PERSONAL

Southland Times, Issue 25549, 18 December 1944, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., returned from Wellington by Saturday evening’s express. The Hon. M. Connelly, M.L.C., arrived in Invercargill by Saturday night’s express and is the guest of the Hon. T. O’Bryne. The staff of Sargood, Son and Ewen met to bid farewell to Mr P. B. Witt, the former manager, on the eve of his departure for Christchurch and to welcome his successor, Mr R. McClean. Mr J. E. Thomson outlined Mr Witt’s activities during his long association with the Invercargill branch and congratulated him on his success as manager. All members of the staff wished Mr Witt success in his new position, after which he was presented with a solid leather folio case. In reply, Mr Witt gave a review of the progress of the firm in Southland. He predicted a great future for Southland and said he felt that the firm would continue to prosper. Mi- W. Trembath, who has recently been in charge of a hotel at Riverton, has been appointed manager of the Southland Hotel at Gore. He will take up the position at the end of January. Mr Trembath, who is a former resident of Gore, at one time competed successfully at national and Australasian athletic championship meetings. Lieutenant Hamish Buchanan, son of Mr and Mrs John Buchanan, Mataura, who has been overseas for the past three years, returned on furlough on Friday. For six months during the Battle of the Atlantic he was a member of the crew of a destroyer. He received frequent mention in cable news from London and participated in operations during the invasion, being mentioned in dispatches. Reference to the death of Mr Johnston Wylie, formerly a well-known breeder and exhibitor of stock in Southland, was made at a meeting of the committee of the Gore A. and P. Association, sympathy being expressed with his son, Mr J. J. Wylie, a member of the committee, and other relations.

Mr C. F. Grindell, representative of the Engine Drivers’, Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Association, was welcomed to the meeting of the Southland Trades Council on Saturday night by the president, Mr S. Anderson. Guests at the Grand Hotel include Gunner and Mrs H. C. Billings (Waitakaruru.)