PERSONAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3859, 28 February 1928, Page 37

PERSONAL.

Ministerial. Mr A. D. M-Leod (Minister of Lands) will arrive in Dunedin on Friday evening next, and will leave for the south on Monday morning. The Minister will be accompanied by Mrs M'Leod and Mr A. W. Mulligan, his private secretary.

On the occasion of the silver wedding of Mr and Mrs John Massey, of Bush road, Mosgiel, a “ surprise party" was held in the refectory of the Masonic Hall. Mr William Blackie was in the chair, and a good programme of toasts and speeches was gone through.. Mrs Massey was presented with a silver teapot, and Mr Massey with a silver cigarette case. Dancing concluded a most enjoyable evening. _ r . 4? bn J Gibson, accountant 5 in the Public Works Department. Wellington, has been appointed a member of the Main Highways Board. „,A 4r vden . president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce left Wellington for Sydney by the Marama He expects to be absent for some weeks, and will represent New Zealand at the Australian Chambers of Commerce Conference to be held in Hobart He will spend some time in Melbourne and Sydney The Council of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts has elected Archbishop Redwood and Mr Ernest D. Bell honorary life members in consideration of their long association with the academy and valuable support and assistance extending over a long period of years. On Tusday Mr Justice Sim admitted Mr William Arthur Curzon-Siggers as a barrister and Mr Robert Duncan Herne Swindley and Mr William Ruffell as solicitors of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. A Sydney cable message announces the death of Professor Lancelot Harrison, professor of zoology at the Sydney University, aged 47 years. There arrived tn New Zealand by the Mataroa the sixth member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band to Return to thia country on the expiry of army service. The latest arrival is Mr Bert Rayment, who reached Dunedin from the north last week. He is under engagement to Messrs Chas. Begg and Co. here. Four of the bandsmen now reside hi Dunedin, and one has

gone to Invercargill. A seventh ex-mem-ber of this band, Mr A. Dicker, of Weihas been in New Zealand since . Mr George Holmea, M.Sc., B.Ag., of the staff of St. Andrew’s Uollege, has been appointed farm economist to Canterbury Agricultural (Lincoln) College, and will take up the position towards the end of March. This is the first appointment of its kind in New Zealand (says the Press). Mr Holmes’s duties will be to carry out investigations in farm costing methods and statistical work. The Ealmerston district recently lost ai old and highly respected resident in the person of Mrs Charles M'Gregor, sen., who passed away at her residence, “Park Farm,’’ after a short illness. Mrs M'Gregor arrived in New Zealand in 1868 by the City of Dunedin, and in 1870 married Mr Charles M’Gregor, of “ Park Farm,” who died some 19 years ago. She is survived by . son and daughter, Mr Charles M'Gregor, of Park Farm, Palmerston, apd Mrs Hugh Robertson, of Mabel Bush, Southland, and by a stepson and two stepdaughters, Mr William M'Gregor, Palmerston, Mrs John Jess, of Hamilton, and Mrs Middleton, of Mosgiel. Mr Kennedy Black, of Alexandra, has been advised by the. secretary of the Trinity College of Music (London) that ha has been awarded the fellowship diploma of that institution in solo singing. The award has been made as a result of an examination conducted by the college’s examiner, Mr A Mann, who, in his report, made special mention of Mr Black’s accompanist, Miss E. Hartley. A Sydney cablegram states that Mr Nicholls, of the British Foreign Office, who is en route to New Zealand, where he will be attached to the Prime Minister’s Department in an informative and consultative capacity, is a passenger on the steamer Ormonde.

Air J. K. Simpson, the Mayor of Lawrence. has been laid up for over a month with influenza, and has been unable to attend any meetings, but it is hoped that he will be able to preside at next meeting of the council, to be held in about a week’s time. Air G. G. Denniston, who has been secretary of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association since 1921, has resigned. and his resignation was accepted at a meeting of the Finance Committee of the association held on Wednesday.

It was reported to the meeting of the Otago Hospital Board last week that Dr C. A. Taylor, the newly-appointed resident medical officer at the Hospital, has arrived from England and taken up his duties.

Air J. A. Hanan, accompanied by Mrs Hanan, will leave early in March for a tour overseas, including America, England, and Europe. He will especially interest himself in educational matters during his travels. He has been granted six months’ leave of absence from the University Council. There was a splendid attendance of the Ida Valiev congregation at the ordination and induction of the Rev. J. B. Kirk, which too* place in Oturehua Presbyterian Church on Tuesday evening last The Rev. G. H. Crockett presided. After the induction x he presbytery adjourned to take part in a welcome social to Air and Airs Kirk and family. Many speeches of welcome were made, and musical items were rendered. A Wellington Press Association telegram states that Air A. G. Henderson has been elected chairman of the Press Association for the present vear. A Press Association telegram announces the death of Air C. E. Armstrong. Mayor of Gisborne, and formerly district engineer of the Public Works Department. Air and Airs Robert Hudson and Mr and Airs Arthur Barnett and Miss Barnett left by the express on Friday morning on the first stage of a world tour, which will include Australia, Japan. China, Canada, the United States, and the British Isles. A large number of friends assembled to see them off. Air Barnett intends to visit the world’s markets for business purposes.

Air J. D. Salmond, who has just had the degree of doctor of philosophy con-; ferred upon him. was born at Queenstown, where he received his early education. He later attended the Otago Boys' High School, and then passed on to the University, where he had a distinguished career. Fo. a time he was on the staff of the Timaru Boys’ High School, later returning to the University for a postgraduate course. At the present time he is on the staff of the Otago Boys’ High School. "

After nearly two years in Great Britain, spent, by the command of the New Zealand military authorities, in studying the most recent advance in aircraft and all things pertaining to air defence. Captain L. AI. Isitt will return to New Zealand to-day by the Niagara. He was directed to return via Canada in order to learn what is going on there. Captain Isitt has stated that everything that could be done has been done by the British officials to instruct and help him. It is probable that he will be stationed at Aucklasd on his return. Mr J H Luxford, a well known and popular member of the Auckland Bat, has been appointed a stipendiary magis trate. It is not yet nown in "■lnch centre he will be stationed. Air Luxford was born at Palmerston North in 1890, being the youngest son of Mr W. L. Luxford, now of Mount Albert. He has had a distinguished career as an athlete, and his war record is extremely creditable, for he was specially mentioned in despatches from France by Field-marshal Earl Haig.