PERSONALIA

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12196, 22 July 1925, Page 6

PERSONALIA

VICE-REGAL Miss Fergusson arrived by the Mar#roa yesterday morning from the south, accompanied by Major Haviland and Mr Keswick. Sir Francis Boyea is in Wellington. Dr W. E. Eudy, of Nasehy, is spending a. few days in Wellington. The Hon. D. Buddo, M.P., arrived yesterday from the south. Air L. J. Nathan has returned from Auckland. Messrs E. Shep-Dixon, G. Macpherson, and N. Jaoobson, of Wellington, are at Auckland. Mr L. B. Campbell, district engineer at Auckland for the Public Works Department, is visiting Wellington on departmental matters. Mr E. M. Mitchell, K. 0., of Sydney, states a Press Association message, has been chosen to succeed the late Mr Barff as Warden and Registrar of Sydney University. Mr H. Clayton, president of the Auckland Land Agents and Auctioneers' Association; Mr A. W. Clark, vice-president; and Mr W. J. A. Thomson, secretary, passed through Wellington on their way to Dunedin to attend the annual conference of the New Zealand Real Estate Institute. Captain C. A. Hawkins, who is leaving this week for London, was farewelled by members of the Commercial Travellers' Club. Appreciative reference to Captain Hawkins’s good work in connection with the chib’s charity functions for some years was made by several speakers, and the president, Mr Hugh Wright, on behalf of the members, presented him with a diver cigarette case, suitably inscribed. There died at the Auckland Hospital Mr John McGrath, aged 83, a veteran of the Maori wars. Born in Ireland, he enlisted in the Imperial Army in 1860, and ns Private McGrath, No. 1478, of the second battalion of the 14th Regiment of Foot, he saw active service in New Zealand during the Maori campaigns. He receive his discharge from the armv in 1870. All his relatives living axo believed to reside in Ireland. A farewell was tendered to Dr. J. W. Mcllwraith, who has been promoted senior inspector of schools for Hawke's Bay, at a social gathering organised by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. A tribute to the foie personal qualities and progressive work of Dr. Mcllwraith was paid by the president, Mr W. W. Hill, who made the preeentation : on behalf of the branch,' of a souvenir dressingcase. A very pleasant and representative gathering of the staff Of Sargood, Son and Ewen, Ltd., assembled recently at the Commercial Travellers’ Club to bid farewell to Mr A. W. Nicolson, who has' been in the firm’s employ for the past 18 years. Mr Cramond voiced the feelings of all present as to the high esteem in which he was held bv one and all, and expressed the wish that be would meet with every success in his new venture. Hie presentation took the form of a solid silver tea service, a hall chiming clock, and a .smoker's stand. Mr Nioolson leaves early in August to take over the management of Buttoiwor th Bros. Auckland branch.

Among the passengers by the Tahiti, which is proceeding to B Bn Francisco to-day, ie Mr Frank B, Brown, of'Melbourne, well known as an athletic and boxing writer (his pen-name being “The Count’), and also as an ox-performer of no mean class on the track and-in the ring. He was onetime Australasian 440 yards hurdles champion, and he was a member of the Australasian team which- competed at the Festival of Empise Games at Crystal Palace, London, in 1911. New Zealanders in that team included “Billy” Woodger and Ronald Opie. Mr Brown is making a world tour on behalf of Stadiums, Ltd., in search of boxers and wrestler* for engagements in Australia. He is accompanied by his wife;

Mr James Brooklehurst, _ one of the old residents of Petone, died in the Wellington Hospital. He was bom in Swinton, a few miles from Manchester, England, in 1863, and came to New Zealand in 1887. and has resided in Petone ever sinoe. In conjunction with his brother George, he established and conducted an extensive carrying business, being well known both in the Hutt Valley and Wellington _ city. He was a member of the Maeonio lodge. In addition to his brother George, who resides in Otahuhu, there were _ six other members of the family, bis sisters being Mrs W. G. Woods and Mrs D. Jones;, both of Otahuhu, and Mrs W. Apps, of Gisborne, Mrs Meyrick, Mrs D. Wadsworth, and Miss Minnie Brocklehurst, all of Petone. He leaves a widow, one daughter, Mrs F. Parr, of Petone, and one'grandson.

Mr John Waters, of Pipitea street, Wellington, celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday, and was the recipient of l many congratulatory messages. Ml .Waters, who still enjoyß wonderful!* good health, was horn at HaddingtoA near Edinburgh, on July 21st. 183 P, and with his parents came to New Zealand in 1841 in the barque Slaine Castle. With the exception of a few years spent at Johnsonville, Mr Waters has lived ever . since at 41, Pipitea street, on the section which his father acquired on • landing in 1841. Mr Waters served his apprenticeship as a printer on the “Spectator” newspaper, and subsequently worked on the ‘lndependent,” the “Argus,” and ultimately the “Evening Post” for seven vears. On lefcving the “Post” in 1888, Mr Waters engaged in fanning at Johnsonville, and was clerk of the Town Board for several years. Mrs Waters died about three years ago.

Mr I. Hopkins, whose death was reported yesterday, figured prominently in the affairs of New Zealand, through his work in organising the bee-keeping industry. Prior to his day, the honey supply of the colony was almost limited to that taken 'from tree hives in the bush. Mr Hopkins was the apostle of the introduction of the Langstroth hive, and it was mainly through bis efforts and his personal instruction that bee-keeping was elevated into a profitable industry. As a youngman he waa one of the pioneers of the Thames goldfield. It was while there that he took up the study of the honey-bee and its methods. Starting, as regards practical work, with a swarm of bees purchased from a friend, bo soon enlarged it into an extensive bee-colony, managed according to Jjangstroth’s methods. Then he published in the Thames “Advertiser” a long series of articles on beeculture, and afterwards issued them in book form. The Government of th# dav eventually appointed him as its official apiarist, and in this capacity h# travelled for many years up and down the country, lecturing to, and in other ways, instructing, those who were interested in the subject. Mr Hopkins retired from the Government service manv years ago, but the importance of the 'industry of which he was virtually the father may be gathered from the Tact that last year the Dominion exported 1,186.2661 bof honey, of the lalue of £29,721.