PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 37

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Vice-Regal. The following announcement was issued from Government House on Tuesday:— “ Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson, who has been indisposed since last week, is making good progress towards recovery, but is unable for the present to make any public engagements.” Ministerial. The Prime Minister on arrival at. Auckland on Friday by the Limited, was received by a large assemblage at the railway station, including members of Parliament, representatives of the municipality and boroughs, a number of railway officials, and workmen. Mr Coates was busy engaged during the day with deputations and Government business, one strenuous deputation being representative of the unemployed. He received an enthusiastic welcome at.a civic reception in the Town Hall in the evening. There was a large attendance. The Mayor (Mr G Baildon) welcomed Mr Coates on behalf of the citizens. The -Prime Minister referred to his tour abroad, and again said it had shown him there was no happier country chan NewZealand. They should all look forward with quiet confidence to brighter days ahead. Mr Coates- and Mrs Coates will spend the week-end at their home, returning to welcome the Duke and Duchess of York.

Plans were well advanced for the visit to New Zealand, under the auspices of the Student Christian Movement, of Mr T. Z. Koo, the distinguished Chinese leader, who was to arrive in Auckland on March 22 and spend some days in Dunedin about the end of the month. Advice has nowbeen received, however, that owing to. the present conditions in China. Mr Koo’s visit to Australia and New Zealand has been cancelled. Mr T. M. Haslett, an old Otago University student, who has been for the past two years a secretary of the World’s Student Christian Federation in Geneva, has for some months past been visiting China, Japan, Canada, and the United States as executive secretary of the committee which is entrusted with the final arrangements for the Pacific Area Student Christian Conference, to be held in China or Japan in July or August next. Miss Rawson, who was recently appointed sub-warden of Studholme House, has arrived from England to take over her duties. She is a sister of Mrs Benson, formerly a professor in the School of Domestic Science. Miss Pope, a distinguished ex-student of Victoria College, has also come from England and Canada to take up her duties as assistant lecturer in home science. Another lecturer in the home science department, Miss C’auty, has returned to Dunedin after a year’s leave of absence for study in America.

A Press Association message from Auckland states that the Governor-General (Sir Charles. Fergusson) has relinquished the position of the Dominion Chief Scout and president of the Council of the Boy Scouts’ Association (New Zealand section). He has consented, however, to remain patron of the association, supporting the movement in every possible way. Five months to a day since their departure for the Imperial Conference the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Mrs Coates, and the staff of the New- Zealand delegation returned to Wellington on February 14 by the Makura (the steamer by which they departed). There also returned with the party Mr J. S. Hunter, who acted as private secretary to Sir Francis Bell at the League of Nations Conference. All are in good health. The Makura was at tin heads at 0.30 a.m., and at 7 a.m. the members of the Cabinet went aboard the vessel, which berthed shortly before 9. Mr and Mrs Coates were immediately accorded a welcome by the harbour authorities, the function taking place in one of the sheds. There was a representative gathering, including the heads of departments, civic and other officials, and the general public. Enthusiasm prevailed. Mr J. Sutherland Ross, accompanied by Mrs Ross, left by the second express on the 14th, en route to Wellington, to join the Remuera as a passenger for Great Britain. Mr Ross expects to return to the Dominion early in September.

