PERSONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20638, 9 February 1929, Page 14

PERSONAL.

Ministerial. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) will visit Christchurch on Thursday next for the purpose of taking part in the ceremony to mark the inauguration of the electric train service between Christchurch and Lyttelton. The Minister of Lands and of Agriculture (Mr G. W. Forbes), Mrs Forbes, and staff, and the Minister of Public Works (Mr E. A. Ransom), Mrs Ransom and staff will leave by the first express this morning for the north, eu route to Wellington. Mr Ransom will break bis journey at Waikouaiti and will proceed to Palmerston by car, joining the mid-day express for Christchurch at the latter town.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr P. A. de la Perrelle) arrived in Dunedin from Southland last evening, and will leave by the first express for the north to-day on his way to Wellington. ‘

Mr F. W. Furkert (engiueer-iu-chief of the Public Works Department) will leave Dunedin by the first, express this morning, en route to Wellington. Dr C. J. Reakes (Director of Agriculture), who has been touring Otago and Southland with the Minister of Agriculture and of Lands, will return to Wellington this morning by the first express. Mr F. Waite, M.P., returned home by the evening express for the south last evening.

Mr J. W. Black, private secretary to Mr Nosworthy in the Coates Government, is spending the week-end in Dunedin. Mr R, W. Rusbridge left by the first express yesterday on a holiday trip to the -North Island. Mr A; E. Uden, who, out of 13 applicants, has been selected as curator to the Temuka Domain, will take up his new appointment on Febraury 16. Mr J. G. D. Jeune, town clerk to the Temuka Borough Council, who has been appointed clerk and engineer to the Mackenzie County Council, will leave to-day for his new appointment. Mr Edward Butt, who has been appointed to succeed Mr Jeune, enetered upon his new appointment yesterday. One of the successful applicants for a position as meat inspector with the Agricultural Department in Auckland was Mr Jack Findlay, only son of Mr and Mrs James Findlay, Hillend. There were nearly 1000 applications for the four positions advertised. Professor J. Macmillan Brown, chancellor of the University of New Zealand, has booked his passage for England by the Rangitiki, which is to leave Wellington on April 27. He will return towards the end of the year or early next year. Miss P. Makeig, supervisor of the Gore telephone exchange, has received notice of her promotion and transfer to the position of supervisor of the telephone exchange at Whangarci. Miss Makeig has been stationed at Gore for the past five years. A social gathering of the choir of Moray Place Congregational Church was held on Thursday evening. After a programme of various items the Rev. Albert Mead introduced Mr F. G. H. Towns, the newly-appointed conductor, and referred to Mr Towns’s long and valuable experience in one of the leading London Congregational churches. Mr Mead said he believed that under the co-operative leadership of the organist (Mr MacMillan) and Mr Towns the choir would even eclipse its former work.

Mr M. J. Pierce, well known in Dunedin printing circles, died in Dunedin yesterday after a short illness. The deceased gentleman, who was much respected, was born in Central Otago, and served his time as a compositor on the Cromwell Argus. He then came to Dunedin, and was employed “at the case ” on the Otago Witness prior to the introduction of the linotypes into the office over 30 years ago. ■ He left there and took a situation in the Morning Herald (subsequently turned into the Globe). When this paper became defunct, he resumed work on the Otago Witness, remaining there for some years. After qualifying as an operator he went into business in Dunedin as a jobbing printer for some 10 years, but rejoined the Otago Witness staff five years ago. He took an active interest in Freemasonry, and was associated with Lodge Oceanic, St. Hilda. He is' survived by a widow and two daughters.