ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 21000, 5 February 1930, Page 4

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr Eustace Russell returned from Auclt' land by' last night’s express.

Mr N. L. G. Henry was a passenger for Timaru by last evening's through express.

Detective-Sergeant Hewitt was a passenger for the North by yesterday afternoon's express.

Mr Alport Barker, the proprietor of the Fiji Times, has purchased a controlling interest in the Samoan Times, states a Suva message.

The death occurred yesterday afternoon of the Rev. Br. Pitkowsky. Assistant Rabbi, at the age of 53 years, states a Wellington telegram.

Miss Copeland (Invercargill) who has been appointed domestic science mistress at the Timaru Girls’ High School, 'commenced h?r duties yesterday. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of the .late Mr John McCallum, of Browns, a past member of Presbytery, was carried in the customary manner at the meeting of the Southland Presbytery yesterday. The Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C, returned to New Zealand on Monday, after a two months’ trip to Australia. He arrived by the Maheno at Bluff and travelled to Christchurch by Monday’s through express.

A special meeting of the Executive Council will be held on Saturday afternoon next for the purpose of swearing in the Chief Justice, (the Hon. Sir Michael Myers), as Administrator of New Zealand until the arrival of the new Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe). The oaths of office will be administered by the senior Judge of the Supreme Court then in Wellington. The ceremony will be performed at a place nominated by the Chief Justice, probably Government House or the Executive Council room at Parliament Buildings. While act- ,

ing as Administrator, Sir Michael Myers will attend at Government House for the transaction of official business although it is extremely unlikely that he will take up temporary residence there. The resignation of the Rev. J. IL Robertson, of Woodlands, was received at the meeting of the Southland Presbytery yesterday. In a letter to the Presbytery Mr Robertson stated that his health had been so unsatisfactory during the last three years that he felt it necessary to resign the charge. The Rev. J. H. Thomson, who met Mr Robertson and the congregations in his charge last Sunday, spoke of the great work Mr Robertson had done in the Woodlands district. In view of the circumstances the congregations had felt that there was only one attitude they could adopt, and that was to acquiesce to Mr Robertson’s request to be, relieved. Mrs Davidson (Rimu), Mr Bigwood (Woodlands) and Mr Hamilton (Morton Mains) spoke feelingly of the devoted service rendered by Mr Robertson and of the regret and sympathy felt at-the necessity compelling his resignation. Tributes were also paid to Mrs Robertson, and the hope was expressed that Mr Robertson’s health would soon be restored and that once again he might be their pastor. Mr Robertson briefly expressed his regret at having to take the step his ill-health necessitated. The Presbytery decided to accept Mr Robertson’s resignation with deep regret. The Revs. J. H. Thomson, J. Chisholm, J. L. Robinson and H. Hogg voiced their sorrow at Mr Robertson’s compulsory retirement and expressed the hope before long he would find himself restored in health and able to take another appointment. A motion of appreciation of the attitude of the congregations and of sympathy with them in their loss was also carried.