PERSONAL

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1929, Page 8

PERSONAL

Mr. W. M. Singleton, director of the Dairy Division, is visiting New Plymouth.

Mr. J. R. Mackay, of the Wellington post office staff, is spending a short holiday in New Plymouth. Mr. L. Sinclair Thompson, manager of the National Bank at Wellington, and Mrs. Thompson are visiting New Ply-, mouth.

Miss Marion K. Steven, a former pupil at the New Plymouth Girls* High School, has received official notice that she passed in all subjects at the medical intermediate examination.

The death of Mr. John Walsh, a veteran soldier and member of the Armed Constabulary and British forces engaged in the Maori War, is reported by the Press Association from Gisborne. He was 85 years of age. Mr. J. G. Harkness leaves Wellington by the mail train this morning for Midhirst, where he will spend a holiday with his son, Mr. G. P. Harkness. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Harkness. Prior to leaving for Wellington, when he took a prominent part in the dairy industry, Mr. J. G. Harkness was for some years secretary-manager of the Midhirst Dairy Company.

A message from Auckland, states that the Rev. Thomas G. Brooke, one of the best-known members of the Methodist Church in New Zealand, celebrated his eightieth birthday yesterday. For fortyfour years, until his retirement in 1924, he served in the active ministry of the church, and his work took him to every part of the Dominion. He still enjoys excellent health. Lieutenant-Colonel N. Fitz Herbert and Mrs. Fitz Herbert arrived by the Rangitata on a holiday visit to New Zealand, after an absence in England of five years. Lieutenant-Colonel Fitz Herbert, who saw service in the South African War and the Great War, is a New Zealander and for many years was engaged in farming in the Wanganui district. They intend to stay in the Dominion until April.

Adjutant and Mrs. Tong, who have been in charge of the New Plymouth Salvation Army corps during the last I'2 months, will leave shortly to take over the Oamaru corps. They will be succeeded in New Plymouth by Adjutant and Mrs. McKenzie, Whangarei. Sister Brunton, New Plymouth, has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and is to be stationed at Kaiapoi.

Mrs. Henry Allport, an old resident of Auckland and formerly of Nelson, died at Auckland yesterday, states a Press Association message, within a fortnight of completing her eighty-seventh year. She was a daughter of Isaac Smith, ono of the special constables who fell in the Wairau massacre in June, 1843. Her parents were among the early* Nelson settlers. Her husband died ten years ago. She leaves three generations of descendants totalling 86.

A pioneer of Pukekohe and Puni, Mr. William Adams has died at Pukekohe at the age of 75. Born at Luton, Eng-, land, he was taken to Capetown at the age of five and after five years there ho was brought to New Zealand. The family settled at Pukekohe, but later Mr. Adams settled at Puni. where he lived for 30 years. He retired to Pukekohe 15 years ago. He was a member of the Pukekohe Mounted Rifle Volunteers for 36 years and held long ser- \ vice medals. He is survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters. There are 12 grand-children. Mr. J. M. B.'Crawford, Director-of the School for the Deaf at Sumner, Christchurch, retired on Saturday after having been with the school for 37 years. He had been director of the school for tho past seven years. He collaborated with the Education Department in the publication of a work on “speech training” for the use -of teachers in primaryschools for their guidance in the correction of errors in speech, and with the assistance of members of his staff he conducted a class for deaf adults in lip reading. Special classes for those who were hard of hearing and who suffered speech defects in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin were also under the guidance of Mr. Crawford.