ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 4 October 1922, Page 4

ABOUT PEOPLE

Sir Joseph Ward arrived in Christchurch from Wellington on Saturday on a bnef visit.

Mr E. Webber, for many years Headmaster of the South School, is at present on a visit to Invercargill.

Mr and Mrs Burwell returned to Invercargill on Monday after heaving spent a fortnight’s holiday at Queenstown. Mr Frank H. Burbush, recently repatriation officer, is contesting the Waitemata aeat as a Liberal-Labour candidate, saya an Auckland Press Association telegram.

Mr F. Smyth, of Chnstcburcfo is at present on a visit to Invercargill in connection with Government insurance business. Mr Smyth was a member of the New Zealand football team that visited Australia recently.

Miss Ivy Spittle, who has .iust completed her training at the Southland HosfiiUl and St. Helen’s Hnsjntal, Invercargill, has been appointed Sister in Charge of the Fairlie Hospital. Miss Spittle left with the first express yesterday for Fairlie. The Christchurch correspondent of the Southland Times telegraphs that Mr A. H. Vile, formerly editor of the Wairarapa Age and the Manawatu Daily Times, is joining the editorial staff of the Lyttelton Times. I Mr Vile has always taken a prominent part | on the Liberal side of politics. i A Paris Press Association cable states that the French Government has conferred the Legion of Honour on Lieutenant-Gen-eral Sir Robert Baden-Powell, in recognition of the educational and moral value of the Boy Scout movement which he founded, and which is now flourishing in France. Mr H. J. Farrant leaves on Thursday morning for Wellington to give evidence before the Pensions Commission at the request of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association. The Commission is now fitting at Wellington, under the chairmanship of Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., of Dunedin. At Rimu on Sunday afternoon reference was made by Rev. G. F. Cox to the death a few days previously of Mrs Rhmd, one of the oldest settiers of the district. The congregation expressed ite regret al the death of this respected member of the community, and joined in an expression of empathy with relatives and friends. On Sunday morning at Woodlands the Rev. G. F. Cox referred to the death during the week of Mr William Webster Wright, a young married man of unassuming Planners and sterling character well known in the district. Mr Wright, before he passed, away, was ill for some time. The congregation, of which he was a member, paased a tribute of respect for the deceased and condolence with the relatives. Mr W. Kerr, ex-stationmaster at Invercargill, who has been living in Dunedin since his retirement from the Railway Department, has decided to return to South* laud, and expects to occupy his new residence at North Invercargill in about two months’ time. Mr Kerr states that he is quite satisfied that the climate of Southland is superior to that of Dunedin, hence his reason for removal. A Wellington Press Association telegram announces that in the Appeal Court yesterday, Mr M. Myers was sworn in as King's Counsel. The Chief Justice (Sir Robert S4out) afterwards congratulated Mr Myers upon the honour that had been conferred upon him, and said he felt sure that he would be a credit to the Bar and to the country. Mr Myers is the first barrister appointed a K.C. under the new law, which bars hrm from practising as a solicitor. He has severed his connection with the firm of Bell, Gully, Myers and O’Leary, with which he has been connected for nearly thirty years. The new KJ', is aged 49, was born at Motueka, and educated in Wellington. Before the Invercargill Town Council commenced its business last evening, the Mayor referred to the recent death of Mr Robert Meek, the father of Councillor Meek. Mr Meek, said the Mayor, was one of the early pioneers. He settled originally in Fairfax, and passed away at the ripe ago of 85 years. He moved a vote of condolence with Councillor Meek on the death of his father. Councillor T. D. Lennie seconded, saying that Mr Meek had reared a large family, and in this way as well as in many other respects he had contributed towards the progress of the community. The motion was carried by the memben standing in silence. At the Riverton Town Hall on k'rkluy evening, Mr E. C. liewat, who has just retired on supenumuation from the position of headmaster of the Ri vert (in District High School was farewcilcxl by ex-pupils and parents. The presejiLatkin of a substantial cheque on behalf of the ex-pupils was made by the Mayor of Riverton (Dr. Trotter) who referred to the high place Mr Hew at had won in the esteem of the people of Riverton during his 34 years’ service amongst them, and to his devotion to his profession. Mr Hewat, he said, had been essentially a man for his own work, and they would agree with him when he said that they never found him doing anything but his duty towards those entrusted to his charge. He had had a hard row to hoe during recent years, but he had kept a stout heart, and had not l«t it interfere with his work. Similar eulogistic speeches were made by the chairman of the School Committee (Mr G. Robertson), the Rev. C. A. Gray, Messrs .1. C, ITiomson, H. P. Young, A. E. Featherstone (Invercargilli, D. Rae (Mr Hewat’s successor), and a number of ex-pupils. In his reply Mr Hew at gave some interesting reminiscences of his early experiences in Riverton and w#nt on to say that his orations with the committee had been most harmonious, while parents had lieen sympat-hetic and often forbearing. To these and all his expupils, who, it gratified him to think, had remembered their old teacher, he returned his warmest thanks, ami he wished his successor every prosperity.