PEOPLE IN PERSPECTIVE

NZ Truth, Issue 968, 18 October 1924, Page 1

PEOPLE IN PERSPECTIVE

i The feeling of the man who has to go to a money-lender BANKER BARR, for the use of cash OF AUCKLAND, is usually that of uncomfortable hesitation; a bothered- if-I-like-it sort of feeling. But there is one institution at least m which this state of affairs does not pertain and that is the Auckland Savings Bank. And this is largely due to- the rare tact and perpetual courtesy of the retiring manager, Mr. J. Muir Barr, who- gives over the reins of office after the long spell .of 40 years m the position. Forty years is a big slice m the life of any individual, and m the case of anyone whose daily business has brought him into intimate touch with financial, matters, represents a vast amount of worry and anxiety. When Mr. Barr took over the destinies of this great financial institution he had the assistance of a staff .of four, and together they handled the bagatelle sum of £151,200 from January to December; but at the date of his retirement' there were seven branches with the. staff numbering 37, while m round figures there was being Handled the colossal aggregate of four .and a half millions of money per annum. And through, the varying fortunes of the bank Mr. Barr has maintained that sound, solid judgment which has placed him on the pinnacle of respect and esteem by investors and directors alike, besides by every business man m the city with whom he has come m contact. But it is as one of nature's gentlemen that Mr. Barr has endeared himself to his fellows., Always kindly courteous and obliging, considerate and anxious to do what he can for his fellow man, it is no wonder that hundreds are unanimous m wishing J.M.B. many years m which to enjoy well earned rest. Mr. Alfred Lewis, who has just been elected a vice-pre-ALFRED LEWIS, sident of the New CARBONISER. Zealand Carbonised Waters iAssp-: ciatiori, is one , of Wellington's bestknown men, although he is not a politician and does not keep himself m the limelight. But he .makes most excellent soft drinks, being one of the expert thirst-quench providers of "the Dominion. Alfred the Great m the fizz water trade is really best known as Thomson-Lewis, anu" he is great because he is ever and always springing a new drink on the summer market. He might, well say that the Thomson-Lewis waters are taken all over the world, for "his "dry" drinks are world- travellers. ,, Mr. Lewis is ardent m the cause of vocal music, and has spent much time m the good cause of music m Wellington. He is a frequent and much experienced wielder of the baton, and many young people m 'the Empire City have Alf Lewis to thank for the expertriess of their vocal chords to-day. Once upon a time m • the long ago — though it doesn't look as if he belonged away back — he used to play cricket, as a member of the Midland Club. In his latter days he has a game of bowls, when he thinks he has the time or. the inclination to do so. His big aerated water factory also absorbs much of his attention, and as he is a chemist on the carbonising side, what he does not know about the making of soft drinks might be pujt into an encyclopaedia — and then again it mightn't. At any rate, A. M. Lewis is a good friend and a good citizen. :: :; :; Percy J. Jones is just as much a fixture at the Christchurch A MASTER OF S.M. Court as is MAINTENANCE the corner stone of MATTERS. the building. Until a couple of years or sc ago he carried on as Magistrate's Court bailiff and naturally had a lot to do with running the civil side ,of the concern; Then, when maintenance matters m Christchurch blossomed into popularity of such importance that it became one man's job to supervise that department, P.J.J. was chosen as being the most suitable man within a big radius for the position of Maintenance! Officer. The appointment was something \of an experiment at first, but the man who got the job made so great a success of it that it was soon recognised as something which would have to be . permanent. "Agony Day" at. the Christchurch magisterial conventicle generally sees the M.O. behind a bigger bundle of briefs than almost anyone else m Court, and, m espousing the" "cause" of those persons for whom he appears, Percival is quite capable of holding his own end of arguments with the best that the opposition can bring along. It isn't only that side of his character which appeals to everybody, however. He has the faculty of affording defaulting defendants just as fair a deal as that for which he battles on behalf of impecunious complainants. Essentially,' his job is to see that . maintenance orders made by the Court are respected, but he's ever ready to-look leniently on a defandant whose intentions ara anything like sincere. Motor cycling is one of Jones's spare time hobbies, and he also takes a big. interest m debating societies. '•'• :: :: Dr. C. E. Maguire, plump and jolly, this month completes his HOSPITAL; thirtieth year of service MAGUIRE.- With, the Auckland Hospital Board. As Superintendent of the now gigantic Auckland Hospital, he is an extremely busy man, but he "does the round" among the patients daily, with a smile and a word for all, and particular smiles for the children. Dr. Maguire will leave for England m April next year, with the intention of making a special study of progress m cancer, research, and it is considered that his visit will enable the Board to have the best available information on the matter before it instate any expensive apparatus for the treatment of cancer. ■

