ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 17920, 27 April 1917, Page 3

ABOUT PEOPLE

A Sydney message reports the death of the Hon. H. C. Dangar, M.L.C., who was largely identified with pastoral and banking interests; aged S6 years. Among the guests at the Grand Plotel are Mr L. Collier and Mr and Mrs Scott, American tourists who are revelling in the beauties and wonders of God’s own country. The King's Police Medal has been awarded to Mr John Cullen, 1.5.0., late Commissioner of Police of New Zealand. The official announcement states that Mr Cullen "passed through all ranks to his late position.” In the recent ballot appeared the name of John Merrivale Findlay, student, Invercargill. Mr Findlay reached the military age (20) six weeks ago, volunteered, passed the medical test, and was accepted for service. That his name should appear in the ballot is one of the vagaries of the new order. He has keenly awaited the time when ho could get into action, and is the third son of Mr John Findlay, of Orawla. to respond to the call of the colours —Tom having made the supreme sacrifice. Writing to a friend in Southland recently, Mr I. W. Raymond stated that both Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward had been doing splendid work in connection with the National loan, that has Just been such an unqualified success. At one meeting Sir Joseph was In such good form and so persuasively effective that £1,000.000 was subscribed as a result of his appeal. A soldier from Dunedin, Commandant Janies Waddell, of the French Foreign Legion, was recently in London for a few days’ leave. Commandant Waddell has had a very distinguished career in the French Army, and holds the Chinese medal, obtained for work in Pekin, the Sahara medal, the Sahara clasp, and the Moroccan medal. In 1914 he was awarded the Legion of Honour for military services. He served with the French Expeditionary Forces to the Dardanelles was mentioned in army despatches. was promoted, and received the Croix de Guerre with the palm leaf. He was wounded at Helles, and again mentioned in despatches, and received a second palm leaf. In October Commandant Waddell was fighting In the Champagne, and In July last he went to the Somme, where, with his brother members of the Legion, he took the village of Belloy-en-Santerre. He was again mentioned in despatches, and received a third palm leaf. Commandant Waddell is an ex-Cromwell boy, and is a brother of Mrs Jolly, whose husband was killed In France some time ago. At Christchurch last week the users of steam machinery met to honour Mr A. W. Bethune, Inspector of Machinery (formerly of Invercargill), on tho occasion of his retirement from the service. Mr John Anderson preskied, and proposed the toast of “The King,” with which the proceedings opened. On behalf of the users of steam machinery, Mr George Scott presented Mr Bethune with a camera and plates and a pair of field-glasses. In doing so he made eulogistic reference to Mr Bethune’s/ services, and the good feeling that existed between the users of steam machinery and the Government Inspector. His remarks were endorsed by Mr W. J. Le Cren. On behalf of Che Government Inspectors of Machinery, Mr R. Duncan, Chief Inspector, ’ presented Mr Bethune with a purse of sovereigns, a set of sleeve-links, and a pair of field-glasses. Mr Bethune suitably acknowledged the presentations. Other toasts honoured were: “The Boys at the Front,” proposed by Mr N. D. Hood, and responded to by Mr John Anderson and Mr R. Duncan: "The Engineering Profession," proposed by Mr Croll and responded to by Messrs F. W. Anderson, W. Anderson, and Geo. Scott: “The Marine Department," proposed by Mr John Anderson, and responded to by Mr R. Duncan: and “Mr Bethune's Successor,” proposed by Captain Colonna and responded to by Mr N. D. Hood. The health of Mr W, J. Le Cren, who organised the gathering,, was also enthusiastically honoured.