PERSONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20311, 20 January 1928, Page 8

PERSONAL.

Ministerial. ' Concluding 1900 miles’ tour of North Auckland, where he has spent the last four weeks, the Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) returned to Auckland last night (says our special correspondent). He will leve for Wellington to-night, accompanied by Mr A. D. M’Leod (Minister of Lands). Sir Francis Bell, Leader of the Legislative Coum«l, returned north by the through express yesterday. Mr F. M. Reid, of Wellington, who is well known in athletic circles in Dunedin, left for the north by the second express yesterday. , . , ~ The Rev. Father Anderson left by the through express yesterday on a holiday visit to the West Coast. The Rev. Father Keane, S.J., of Sydney, who has been on a viist to Dunedin, left on his return home by the second express yesterday. Mr J. Barr, M.L.C., who has been on a visit to Otago in company with Sir Francis Bell, returned to Christchurch by the through express yesterday. On Wednesday Sir Francis and Mr Barr paid a visit to Waipori. ■ Professor T. A. Hunter, of Wellington, is at present on a visit to Dunedin. He will return to Wellington on Saturday morning. Mr W. Marr, of Sydney, who has been on* a holiday trip through New Zealand left on his return home by the second express yesterday. Mr J. Faulks was a passenger for Wellington by the through express yesterday. Mr W. T. Hazlett, Invercargill, travelled to Wellington by the through express yesterday. Sir Charles Statham returned from Wellington bv the through express yesterday. Mr F. ‘W. Oakden arrived in Dunedin on Wednesday from Sydney. Advice has been received that Mr T. R. Bavin, Premier of New South Wales, accompanied by Miss Bavin, will arrive in Dunedin from the Southern Lakes district on Thursday, February 9, and will stay at the Grand Hotel for two days. A Hamilton Press Association telegram reports that the death occurred yesterday of Constable John Moore Fleming, aged 52, who joined the police force 21 years ago. Prior to his death he was stationed at Arapuni. Mr Forgan Smith, Deputy Premier of Queensland, accompanied by his wife and family and Mr Hope, private secretary, will arrive in Dunedin on Friday, February 3, and will depart for Queenstown on the following Tuesday. On their return a further stay of three days will be made in this city. A cablegram from London states that the appointment, to date from June 5 is announced of Vice-admiral Cyril T. M. Fuller to be Commander-in-chief on the American and West Indies station, in succession to Admiral Sir Walter Cowan.

On January 2 a happy gathering assembled at the St. Clair home of Mr and Mrs T. C. Harrison, who celebrated their golden wedding. It was a family reunion, and those present were Dr T. Harrison and his wife (Cromwell), Mrs English and hei husband (Hamilton), Mrs Scott and her husband (Anderson’s Bay), and the grandchildren were brought from far and near Sir Thomas Mackenzie and many other old friends sent congratulations. Amateur athletes to the number of about 30 assembled at the Caledonian Ground on Wednesday evening for the purpose of bidding farewell to ;Mr Eino Keskinen, the visiting athlete who has done valuable coaching work among Dunedin runners during his short stay in the city- Mr F. J. D. Rolfe presented Mr Keskinen with a pocket wallet and cigarette case, and in doing so referred in eulogistic terms to his services to all branches of Dunedin field athletics. Mr F. Gibson also spoke. Mr Keskinen, who hails from Queensland, but is a native of Finland,' replied suitably.

Mr H. C. Smith, of Wellington, who has been president of the New Zealand Retail Booksellers’ Association since July, 1921, has retired (says the Wanganui Chronicle). At a social gathering given in Wanganui at the close of the conference, delegates entertained Mr South, the new president, Mr G. H. Bennett, pitsonted him with cheques for himself and Mrs South, eulogising their services to the association.

Bishop Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, celebrated his 70th birthday on Sunday. Although still a patient at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, he was able to enjoy a walk during the afternoon, and received a number of callers. A fine testimonial to Bishop Cleary’s widespread popularity (says the New Zealand Herald) was a large number of messages of congratulation he received from people of all denominations from different parts of the world. He is making a rapid recovery, and should soon be actively engaged in his work in the diocese.

The death of Captain Horace Norgrove, of Papakaura, occurred on Friday (says the New Zealand Herald). Born in Wellington in 1846, Captain Norgrove spent the early part of his life in Marlborough, his parents moving to Blenheim, known as Beavertown, when it was a scattered group of wooden huts. He was one of the first volunteers in Blenheim, and, his imagination fired by the news of the Wairau massacres, he was greatly disappointed that he was not given the opportunity of serving in the Maori War. In the ’seventies Captain Norgrove built a schooner, the Amateur, at Picton, and, in partnership with his brothers, embarked on a private trading venture, carrying cargoes between the coastal ports with the Amateur and another schooner, the Unity. He was also well known ns (he Government mail contractor or Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds. Ho retired in 1904 and came to Auckland, living in various parts of the province' He married Miss Caroline Eliza Whiting at Wellington in 1873, and is survived by four daughters, one son, and two rnndcliildron.