PERSONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20400, 5 May 1928, Page 12

PERSONAL.

The Rev. C. N. Luker has been offered and has accepted the charge of the parochial district of Waikouaiti. Miss O. M. Percy, of Alexandra, has been appointed first assistant of the Seaward Downs School. Mr and Mrs J. Harrison Jones, of St, Clair, returned this week from a month’s visit to the North Island. Dr E. N. Merrington, minister of First Church, will proceed to Gore this afternoon to preach at the opening of the new church building for the Presbyterians of Gore. Sir Walter Stringer (chairman of the War Pensions Appeal Board), accompanied by Lady Stringer and his secretary (Mr H. J, Ackins), will leave for Christchurch to-day. The following delegates will leave by tho second express to-day for Wellington to attend the annual meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute Messrs G. T. Palmer, A. J. Woods, W. F, Abel, L. Forrester, L. F. do Berry, T. Begg, and W. Rodger, Mr J. P. Hawke left yesterday for Wellington to attend the meeting. The choir of the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church visited tho home of Mr and Mrs Bert Eawlinson at Tainui on Thursday evening, and Miss J. Duff, one of the original members, on behalf of the choir, presented Mr Eawlinson with an oak clock. Mr Eawlinson has resigned the position of conductor, which ho has held for nine years. Miss Duff expressed the regret of the members at his resignation, and said that it had always been a pleasure to sing under his direction. The visits to other districts had also been very successful both socially and musically. Mr Eawlinson thanked the choir for its felicitations, and paid a tribute to its loyalty and tho high quality of its singing. The Wellington School Committees’ Association, in its annual report, records its appreciation of the lifo-long work in the cause of education of the late Mr Mark Cohen, and extends to hia relatives its deepest sympathy. “ His vast knowledge of matters educational placed him high in the opinion of tho association,” says the report, “ and his loss to the Dominion will long be felt. Ever ready to give advice and of an amiable disposition, the cause of education in New Zealand is to much tho poorer by his passing.” The deatli is announced (says a Press Association . telegram) of Mr Robert Peebles, chief postmaster of Thames, at the age of 54 years. He joined the postal service in 1888 at Dunedin, and went through the various grades till 1907, when he was transferred to Dunedin North. In 1911 he went to Naseby as postmaster, in 1916 to Wyndham, and in 1920 to Fairlie. Late in 1920 he was attached to the chief inspector’s staff as iiispector in the northern district. In 1924 he was promoted to the position of postmaster at Stratford, and in 1925 ho was made chiel at Thames. Ho would have retired on superannuation at the end of this yeai. He had been ailing for several months. He leaves a widow and two daughters, one of whom is studying at Otago University.