PERSONAL

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mr. D. H. Butcher, assistant subcollector of Customs. Christchurch, and formerly assistant collector at New Plymouth, has been appointed sub-collector at Christchurch.

Mr. J. G. Young, of the headquarters staff of the Post and Telegraph Department, will represent that department with the official party which will accompany the Duke of Gloucester on his tour of New Zealand.

The Hon. Alexander Shaw, chairman of the P. and O. Shipping Company, has been operated on for a duodenal ulcer, states a London cable. He has recently returned from a visit to Australia and New Zealand.

The death occurred to-day of Lady Ross, widow of Sir John Ross and mother of Mr. J. Sutherland Ross, Managing director of Ross and Glendining. and Mr. T. C. Ross. Dunedin, says a Dunedin Press Association message. She was 93 years of age.

The death of Mr. George Herbert Butler, a, retired civil servant at the age of 76 years, occurred at Wellington yesterday, says a Press Association message. Mr. Butler was formerly employed in the Agricultural Department. He was a staunch adherent of the Church of England. He arrived in New Zealand 60 years ago and lived for some years in Southland. Subsequently he moved to Australia and had experience on the goldfields. His only son was drowned at New Plymouth 13 years ago. He is survived by a widow, a married daughter and four grandsons. The death of Captain Charles McMenamen Laing. M.C., A.F.C.. who was the R.A.F. adjutant at the Norfolk aerodrome, has occurred at London, states a cable. Captain Laing, who was a brother of Mr. James Laing. Bethlehem, Tauranga, was born at Wellington and went to England 30 years ago. At the age of 19 and at the outbreak of war he joined the Honourable Artillery Company. He transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers as lieutenant and at Cape Helles gained the M.C. After the evacuation he joined the R.A2F. and continued in the service after the war. Captain Laing, whose death followed an operation, was to retire at the end of the year. He leaves a widow and son. He was a grandson of Mr. McMenamen, of the Terawhiti estate.

The death has occurred at Auckland of Mr. B. E. S. Brodie, formerly chief postmaster at New Plymouth and Napier, and at one time accountant at the chief post office, Auckland, at the age of 62 yeans. Mr. Brodie, says a Press Association telegram, joined the Post and Telegraph Department in 1891 at Wellington. He was then stationed at Oamaru for four years, after which he was transferred to Auckland, where he served on the clerical staff for ten years. In 1905 he was transferred to Invercargill, where he remained for several years, being then appointed accountant at Auckland. In 1925 he was promoted to New Plymouth, where he served for three and a half years, and he was then appointed chief postmaster at Napier, being there in that capacity at the time of the earthquake. Later in 1931 he retired and went to Auckland.