ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 18857, 24 June 1920, Page 5

ABOUT PEOPLE

In the second round Mavrogordato beat Fisher, Lycett beat . A. Thomas, and Zeriendi beat Malmstrom. An Ottawa Press Association cable states that it is understood that Sir Robert Borden has definitely decided to resign. Mr S. Percy Smith, F.R.G.S., of New Plymouth, has been presented with the Hector medal for research in Polynesian ethnology. Mr D. C. Bates, Government Meteorologist, is still confined to his home through indisposition and may not be able to resume his official duties for several days. Mr Brian W. Hewat, solicitor, Invercargill, has received advice that he has passed the final examination for the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Mr Percival Witherby, of Napier, who arrived in England from New Zealand last summer, has recently returned from France to the Channel Islands, where he spent the winter recuperating. Mr R. B. Morris, secretary of the Postal Department, has been appointed to attend the Postal Union Congress to be held at Madrid. During the absence of Mr Morris the position of secretary’ will be filled by Mr A. T. Markman, first assistant secretary. News has been received in Wellington of the death, at Bayswater, London, of Mr Frank Allen, at the age of 81 years. Mr Allen was for many years general manager of the New Zealand branch of the Commercial Union Assurance Company. He came to New Zealand when 1U years of age, and his career was largely bound up with business institutions of this country. The funeral of Mr G. C. A. Todd took place yesterday. The Mayor, Mr John Stead, and many prominent local business men with whom Mr Todd had been associated, were present to pay their tribute of respect to one whose popularity extended all over Southland. The Reverend Jaspar Smythe conducted the services at the house and at the grave side. The flags at Rugby Park and the flag at the Returned Soldiers’ Association, of which Mr Todd was one of the founders, were flown at half-mast. Mr James Brown Greig, whose death is recorded, was a popular’ officer of the Lands and Survey Department, serving aa draughtsman in the local office for 41 years. He was bom in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1852, and at the age of eighteen months was brought to Australia by his father, who was a master mariner. In 1862 the family removed to New Zealand and settled in Invercargill, where Mr Greig received his education at the Grammar School, which was situated opposite to where the Garrison Hall now stands. He first entered the Railway Department, and served his lime as a fitter, bein seven years in that branch of the public service before entering tne Lands Department. Until his final illness, which first affected him about twelve months ago, Mr Greig had never missed a day’s work, and had attained the position of senior draughtsman before retiring last year. He was a great believer in physical fitness, and indulged in many long walks, covering long dis> lances. He was also an active member of the Invercargill Rowing Club in the early days, and was a keen supporter of sport. He never took an active interest in public affairs, being of a retiring disposition. He had a big store of tales of the Invercargill of the early days, and was often referred to as an authority on the early history of the town. Less than a year ago Mr Ernest Drake, the New Zealand tenor, was tinging in. the picture theatres round the Dominion; to-day he is reported to be one of the favourite tenors of the great metropolis and likely to soar very high in the vocal world. Writing from London on May 1, Mr E. A. Tanner (late acting-secretary to the Wellington Choral Union! said; I know you will be pleased to hear of the success of a fellow-New Zealander, to wit, Ernest Drake. It was my privilege to be present at his first London appearance at the Anzac concert' in Albert Hall on April 21. He was associated there with such talent as Rosina Buckman, Peter Dawson, Maurice d'Oiseley, etc., and got a most thusiastic reception. He opened wiln \ our Tinv Hand is Frozen,’ from Boheme,’ sung in Italian. For this they cheered him to the echo, and he responded with two encores, ballads Even then the big audience wasn't satisfied, and he had to sing ‘Macushla’ over again. Miss Rosina Buckman told me after the show’ that his success was positively wonderful, and they all think that he is going to do big tilings. In chatting with several artists the other evening they all agreed that Drake would become one of the leading tenors here. He is being trained by Mr Uttley, one of the best men in England, and his voice is now becoming much more powerful and is under better control, without in any way having lost any of its natural sweetness. Society has taken him up, and he is being rushed with invitations to visit the houses of the great.”