Going strong, really "hale and hearty," after celebrating lateAN ANCIENT ly his ninety-fourth MARINER. birthday: Captain James Macfarlane, of Devonport. Despite his nearness to the century, the ancient mariner thinks nothing of climbing a ladder to repair his own roof when the occasion arises, and work generally he regards as good recreation. Captain Macfarlane was with Sir James Mills and the late John Darling, one of the founders of the Otago Shipping Company, which was afterwards transformed into the Union. Steamship Co. He came to New Zealand m command of the ship City of Dunedin 'way back m the "sixties." When he left the ship at Dunedin, resigning his command, he said good-bye to her tor ever, for she sailed up the coast under another and was never, heard of again. Later, Captain Macfarlane traded between New Zealand and Australia, and he went to England (to bring out "The Bruce," the first vessel built for the Otago Shipping Co., which was used m the Dunedin. and Akaroa — Lyttelton trade. He went Home again to bring out the Taupo (afterwards wrecked) and, later, the, Rotorua, with which latter vessel he opened ' up trade between Or.ehunga and Sydney. After years of .good -work for the company, Captain Macfarlane left the sea and became pilot and harbormaster at Dunedin, which job he held down for ten years. He retired twenty-four years ago and came north to settle— and he looks good for the century. Wanganui has known Bill Gilberd for 34 years, and for 20 W. J, GILBERD, years Bill was a MERCHANT. "C.T." for the firm , of J. B. Gilberd and Sons, Ltd., soap manufacturers. As a traveller he was , one of the . most popular men on the road, and the success of the business, the wide use and .distribution of the firm's products are • m. v no": small measure due to Bill's ability as a salesman. Later on, William became a director m the firm, and to-day the business is under his able management and directorship. He is recognised as one of the keenest business men m New Zealand — a wizard ■of finance and very sound m his judgment. Apart from the business of helping to keep New Zealand clean, Bill is a keen sport, a popular member of the Wanganui Commercial Club (the "snooker king"), a Rotarian, a J.P., and a member of the executive of the Chamber of Commerce. The Dominion Brushware Co., Ltd., has W. J. Gilberd on the directorate, and if the truth were known, a few other flourishing concerns m Wanganui are more than likely to have his name on the share/register. As a family man Bill has five sons, one m! the business, and two others at Otago University studying medicine and dentistry — keen workers and athletes every one. Although of a quiet, reserved disposi- _ tion, Ralph Townley Little RALPH is a good fellow to know. TOWNLEY He is responsible- for LITTLE. most of the sub-leaders m the "Otago Daily Times," and when the subject to be dealt with lends itself to a touch of sarcasm, then he is m happiest vein. At the age when one has to decide on one's life's calling, Ralph thought he wouia like to be a school teacher, and lor some time was attached to the staff of the Macandrew Road School. When later, however, the prospect of having temporarily to bury himself m isolation at a country school loomed up, it did not appeal to Ralph, and he drifted into journalism, where he has been ever since. He has always loved the sea, and he and his brother owned and sailed one of the first skimdish yachts that graced Otago Harbor. An exhibition of pictures by the Otago Art Society without some creations of Ralph's brush being included would be unthinkable, and here again his love of the sea is manifest, for most of his subjects smack of the spume and spray. Although not now actively connected with any branch of spo:-t, Ralph frankly confesses that he would be prepared to walk his boots off to see any of the. contests for the world's heavyweight boxing championship, and when the cabled reports of these big fistic battles are coming through he never leaves the office until he has read the very last line. • Detective Herb Le Sueur is being- transTD4wci:cD B P« (ferred from ChristTS A t? r F ;a5m ED chur <* to Timaru, TO TIMARU. near which town (at .. , . .. Pleasant Point) is his birthplace. Nine years ago Herb joined up with the police force, and he ha-dn t been m the game long enough for the polish to wear off* his uniform buttons before the powers then at the head of affairs sorted him out as a man who'd do well m the plain clothes line. Constable Le Sueur therefore shed the tunic and shako and did pi. c. work m a couple of the cities for three years or so. He was then placed on the police pay "sheet as a detective, with Christchurch as his hunting ground. Since 1920 he carried on m that capacity, and," if there were gold cups presented for sleuthing .achievements, he would certainly have one of them. Now he's off to Timaru, where he will still hold a detective's job, only with a little more responsibility attached to it. The transfer will be quite appropriate, as the new "Demon" for Timaru knows that town backwards and will still find there many of the old mates with whom, m his days of stockings and shorts, he rowed, cycled, and played Rugby. These few lines of print might serve to remind many of the old-timers down m South Canterbury that young Le Sueur's amongst them once more; and, toy the same token, others will know that they have with them, a right good sport, but a stickler for his job, nevertheless.