Messrs G. L. Denniston, E. C. Hazlett, G. W. Chamberlain, and James Begg, directors of the Westport Coal Company, accompanied by Mr W. A. Flavell (general manager), left by the second express on the 14th, en route to the West Coast, on an annual visit of inspection of the company’s mines. At the request of a largo number of citizens and members of the Auckland City Council the present Mayor, Mr George Baildon, has consented to stand for a further term at the coming election in April. At a meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club last week Mr Rae Caffin (assistant secretary of Ike Dunedin Jockey Club and Forbury Park Trotting Club) was' appointed secretary of tho club. Mr Alexander F. Griffin, first assist-, ant and cashier of the Gore Borough Council and formerly assistant town clerk at St. Kilda, Dunedin, has been unanimously appointed clerk, treasurer and returning officer,/ to the Lake County Council. There were 20 applicants for tho position. The Rev. Father Buckley, of Riverton, was a through passenger by the north express on Tuesday en route to Sydney, whence he will proceed to Rome to attend the tercentenary of the Propaganda College. The Rev. Dr Morkane, principal of the Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, will accompany Father Buckley from Melbourne. The following candidates were successful in the Government elementary kindergarten certificate examination -held in November last:—Complete pass —Norma C. ,C. Russell ; Gwendolen M. Turpin; Annie R. Dickie. Partial pass —Phyllis Paria Burton.

Allan G. Harrington, of Invercargill, has received advice that he has been placed first for the senior scholarship in mathematics in the University of New Zealand. Harrington was dux of the Southland Boys’ High School in 1923. and has been studying at Otago University during the past few years. Captain E. P. O’Boyle, military secretary to the Governor-General, left on Tuesday by the Niagara for Suva,

to join HM.S. henown. Captain Boyle will be attached to the staff of their Royal Highnesses during their visit to New Zealand. Mr H. J. Lowe, Commissioner of Crowe Lands for the North Auckland district, intimated at a meeting of the board last week that he would be retiring on March 31 next. The directors of the Royal Insurance Company have reluctantly agreed, at the request of Mr George H. Turton, the company’s manager for Australia and New Zealand, to allow him to retire from March 1. Mr Turton will join the Melbourne Local Board, and thus continue* his long association with the company. Mr W. K. Fethern, at present sub-manager, has been appointed manager for Australia and Mr H. P. Hopkins, local manager at Wellington, manager for New Zealand. Mr J. Robertson, who has been promoted to the position of senior inspector of schools in Southland, was tendered a suitable farewell by members of the Otago Education Board, the inspectorate, and the board’s staff on Thursday. A presentation of a silver salver was made to Mr Robertson by the chairman of the board (Mr J. Wallace). Particular emphasis was laid, on Mr Robertson’s personal popularity, and reference was made to the fact of his intimate knowledge of the whole Otago district, and also to his service in the war. In regard to the last-mentioned point, it was mentioned that at the close of the campaign he was appointed to organise a teaching service for the forces in Palestine. He was promoted f.rom a trooper to the temporary rank of major. Mr Robertson suitably acknowledged what had been said, and gratefully accepted the

gift. Dr and Mrs D. M'Carthy, who have been residing at Waimahaka. left Dunedin on. Saturday morning for East Africa, where Dr M'Carthy has received an appointment. A Timaru Press Association message announces the death of Mr Edward Holdgate, one of the founders of Priest and Holdgate. The deceased was 92 years of age. Southland is about to lose the services of another all-round sportsman in the person of Mr Frank Kilby, who has received notice of his transfer to Wellington. Mr Kilby has ' represented the province on both the cricket and the football fields for several years past, and as he is above the average performer in cricket and Rugby his loss will be keenly felt. He is better known as Southland’s half-back. He represented the South Island in that position in the inter-island match last year, and is considered in the first flight of half-backs in the Dominion. Mr W. H. Duke, who has retired from business on the completion of 52 years’ service with the firm of Butterworth Bros. (Limited), was entertained bv the staff at a complimentary dinner held in Jay’s Tea Rooms. The chairman (Mr C. P. M. Butterworth) proposed the health of “Our Guest,” and referred to the long and efficient service of Mr Duke with the company, which he believed to be a record in the softgoods trade in New Zealand. He also gave a brief but interesting outline of the history of tho firm and its founder, the late J. L. Butterworth, who opened the business in 1862. On behalf of the staff, a pair of binoculars was presented to Mr Duke and a handsomely fitted dressing case to Mrs Duke. Mr and Mrs Duke will leave shortly on a visit to Great Britain and the Continent.