ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 17833, 12 July 1918, Page 6

ABOUT PEOPLE

A London cable states that Major Massey has been awarded the D.S.O. Major Massey, who is a son of the JPrime . Minister, is at present in hospital “in England, having been shot through both lungs recently. Constable. Claason, who has been transferred to Hamilton, was met by the other members of the Invetcargill Police Force last night' and presented . with a goldmounted fountain pen for himself and a handbag for Mrs Claason. Mr John Barr, an old Wellington boy, and formerly of the literary staff of the Evening Post and New Zealand Times, is how temporarily occupying the editorial chair of the Sydney Bulletin. Mr Barr will retain the position during the absence of Mr S. H. Prior, who is a member of the Australasian Press delegation to Europe. The London correspondent of the Press states that the Hon. W. Pember Reeves is a member of the Scholarship Committee which is being set up under the Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund, to afford sound advanced education to disabled officers and men about to engage in commerce or industry. •. Lady Plunket was the hostess at a reception held at the Overseas Club, Aldwych (London) to welcome Dr F. Truby King, in connection with the organisation of a baby-life-saving campaign in this country. Dr King is of opinion that there should be no charge for the teaching of mothercraft to women, whatever their class. “If anything should be free,” he said, "it should be that which would help the mother to complete what she has done for the race.” The “Babies of the Empire" Society, with Lord Plunket as chairman of the Provisional Committee, and Sir Ernest Birch as hon. treasurer, are appealing for funds to start and equip the hospital and training centre, at 29-31 Trebovir road, Earl’s Court. The resignation of the Rev. A. T. Thompson (formerly of Invercargill, where he received his primary and secondary school education) from the charge of St. Andrew’s Church was referred to by the Rev. J. Paterson at Tuesday’s meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery. The following resolution, moved by Mr Paterson,- was carried unanimously: “ That the Presbytery places on record its appreciation of the Rev. A. T. Thompson, M.A., 8.D.; as minister of St. Andrew’s Church, on the occasion of his resignation of that charge to take up the work of general secretary for the British and Foreign Bible Society in New Zealand, and while deeply regretting his resignation feels that it is under Divine guidance that he is entering upon his new sphere of labour.” The resolution also referred in complimentary terras to Mr Thompson’s work as a pastor and for the Presbytery, stating that it was through his initiative that St. Andrew’s College was founded and largely through his energy, developed so successfully. Mr John .Mackay, whose death is announced, had reached his 100 th year. He was bom on the 18th April, 1819, in Fifeshire ; served his apprenticeship as an engineer, mostly in flaxmilling machinery; went to the South of England under engagement as a foreman in the service of Haggie Brothers; subsequently shifted to Newcastle to take up another position with the game firm; and later was engaged in shipbuilding on the Tyne. During part of his time in Scotland he was precentor at the Rev. Murray McShane’s church in Dundee. He came to Dunedin in 1874 by the ship Corona. For a number of years he served in the employ of the Roslyn Tramway Company. He came to Invercargill about 30 years ago, and remained in Southland nearly all the rest of his life. Most of his time was taken up in constructing engineering plants, for rope works and so on, for the Southland farmers. He erected the machinery for the Rosedale woollen mills, and when 94 years of age he put up a binder-twine plant at Winton. Mr James Holmes, the present proprietor of the Rosedale mills, at whose residence he died, was married to his youngest daughter. Another of his daughters (the eldest of the family) is the wife of Mr Joseph Sparrow, of Dunedin. Mr and Mrs Sparrow were married in Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1869, five years before Mrs Sparrow’s father left the Old Country.