ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 17663, 22 February 1916, Page 6

ABOUT PEOPLE

The Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence) is expected to arrive in Dunedin this afternoon. The appointment of Philip John Bend as deputy registrar of births, deaths, and marriages at Fortrosc has been gazetted. Mr John Anstey, M.P., for V.'aitaki, entered a private hospital at Oamaru on Friday to undergo a slight operation. It is expected that Mr Anstey will he about again in a short time. The Rev. S. J. Raker, who was injured in the Tasmanian railway accident last week, was formerly pastor of Emmanuel Congregational Church, Palmerston North. He lias been minister of Christ's Church, Launceston, for several years. Mr U. O. Fairhurst, of Danncvirke. has signed on on the liner Tainui for the run Homo. Mr Fairhurst, who has recently patented a new device for use on aircraft, is going to England in order to lay it before the War Office, and intends to join the Aviation Corps. News has - been received from the War Office, London, that Lieutenant R. G. Seller, R.F.A., has been severely wounded while serving in France. Lieutenant Sellar, who was in business as a solicitor at Hawera, left Now Zealand for England last May, on account of his health. Prior to going to Hawera, some years ago, Lieutenant Sellar was a membed of the Land Transfer Office staff in Christchurch.

Mr H. Webber, a director of a Johannesburg bank, together with Mrs Webber, is visiting New Zealand at present (says the Dominion). They left for the south on Tuesday evening for tiie purpose of visiting Mount Cook, the Cold Lakes, and Milford Sound, and on their return will visit Rotorua and Auckland, leaving by the Niagara in April for Honolulu and San Francisco. After visiting the States they arc to tour through South America.

Many will regret to learn of the death of Mr Morton R. S. Clark, of the staff of the Bank of New Zealand, which occurred suddenly at his residene, Wellington, on Thursday night. Mr Clark had attended a picture show during the evening (states the Dominion), and on returning home complained of acute indigestion. after which he suddenly collapsed and died. Dr Pattie was called in. but could not give a certificate as to the cause of death. The late Mr Clark was very well-known among the commercial community in Wellington, having for many years attended to the wool and produce interests of the Bank of New Zealand. He was present at the big wool sale on Monday and Tuesday last, when lie was in his accustomed good spirits. Mr Clark, who leaves a widow and one child, was 52 years of age.

There died at Taiporohenui a few days ago (writes a correspondent of the Hawera Star) a very old chief in the. person of Te Awarua. The old man, who was said to be over 100 years of age descended from the tribes of Hamua, Hapotiki, Ngatitanewai, Xgatiawa, and other Taranaki tribes. He was one of the very old school, and was noted for his knowledge of ancient Maori lore and the genealogical tables of his people. Te Awarua in his day had been a great warrior, having fought against the pakeha in the battles of Otapawa. To Ngutu-o-te-Manu, Turuturu-Mokai Taurangaika, Xnkumaru, and various other battles. He appears to have borne a charmed life, for, strange to say, though fighting in the thick of every battle of his time, he escaped without a scratch. He embraced the Catholic faitli in his young days, and remained faithful to it throughout the remainder of his life, receiving the last rites of the church at the hands of the Rev. Father Soulas, Maori missioner, on the day prior to his death. He leaves - e family of two sons and one daughter, besides several grand and great-grandchildren.