PERSONAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 17 March 1920, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Mrs H. Witchell, of Otaki, accom pa'nied by her sister. Sister Goodrich is on :t visit to Christchurch.

Sister Herbert, of the Ofaki Hospital stall, will be severing iter connection with the Otaki Hospital at the end of the present month.

Mrs J. K. Bills, who has been in ; .-‘ate of ill-health for some time, ac comparand by Mrs J. .S. Bole, leave or a holiday trip to Botorua to morrow.

A wedding of interest took place a Levin recently, when Miss Ciarirn Maud Hill was married to Mr Leri 1 1 Forster. The young couple have lef to take up residence in Kelson, v,her< they arc well and favourably known.

It is anticipated that .Mr A. I). Thomson, assistant Public Service Commissioner, now retiring from that post, will return to the magisterial bench, which he left on being appointed assistant Commissioner. —“Wairsrapa Daily Times.”

Mr P. Hcnaessy, chairman of the Fort on Harbour Board, has been granted six months ’ leave of absence by the Board. He in leaving at the end Of this month for a visit to the United Kingdom. Mr J. LinkJater was ap.poiirted deputy-cbninrian.

Mr C. Ferry, who has been connected with the saddlery business of Mr John Kirk, Otaki, for the past twelve months, leaves this week for Patea, where he has secured a business. Haring hia stay here Mr Ferry has been very popular, and in social circles will be greatly missed. We wish Mr and Mrs Ferry every success in their new sphere.

! A. convivial evening was spent at j Otaki Bailvray last night, when Mr W. [ Better was royally entertained by a number of footballers and others, and occasion taken to present him with the handsome gold medal, presente*! by,Mr IV. F. Edwards for the most improved player of the Otaki Football Club. The presentation v. vs made. by Mr W. Bowden. captain of the *-’.ab, who spoke highly of Mr Bitter, not only 'z- a footballer, but. as an all-round i-pwt, and expressed a wish .that the,- recipient vguld wja many similar t*ogj£i«m. Mr Hester, after snitafciy ■ resporKling’, enrained those present with a BtSnjber of “racy" sketches,. eicsated in his bes-t style. Others also to the harmony of the evenii%,' "while light refreshments added to the enjoy- • meat.

Mr M. Gilfedder, 8.A., LL.M., Judge of the Native Land Court, has been advised by the University authorities that, as a result of the November examination, he has obtained the degree of Master of Arts, having passed in European, English’ Constitutional and Modern History." Mr Gilfedder kept terms and graduated in both law and arts as an extra-mural student, and found time during the last two years while on circuit in the Gisborne and East Coast district to study for the B.A. and M.A. degrees. During his thirteen years’ judicial work, Judge Gilfedder has held sittings in nearly every part of tho Dominion, and as President of Maori Boards has always endeavoured to safeguard the interests of the natives. Judge Gilfedder intends shortly to relinquish the Bench and resume practice as a barrister and solicitor at Gisborne.

The late Mr Augustus Edward Braithwaite, postmaster at Ponsonby, Auckland, who was murdered on Saturday night, was a well-liked and highly respected member of the service, aud the news of his violent end came as a shock to his follow officials. The deceased joined the service in Wellington in September, 1579, and, after learning to use the Morse instrument in the local gallery for beginners, served successively in Waimate, Nelson, l’ictoc, and Wellington. He was transferred to Auckland as a telegraphist in ISSS, and remained there until 1907, when he was promoted to bo senior clerk and telegraphist at Rotorua. Uis transfer to the postmastership at Ponsonby was m June, 1913. Mr Braithwaite was mart ried, but laid uo children.