ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 25305, 7 June 1935, Page 6

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr A. V. Poole returned to Invercargill by the express last evening. The Hon. Thomas O’Byrne returned to Invercargill by the express last evening.

Mr Abraham Wachner returned from Wellington and Christchurch by last evening’s express. Mr David" Marshall returned to Invercargill from Dunedin by the express yesterday afternoon.

Dr Gordon, of Riverton, arrived in Invercargill from Dunedin by the express yesterday afternoon. Mr H. Murphy, of Bluff, who has been on a holiday visit in the north, returned to Invercargill by the express last- evening.

A Gazette announces the appointment of Mr George Andrew Duncan to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, states a Press Association message. The death has“*occurred of Mr A. T. Ennis, chief clerk at the head office of the Railways Department until 1924. Mr Ennis joined the services in 1883 as a cadet at Invercargill. Seven years later he became relieving officer in that district, being subsequently appointed to various positions as statfenmaster, traffic inspector, and traffic clerk in the principal South Island railway districts. In 1918 Mr Ennis was promoted to chief clerk in the district traffic manager’s office Wellington, and in 1920 became chief clerk at head office, Wellington, a position which he held until his retirement on superannuation in 1924. Constable D. Sughrue, who after nine years’ service at Gore has been transferred to St. Bathans, was tendered a public farewell in the Town Hall, Gore, on • Wednesday evening. Mr W. D. Shelton presided over an attendance of sixty, representing all sections of the community. The chairman presented Mr Sughrue with a travelling rug as a token of esteem from members of the community. Mr Shelton wished Constable and Mrs Sughrue the best of happiness, and added that it would be pleasing to the people of Gore to hear that Constable Sughrue’s services had been rewarded by his being promoted to the rank of sergeant. Constable Sughrue suitably replied. During the evening items were given by Messrs D. O Neill, A. H. Smith, A. D. Crawford, P. Kelly and W. Symons.

The Queen Mother Husaima of Iraq, died a few weeks ago from heart failure at the age of 51. This was the. fourth loss of the Iraq Royal family, within 18 months. Her husband, thelate King Feisal, died in September,, 1933, and one of her three daughters: five months later. Ex-King Ali, King: Feisal’s brother, died in February this year. She was a first cousin of King Feisal, for it is customary for members of the Hashimite dynasty always to: marry such close relatives. Her fath r and King Feisal’s were brothers., When Queen Husaima married King, Feisal 31 years ago he was taking a strong part in the constitutional movement that led to the gradual breaking down of the,Turkish power. As his consort she watched him develop into the powerful Arab ally of the War days, who became king of his country with the approval of Britain. Alexander Moissi (who has been described by Emil Ludwig as “the greatest actor in th? world”) died in Vienna, recently at the age of 55. He had a world-wide reputation, and at the height of it went to London six years ago. He wanted to see “Journey s End.” When he returned to Germany he played the part of Stanhope with great success. In the following year he went to London under Mr C. B. Cochran’s arrangement to play as “Hamlet,” and in- Tolstoy’s “Living Corpse.” He made a very big impression on all who saw him. By his wonderful voice, his remarkably expressive eyes, and Lis great emotional power he made it possible to understand why on the Continent he was a stage idol. Before he went to London he had played the part of Hamlet a thousand times. Bom at Trieste when it was under Austrian rule, Moissi went to Germany and became naturalized, but not until he was 17 did he learn the German language. Then, at 20, he made his first stage appearance in Prague. He quickly attracted the attention of Reinhardt, and acted under his direction for 17 years. During the War he fought as a German soldier and was taken prisoner by the French. For the last two years he had been playing in Italy, and only on the day he died it was reported that he had been granted Italian citizenship. Mr Colin M. Littlejohn, who has been appointed headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, has been headmaster of the Takapuna Grammar School since its foundation in 1927. He was appointed to that post on October 20, 1926, when he was senior science master at the Waitaki Boys’ High School. He is 45 years of age and has had 25 years’ teaching experience. An old boy of the Otago Boys’ High School, which ne attended from 1904 to 1907, Mr Littlejohn matriculated there, and subsequently attended Otago University, where he graduated M.A. with second-class honours. His first school teaching appointment was at Waitaki in 1912 and 1913, and he then accepted a positron on the staff of his own old school, which enabled him to take his B.Sc. degree at the University. From 1915 to 1919 Mr Littlejohn was absent overseas with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He held the rank of captain, and towards the end of the war was promoted to major, serving throughout in the Otago Regiment. On his return from the war, Mr Littlejohn joined the staff of the Waitaki Boys’ High School. Although he was in charge of the Science Department, he taught mathematics and languages in addition, and as senior house master he had considerable experience of the administrative side of school life. He took a keen interest in all forms of school sport, and also in cadet activities.