ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 21361, 6 April 1931, Page 6

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr D. McDougall, M.P., arrived in Gorß from Wellington on Friday evening, Mr J. B. Thomson left Invercargill foe Christchurch by last evening’s express. Mr J. J. Berry, of Queenstown, is at present on a visit to Invercargill and is a guest at the Club Hotel. The death of Mr John Webley, aged 85, an old and respected resident of Nelson, is announced in a Press Association message. Mr H. D. M. Haszard, F.R.G.S., at ono time Commissioner of Crown Lands for Southland, is at present the guest of his son, Captain N. Haszard, Bluff. According to a Press Association cable the Prime Minister of Canada on April 2 announced the engagement of, his sister, Mildred Marian Bennett to Major William Duncan Herridge, the new Canadian Minister to Washington. The wedding is to take place at an early date. An official wireless message from Rugby says that following the retirement from the Public Service of Sir John Shuckburgh Risley, Mr H. G. Bush has been appointed Legal Adviser to the Dominions and Colonial Offices, and Mr Duncan, assistant legal adviser to both departments.' Dr C. A. Jarman, city organist of Launceston, Tasmania, well known as judge in musical sections at several New Zealand competitions, has been selected as chief adjudicator for the grand national eisteddfod of Australia at- Ballarat, Victoria, iu October. This is a post for which a musician is usually imported from England, and the selection of Dr Jarman Is considered a very high tribute to him. Dr Jarman is also to judge the Adelaide competitions iu August, and the Christchurch competitions in May. The following officers were elected at the Church of Christ Conference presided over by Mr W. G. Carpenter, of Wellington: President (for the next year), Mr R. Dick; preacher of the conference sermon, Mr G. Fretwcll (Invercargill) ; social problems committee, Messrs J. Grayden, P. Hobbs, G. Cairns, A. F. Turner, D. Hall, H. Austin, W. Garner, W. G. Carpenter; Preachers’ Provident Fund Committee, Messrs E. Vickery’, W. D. M. Glaister, R. J. Dick, M. Vickery, J. Stokes; Evangelists’ Training Committee, Messrs J. Inglis-W right (secretary), J. Stokes, W. D. More, A. Sotting, W. King; Bible College Board, Messrs McKenzie, Stokes,’ Roberts, More, King, Todd, Ferguson, Gill, AldermanNelson Press Association message.

Mr George Henry Glutton, for many years a well-known figure in New Zealand banking circles, died at Rona Bay, Wellington, last Monday, after a brief illness, aged 77 years. Born in Suffolk, he came out to New Zealand at the age of 26 years, and, soon afterwards entered the service of tho Colonial Bank. He was manager at Rangiora when the amalgamation with the Bank of New Zealand took place. He then joined the staff of the Bank of New Zealand at- Christchurch, and later served as accountant at Blenheim and Nelson. Ho was then transferred’ to Wellington, where he filled a responsible position in head office. He retired shortly after the war, and lived in retirement at Nelson and Wellington ever since. He was well known, and very popular in bowling circles, being in succession a member of the Nelson, Wellipgton, Thorndon, and Eastbourne Bowling Clubs. He was a member of the veterans' team which defeated the English team of bowlers when they were here. He came of a long line of artists, and did some excellent work in water colours. He leaves a widow and three daughters.

It is announced by the Admiralty’ that Commodore Geoffrey’ Blake, C. 8., D. 5.0., A.D.C., commanding H.M. ships on tho New Zealand Station, has now been promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral. As Admiral Blake’s present appointment does not terminate until next year, he will, at the request of the New Zealand Government, retain command of the New Zealand Naval Station until then. Admiral Blake, born in 1882, was educated at Winchester, and entered the Navy in 1897. He was promoted to commander in June, 1914, while gunnery officer of the Iron Duke, and was probably the youngest officer of that rank when war began. As gunnery and principal control officer in the Iron Duke, he took part in the Jutland Battle, and Admiral Jellicoe reported that his zeal, knowledge, and devotion to duty throughout, the battle, and coolness and skill in action, resulted in severe damage being inflicted by the flagship on a German battleship of the Konig class. In the honours list, for the action he was appointed D.S.O. From January, 1917, until after the Armistice, he was executive officer of Admiral Beatty’s flagship, the Queen Elizabeth, and was promoted to captain in December, 1918. He was naval attache at Washington in 1919-21, commanded the Queen Elizabeth, Atlantic Fleet Flagship in 1921-23; and afterwards served at the R.N. War College and the R.N. Staff College, being director of the last-named in 192627 He became commodore and chief of staff in the Nelson, Atlantic Fleet, in December, 1927. He held that jwsition until April, 1929, when it was announced by the Admiralty that he had been lent to the New Zealand Government as Commodore, second class, to succeed Commodore G. T. C. P. Swabey, D. 5.0., in command of the New Zealand Station, and as First Naval Member, New Zealand Naval Board, to date July 19, 1929.