throughout Hamilton for publicity pu poses. NAVAL CASUALTIES (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Friday The following temporary. sub-hen* tenants (A) were reported missing W 4 casualty list issued to-day: — Parker, Samuel G.—Dunedin. Bengo, John 0. —Wellington. | Godwin James G.—Blenhejiu.