ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 19291, 9 July 1924, Page 6

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr and Mrs Herbert Maxwell, of Orari, South Canterbury, are at present visiting Wyndham. Mr R. W. Brickell, of Dunedin, arrived by last night’s express, . and is staying at the Grand Hotel. Colonel A. R. Young, director, Live Stock Divison, Department of Agriculture, has been awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration. Mr R. C. Jones, of the firm of Turnbull & Jones, electrical engineers, Dunedin, accompanied by Messrs W. J. Markell and J. Umbers, motored through from Dunedin yesterday, and are staying at the Club. Mr F. Young, of Gore, is visiting Wellington, where he is attending the Trotting Conference as representative of the Gore Club. He also attends the New Zealand Racing Conference, which opens to-morrow. Mr Thomas Morrison, who has been employed in the Otautau Post Office for some considerable time, has received notice of his transfer to Leeston, and leaves for his new position to-morrow morning. Mr Neil Greenless, who holds an important position in connection with the administrative side of the Waitoa Dried Milk Factory in the Waikato district, is at present visiting his parents, Mr and Mrs John Greenless, of Wyndham. At the Trotting Conference in Wellington yesterday, resolutions of sympathy were passed with the families of the late Hon. C. Louisson, for many years President of the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club, and Mr Finney, Secretary of the Nelson Jockey Club. A Blenheim telegram states that Martin Healy, 77 years of age, died suddenly of heart trouble yesterday. He had been in business as bootmaker at Blenheim for 52 years, and had been a Borough Councillor, member of the School Committee, and had held seats on other bodies. He was one of the oldest Freemasons in Marlborough. Mr F. W. Dingwall, late of the Invercargill Telegraph Office, commences duties as Postmaster at Bluff to-day. Mr F. H. Francis, late of Roxburgh, has been transferred to Otautau, where he took up the duties of Postmaster yesterday. Mr W. J. Pratt, late of Hokitika, also commenced as Postmaster at Tuatapere on the same date.

Mr Fred Earl, K.C., who became ill, and was admitted to a private hospital in Auckland a few days ago, is making satisfactory improvement. Owing to his illness Mr Earl will be unable to act as delegate for the Auckland Racing Club at the New Zealand Racing Conference at Wellington. Mr W. S. Spence, secretary of the club, will act in his stead. The resignation of Mr A. B. McDougall as stores buyer to the Town Council was accepted with regret at last night’s meeting of the Council, and it was decided to forward him a letter expressing appreciation of his services whilst in the Council’s employ. Mr McDougall is about to take up a position in Winton as manager for Messrs Matheson’s, Ltd. Reference to the death of the late Mr David Stewart, who for a number of years past had acted as valuer to the Town Council, was made at last night’s meeting by the Mayor (Mr A. Bain), and at his request, the Councillors present stood in silence', for a moment as a mark of condolence with the relatives of the deceased gentleman. Dr McKibbin, medical officer in charge of the Otago district, will be transferred to Wellington shortly as Director of the Division of Public Health, Dr J. H. Crawshaw being appointed acting medical officer for Otago. Dr Watt, owing to Dr Frengley’s lengthy sick leave, will act as Deputy Direc-tor-General of Health, and Dr Chesson, assistant medical officer at Auckland, will transfer to Wellington as medical officer in conjunction with Dr Findlay. In confirming the report of the reappointment of Sir James Allen as High Commissioner for another two years, the Prime Minister states that for some time Sir James Allen, in conjunction with the Government, has been increasing the proportion of New Zealanders on his staff, with the result that at least seventeen in the London office are from the Dominion. It is intended to main-' tain a large proportion of New Zealanders on the staff. Prior to leaving Cardrona, where he has been teaching for the last two years, Mr Gordon Millar was tendered a social and presented with a handsomely-fitted dressingcage and a silver shaving mug. Mr R. McDougall, who made the presentation on behalf of the people of Cardrona, referred to Mr Millar’s great success as a teacher. During his stay in the district he had made himself exceedingly popular with all clsases of the community, and one and all regretted his departure. Mr Millar has been appointed to Awarua School. The death of Sir Harry Veitch, the famous horticulturist, is announced in a London cable. Deceased was born at Exeter in 1840, his education being received at that place, and also in France and Germany. He -went to London in 1853, where he was the late head of James Veitch and Sons, Ltd., and also vice-president of the Royal Horticultural Society. He was knighted in 1912, and other decorations held by him were Chevalier-of the Legion of Honour and Cross of Officer of the Belgian Order of the Crown. He was the author of “Veitch’s Orchidaceous Plants and Manual Coniferal.” Prior to his departure with the All Black team for the Homeland, Mr Leslie F. Cuppies, an old Otautau boy, was farewelled at a complimentary social and dance at Dixieland, Rotorua, and presented with a handsome leather suit-case, suitably inscribed, by well-wishers in the Bay of Plenty. The President of the Rugby Union made eulogistic reference to the recipient’s inclusion in the team, stating that all New Zealand would be greatly interested in its doings, and enthusiasts in his home town (Otautau) would watch his efforts in particular. Mr Cuppies, in responding, said he would do his utmost to uphold the prestige of his team, town and New Zealand. Mrs E. F. Allan, M.A., LL.B., editor of the women’s pages of the Melbourne Argus and Australasian (a sister of Mr A. G. Henderson, managing editor of the Lyttelton Times), has been appointed Australian delegate to the Women’s Congress convened by the League of Nations. Mrs Allan is a graduate of the Canterbury College, and has many friends at Christchurch. She will leave Melbourne for London this week. Mrs Allan’s sister, Miss C. K. Henderson, is at present in the United States with Mrs Don (of Dunedin), and the sisters will meet in London in September or October. They will return home by way of India, -where another sister, Miss A. E. Henderson, is one of the missionaries of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. On Thursday last there passed away at Isla Bank Mr George Duke, a very highly respected resident of the district. The deceased was a native of Forfarshire, and came to the Dominion early in life. He was a man of many parts, and though farming for many years he had had a large commercial experience, and was also a musician of considerable merit. It was in this latter connection that he was best known in the Western District. For many years he conducted orchestras and singing classes in the various centres, and was a popular performer on the violin on many concert platforms. At one time he had a large connection as a music- teacher, and in this capacity he set a high standard of culture in the districts with which he was associated. For' many years he was librarian to the local Mechanics’ Institute, and the present efficient library is a lasting testimony to his power of organisation, and his discernment as a reader. The deceased was of a very retiring disposition, and he will be best remembered by his associates as a man of sterling worth and fearless devotion to duty. He served the community from a simple sense of duty to his fellows, and shrank from any public recognition of his services. He leaves a widow and two daughters, Mrs C. McLeish, of Drummond, and Miss C. Duke, of Isla Bank, to mourn their loss.