ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 18756, 17 December 1919, Page 5

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr Charles Gray has been appointed by the Education Department examiner for Invercargill and Gore, in the vocal tests for the D and C teachers’ exams to be held in January next. Dr Creser, examiner for Trinity College, arrives at this centre to-night to conduct the practical examinations, which commence to-morrpw. The theory exams take place on Saturday next. A pleasing and surprising incident occurred at the “break-up” ceremony of the Waikiwi school yesterday when a sixth standard boy presented the headmaster (Mr D. M. Greig) with a fountain pen as a mark of the scholars’ esteem. “Mr Ngata, up the East Coast, is th* only man at present entitled to put the letters M.P. after his name. He was returned unopposed, and I do not wonder at it. No Maori has ever shown anything like his ability.”—Dr A. K. Newman. The Board of Trinity College, London, has ratified the nominations of Miss Jfiindas, Mr E.. A, Anderson and Mr W. Quinn to the local Centre Committee, of which Mr E. B. Pilcher is chairman and Mr J. L. McG. Watson and Mr R. J. Gilmour are already members. A Paris message reports that M. Clemenceau was thrown on to the deck of » destroyer during the rough crossing to England. He ignored the injury during the conference, but on bis return to Faria a doctor discovered that he had fractured a rib. A London cable by the Times service states that Lady Carbery secured a divorce on the grounds of misconduct and cruelty • during two wild beast hunting tours in East Africa. The petitioner was once beaten severely with a sjambok. Lord Carbery is a noted airman. Mr James Wilson of the Government Workshops, who has resigned his position, was last night the guest of the Invercargill branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers prior to his leaving Invercargill for Christchurch. Many references were made to his many good qualities and all wished him success in his new sphere. Miss Harper, who has left the staff of the Middle School after six years’ teaching, was the subject of complimentary reference by the headmaster (Mr Featherstone) at the annual “break-up” ceremony yesterday. On Friday last Miss Harper was the recipient of a handsome Douiton set from friends and pupils. The Otago University Council made the following appointments at its meeting yesterday: Dr D. W. Carmult Jones, Professor of Systematic Medicine; Dr Frank Fitchett, Professor of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics; Dr John T. Bowie, lecturer op Clinical Medicine. There were seven applicants for the first position, six for second, and three for the third.—Press Association. Captain S N. Ziman, who returned to New Zealand by the Mabeno last week, holds a’ responsible position in the Indian Civil Service, and is at present on furlough. He is an old boy of the Auckland Grammar School, and was the first Auckland Rhodes scholar. Captain Ziman gamed, his commission while serving on the Indian frontier. Mr Chas. Gray had a surprise sprung upon him last Saturday, when the young lady members of his 6 o’clock class presented him at the conclusion of the term with the entire opera of Sullivan’s “The Mikado” in gramaphone records. Miss Evelyn Gray in a neat speech made the presentation and though manifestly ■ taken somewhat aback Mr Gray found suitable words to express his thanks. , Speaking at Milton Sir James Alien made a vigorous defence of his old colleague, Sir William Fraser. He referred to the fact that his opponent, Mr Edie, had criticised the veteran Minister of Public Works. “I have known Sir William Fraser, for many years,” said Sir James, “and I endorse the opinion which is held by the Prime Ministar and every other man who knows him in the House, of Representatives on either side of the House, that there 'was never a straighter, more capable, more honest, and more satisfactory Minister of Public Work* in the history of New Zealand.” —Loud applause.) He went on to say that Sir William had been howled down by people who thought they could bring pressure to bear on him to get works done in their district to which they were not entitled. He had stood four-square to all the winds, honest and true, and he had come out on top. The criticism that came from Mr Edie would not hurt Sir William Fraser, but would past like a fleeting breeze.