PERSONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20906, 21 December 1929, Page 14

PERSONAL.

Ministerial. It is announced that the health of .the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) -is much improved (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington), and that he has decided to leave his apartments in Parliament Buildings during the holiday season. The Prime Minister proposes, ,in the course of “a day or so, to go to , his home at Heretaunga, where a special sun porch lias been constructed for him. - He will enjoy a rest there over the holidays, although he will be in close touch with national affairs by telephone. Those associated with-the Prime Minister are hopeful'that his lost strength will be completely recovered as a result of the stay at Heretaunga. Mr T. K. Sidey, Attorney-general, returned to Dunedin yesterday afternoon from Wellington.

Mr H. J.. Wilson, of the Auckland Star reporting staff, arrived in Dunedin yesterday afternoon on a brief visit. Mr G. Curtis, of the editorial staff of the Christchurch Sun, was a passenger by yesterday’s express for the south,- on his way to Stewart Island,

At yesterday’s meeting of the Presbyterian Church Board of Property, Mr'A. ,M‘Hutehon was appointed as factor to succeed Mr Fred Smith, who is retiring." Cable advice has been received by Messrs Dalgety and Co., ltd., that their board of directors has promoted Mr Lionel. Speakman, London manager, to the position of general ■ manager, 'as from January .1 next.

Mr H. ■S. Bingham, who was to have gone by the Manuka to Melbourne, will now leave by the Maheno on December 27. He will be accompanied by Mrs Bingham. The Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) has received telegraphic advice from Viscount Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northcrb Ireland, as follows: —“Alany thanks. Greatly appreciated and glad to accept kind invitation to civic luncheon on Saturday," January 11.” At the commencement of the wool sales yesterday Mr George Black (president of the Stock Agents’ Association') made feeling reference to the recent death of Mr R.', M'Lennan, 'of Dunedin, and, in response to his request, ‘the buyers stood for-a-few moments in respectful silence. At- the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board last night /the chairman (Mr W, Gow) referred to the absence, owing to ill-health, of Mr J. H. Duncan, A telecram was sent to Mr Duncan expressing the sympathy of the board and the hope that his recovery would be a speedy one. , Mr W, A. Low, the well-known travelling representative of'Messrs J. C. Williamson, Ltd., is at present-in the Dunedin Hospital, where he will undergo an operation. Mr Low expects to be in the Hospital for about a fortnight. His many friends- in -.Dunedin will hope, to see him speedily restored to .health. , Two hearty and unanimous calls 'to the Rev. J. Hubbard, of 'Drury, 'were considered at the special meeting of the Auckland Presbytery- (reports our special correspondent). One was from Cashmere Hills, Christchurch, and the other from Kelbnrn. Wellington. After pleas on behalf of both_ charges had been heard, Mr Hubbard intimated' his decision to accept the call from Kslburn, which was accordingly placed in his (hands.' JClie moderator, the Rev. W. D. Morrison Sutherland, expressed the Presbytery’s great regret at Mr Hubbard’s impending departure, and several other .ministers paid tributes to his personal qualities and to the value of his work.

Dr A. Head,,of Opotiki, Who celebrated his ninety-seventh birthday this week, received numerous telegrams of congratulation, He spent Monday morning motoring, and in the afternoon and evening was busy receiving guests. To see him walking in Opotiki without the aid stick makes it difficult to realise that 70 years ago he . was ordered, to take a sea voyage in order to save his life, as he was in very poor health. „ Mr H. H. Cornish has been appointed to tnc Chair of English and New Zeala'nd Law at Victoria University College by the College Council. Sir Cornish, who has been lecturing there during the past year, is an old student of the college. He entered it with an entrance scholarship, and took his M.A, and LL.B. degrees in 1916, gaining first-class honours and winning a senior university scholarship. This he followed up by taking the degree of Master of Law, also with first-class honours, thus completing a distinguished academic career. ;

At the break-up of (be Maori Hill School on Thursday night Mr R. J. Webb, who has been assistant master at the school for (ho last six years, was, in view of his approaching departure (o take up a position inthe Invercargill Technical College, tendered a farewell, at which he was the recipient of several presentations. The pupils of Standard V presented him with a pair of military hair 1 brushes, and the school sports clubs expressed their appreciation of his work by asking him to accept a silver-mounted walking stick. Finally, the headmaster (Mr L. B, Bradstock) presented Mr

Webb -with a travelling rug on behalf of the staff and the School Committee. Mr Webb, in thanking them for the gifts, es pressed a very real regret that the time had come for-him to-sever his connection with the school. Miss Frances, Erringtov. and Miss Annie Rumaey, of the same staff, were entertained- at morning tea yesterday morning, and each received a presentation. • ' Over SO years’ service; for the chhrch is the record of . the Key. Canon G., FynesClinton, whose retirement was announced (says the Southland Times) at a. special meeting of the .vestry, of All Saints’ Church. Gladstone, on’ Wednesday. Canon Fynes-Clinton has been vicar of All Saints’ since July, 1914, and his -retirement takes effect from the end of. February. It is his intenion to remain in residence in Invercargill.- Having spent 56 years in Hew Zealand, nearly all that period in the ministry of the church at various places, Canon Fynes-Clinton is widely known and highly respected as a scholarly churchman of kindly- disposition, keen in his interest in. the many aspects of the welfare of the church and his parish. Born in Cromwell, in Nottinghamshire, England, the retiring vicar was educated at King’s College, London. On coming to New Zealand he spent a short time, in ;Christchurch preparing for ordination, and was ordained ■ there by. the late Bishop Harper, In 1880 ho went to Clyde and later to Milton. Subsequently, from 1890 he spent some time in the north, and on returning to Otago in 1896, he assumed the ministry of the -Kurow Church. There he spent -10 years and a-half. Anderson’s Bay,- Dunedin, was his next charge, and from there he went to All Saints’. Gladstone, in 1914. ,It was at that time that he.was appointed to a canonry in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Canon Fynes-Clinton is a member of a family long associated with the Church of England. His grandfather and his father , were both clergymen and of his father's seven sons, four entered the ministry of the church. Retiring in his eighty-third year, Canon. Fynes-Clinton is (he last survivor of his parents’ 13 children.