PERSONAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18515, 28 March 1922, Page 6

PERSONAL

Mr W. Forbes Williams has been appointed manager of the Dunedin branch of the Australian X’rovincial Assurance Association. Mr Noaxe, the well-known Wellington barrister, is in a private hospital seriously ill (telegraphs our correspondent). Mr G. Cox, of the firm of Mead, Morrison, and Co., U.S.A., arrived in Wellington yesterday from San Francisco (telegraphs our correspondent) in connection with construction work for the Union Steam Ship Company. Miss Vera Flamank has been appointed to the staff of the Parkvale School, Hastings, and will leave for the north on Friday. Eh - Carswell returned to Dunedin last night from a visit to Great Britain. Ho travelled out to the dominion in the steamer Buteshire, which arrived at the Bluff on Saturday last. The Rev. Howard Elliott, who was taken ill a fortnight ago in Auckland, and has since been confined to bed at his residence in Wellington, will have to undergo a minor operation, and does not expect to be about again for a week or two. At the annual meeting of the Otago Association Football Referees’ Club last night, the chairman (Mr W. Fleming) took the opportunity of wishing Messrs J. M'Callum and R. Brown, two members who will leave shortly for Great Britain, “a good trip, a pleasant holiday, and a safe return.” Both suitably responded. At the meeting of the Otago Rugby Union held last evening a motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Mr J. M‘D. Stevenson. Mr Stevenson was a vice-president of the Port Chalmers Club, and rendered many services in the entertainment of the South African footballers during their visit to Dunedin. The Education Board has made the following appointments:—Mr Ernest Partridge, M.A., assistant lecturer at Training College; Miss J. W. Aitken, M.A., temporary tutor at Training College; Miss Margaret E. Rose, assistant Forbury; Miss KP. Dunn, assistant Musselburgh; Miss Hazel M. Bell, sole teacher, Kuri Bush; Miss J. N Murdoch, sole teacher. Merino Downs. Mr R. N. Gordon, who was connected with the head office of the Union Steam Ship Company at Dunedin for a period of about 30 years, and who moved to Wellington in January last, has now resigned, and he, Mrs Gordon, and their son purpose taking a trip to the Homeland. 'Phe senior members of the company’s staff in Wellington met recently, and presented Mr Gordon with a wallet containing a substantial sum of money. The presentation was made by Mr Aiken, general manager, who referred to Mr Gordon’s lengthy service, his many good qualities, and the high esteem in which he was held. Mr W. A. Kennedy, local manager at Wellington, made feeling reference to the long friendship that, had existed between himself and Mr Gordon during the time both had been connected with the Union Company. Mr Gordon suitably acknowledged the gift, and also the kindly expressions of goodwill that accompanied it. The Board of Governors of Canterbury College decided to offer the position of professor of chemistry, rendered vacant by the resignation of Dr W. P. Evans, to Eh’ H. G. Denham, M.A.D., S.G., of Capetown University (reports a Christchurch Press Association message). Dr Denham is a son of Mr Edward Denham, of Sumner, and was educated at the Christchurch Boys’ High School. He is a graduate of Canterbury College, whore ho obtained his M.A. 1 degree in 1905, and his M.S.O. in 1906. Prior to accepting an appointment at Capetown University ho occupied the chair of chemistry at Brisbane University. A meeting of All Saints’ parishioners took place after evening service on Sunday night, when a presentation was made to the Rev. Charles Ritchie. The Dean said that the object of the meeting was to say good-bye to Mr and Mrs Ritchie, and mentioned the fact that Mr Ritchie had always been closely associated with All Saints’. He had been baptised at the font where he had recently conducted christening services. Mr Sidney T. Mirams, churchwarden, made the presentations, which consisted of a greenstonemounted travelling clock, a case of silver and greenstone spoons for Mrs Ritchie, and spoon and fork of the same materials for Master Ritchie. Mr Ritchie, in replying, said that he was quite taken aback at this evidence of their goodwill. He understood it was to be a gathering merely to say goodbye. He regretted that Mrs Ritchie was not present to thank them. He said that if he saw that his work lay here it was quite possible that he might come back. He had had intentions of gaining experience in certain fields of work at Homo, and he could say nothing more definite. In conclusion, he referred to the great benefit he had gained by his association with the Dean in his work. Mr J. Blair Mason, formerly secretary, engineer, and treasurer to the Otago Harbour Board, and’now in private practice as head of the firm of consulting engineers of Mason, Lee, and Owen, will go north to-day. after a short visit to Dunedin. Since severing his connection with the Harbour Board Mr Mason has made his headquarters in the North Island, where hie firm is consulting and designing engineers for important harbour works in Wanganui and New Plymouth. The hydro-electric works now being undertaken by the New Plymouth City Council arc designed and are to be carried out under the supervision of this firm. Also the firm is acting as consulting engineers to a number of other local bodies in the north. To facilitate the supervision of the South Island work Mr Mason has established an office in Dunedin. Mr Owen, formerly district electrical engineer for Canterbury, and now a member of (ho firm, will shortly take up his residence here, and will act as the firm’s representative for the South Island. Mr John Baird Thompson, who has been appointed Under-secretary for Lands, in succession to Mr T, N. Brodrick, was born at Ballymena. Country Antrim, Ireland, in 1868. He served his articles as a civil engineer and surveyor with Messrs Boylan and Lain don. and Mr H. S. Vegan, of Auckland, joining the Lands and Survey Department in 1891. In 1895 he passed the licensed surveyors’ examination, and was then employed, first as assistant surveyor and shortly afterwards as district surveyor in the Auckland land district. The subdivision of land for settlement estates was carried out under his supervision, including Matamata, Selwyn. To Ankau, Bickerstoffe, and others. He thus gained an intimate knowledge of nil phases of land settlement. In 1909 he was* appointed drainage engineer for the Hauraki Plains (Pinko Swamp), and one year later took charge of (ho Rangitaikei Plains drainage. In 1895 he was appointed chief drainage engineer in charge of the whole of the drainage operations of (lie Lands and Survey Department throughout New Zealand. In 1920 he was sent by the Government on a 12 months’ tour of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, for the purpose of investigating and reporting upon tho drainage methods followed in those countries, and to purchase machinery for further drainage development in New Zealand.