ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 19157, 29 January 1924, Page 4

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., is reported to be seriously ill at Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Geo. Harker, of Westport, who are on a motoring tour of the South Island, are at present visiting Southland. Mr John Matheson, chairman of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee and the secretary (Mr T. Pryde) leave by the express this morning for Dunedin to attend a meeting of the committee this evening. Mr and Mrs Rasmussen, of Balfour, have returned home after a three months’ holiday in Australia. Mr Rasmussen states that he prefers New Zealand from a farming viewpoint.

Mr W. F. Scandrett, manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company is leaving Invercargill by the early express this morning on a brief visit to Wellington. Mr A. R. EUey of the staff of the local branch of the Union Bank of Australia is shortly to be transferred to Australia and leaves by the Moeraki for Melbourne on February 10.

Messrs John Fisher and J. R. Hamilton, Southland’s representatives on the Dairy Control Board, leave by the early express this morning on their way to Wellington to attend a meeting of the Board there on Thursday next.

Mr Robert W. Martin, manager and superintendent of the Phoenix Assurance Company, Ltd., for Australasia, has retired after having completed 33 years’ service with the company. Mr Martin had held his late position for 18 years.

Mr A. Davidson, who has for some yearn past been a member of the Dunedin staff of Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and was the recipient of a number of present* from his fellow workers. Mr Davidson han been transferred to the Invercargill branch.

A Tokio cablegram records the death of Field Marshal Viscount Yoshimichi Hasegawa, one of the most famous militarists in Japan, and formerly Chief of the General Staff. He had been ill a fortnight. He was 75 years of age.

A Wellington telegram records the death of William Gardiner, builder and contractor, aged 58 years. He was a native of Auckland and was formerly a provincial Rugby representative for Auckland and cricket for Wellington. The deceased built several wharves and bridges.

Reference to-the sudden death of Mr D. Cochrane, solicitor, was made by Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., at yesterday’s sitting of the "Wyndham Court. His Worship said that deceased was an honourable and upright solicitor, who had been respected by all. He would like to extend his sympathy to Mrs Cochrane and family in their sad bereavement. Mr Davey (Wyndham) and Mr Smith (Gore) endorsed the remarks from the bench, the latter saying he was pleased that reference had been made by His Worship to the untimely death of their colleague. Mr Cochrane would be greatly missed from the community.

Mr Richard N. Chatterton, who has been a member of the Gore staff of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., at Gore for six years, has been transferred to Masterton. Prior to leaving for the north the staff met to farewell Mr Chatterton. Mr 11. R. Robertson, in a suitable speech, congratulated Mr Chatterton on his well-deserv-ed promotion, and voiced the regret of the * members of the staff at losing so popular a member. He then asked Mr Chatterton to accept a handsome suitcase and a travelling rug as tangible evidence of their affection and esteem, and wished him every success in his future work. Mr Chatterton suitably responded. Mr Chatterton was also met by the members of the Anglican Church choir and presented «with a gold eversharp pencil as a mark of esteem.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that the Earl and Countess of Harrowby and their daughter Lady France Ryder arrived at Wellington by the Maunganui last, evening in continuance of their tour of the British Dominions. Lord and Lady Harrowby entertained 16,000 officers of the dominions’ forces in London during the war years and are visiting New Zealand to renew acquaintances formed then. They were the guests of the Government in South Africa, where they travelled 7000 miles, visiting Rhodesia. They made a brief call in Australia, visiting Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, where they were entertained to luncheon by the States and Federal Governments. They intend returning to Australia to visit the soldier settlements. The party, who received a telegram from Mr Massey welcoming them to New Zealand and who were met on arrival by the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs (Mr J. Hislop), intend visiting General Russell at Hastings and making a tour of the principal centres of the Dominion.