ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 19172, 16 February 1924, Page 4

ABOUT PEOPLE

MINISTERIAL. Yesterday Hon. J. G. Coates and hi? Departmental officers paid a visit to the Western District. This morning the Minister leaves by special train for Kingston by way of Lumsden and thence on to Queenstown, where ho will receive several deputations this evening. On Monday the Minister goes on to Pembroke and subsequently proceeds through Central Otago to Dun back. Mr Coates will then go through to Palmerston South and join the express train for the north. He expects to return to Wellington to-morrow week. Mr T. O. Fox, Town Engineer, leaves on Monday to attend a conference of civil engineers at Dunedin. A Paris cablegram announces that Miss Edith McAdtian, an eighteen-year-old New Zealander, is exhibiting two pieces of sculpture in the Salon des Independants. At the quarterly meeting of the Southland League held yesterday the president, Mr C. J. Brodrick, was given permission to allow his name to be added to the Commissioners of the Otago Exhibition. The Dominion organiser of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr T. Buxton, has nearly completed a very successful tour of Otago and expects to come to Suthland at the end of this month. At Trentham yesterday, Major-General Sir Edward Chaytor, G.0.C., presented to StaffSergeant A. J. Moore, of Wanganui, the King’s Medal for 1923 for the best service shot in New Zealand. The ceremony took place on the range, when General Chaytor, in the presence of Colonels Melville and Whyte, pinned the medal on Sergeant Moore’s tunic and congratulated him on bis extremely fine performance.—Press Association.

At a special meeting of the Rangiora Borough Council held on Wednesday night, Mr J. H. McAuliffe, Town Clerk of Mataura, was appointed Town Manager. Mr McAuliffe is 33 years of age, and he has had nine years’ experience as Town Clerk, four years with the Alexandra Borough Council and five years in his present position. He has a good knowledge of municipal affairs, having made a study of municipal enterprices both in England and in New Zealand. He expects to take up his duties on the first of next month.

A pleasant little function took place in the Tisbury Hall yesterday afternoon, when some fifty residents met to bid farewell to Mr J. Bathgate, who has been associated with the work of the Presbyterian Church in the southern suburbs. Mr H. McFeely presided, and in his remarks said that apart from being highly successful in his church work, their guest was a good sport, having taken an active interest in football, cricket and athletics. His departure was regretted by ail sections of the community. Mrs Nicol also expressed the good wishes of all for Mr Bathgate’s future happiness. The chairman called on Miss Hilda Hewitt to make the presentations which consisted of a handsome wallet, and shaving outfit. Mr Bathgate, in reply, thanked the residents for their unvarying kindness to him, and for the pleasant social gathering that been arranged that day in his honour. A dainty afternoon tea was served by the ladies of the district. Mr Bathgate joins his brotha. Dr. Bathgate, in the Thames district.