PERSONAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16681, 2 March 1920, Page 2

PERSONAL.

A telegram from Wanganui says Katera Poni, a well known Maori chief, died at Jerusalem, Wanganui River, aged 96 years. ■ General Melville, commanding the Wellington. Military District, will he in New Plymouth this week, and' will confer with the Borough Council and returned soldiers in reference to the visit of the Prince of Wales. It is definitely stated in. the Parliamentary lobby that Sir Auckland Gcddes has been selected as Ambassador to Washington. Sir Robert Horne (Minister for Labour) is likely to succeed him at'the Board of Trade. A cable. from Ottawa says that Sir Robert Borden (Prime Minister of Canada) has returned from' a visit to England). His health has not improved, and it is . considered unlikely that he will resume the Premiership actively. The Rev. H. A. Favell has accepted the invitation of Archdeacon Reeve, vicar of Wanganui, to take charge of the Gonville and Castlecliff district in that parish, and will be leaving New Plymouth for his new sphere of work at the end of the month. Dr. Tillyard, who has been staying at Dawson’s Falls with Dr. Thomson, was advised on Saturday to return to Wellington immediately to prepare to proceed to England as the New Zealand representative at the conference of economic entomologists which is to be held in London in June.

Mr. Robert Henry Stewart Irwin, who for the past three years had occupied the position of actipg-Town Clerk of Ellnam, died on Sunday. He was 53-years of age, and had been in ill health for some months past. Mr. Irwin was born in Ireland and since coming to the Dominion 20 years ago has held appointments on the clerical staff of various local bodies. The Rev. J. G. Chapman, who has been minister of Wesley Church, Taranaki Street, Wellington, for the past nine years, and who was formerly in New Plymouth, has intimated to his congregation his intention to retire in April. Mr. Chapman had a. nervous breakdown some months hack, from which he believed he had recovered, but on resuming his duties a few Sundays ago the trouble returned, and, acting on medical advice, he is taking a year’s rest.

Appreciative reference to the work of the Rev. T. G. Hammond, who for over 40 years has carried on missionary enterprise among the Maoris, was made by the president of the Methodist conference, the Rev. E. Drake, at Auckland. It was stated that Mr. Hammond intends to retire this year from the position of general superintendent of Maori missions, and the hope was expressed that he would place on record his experience and knowledge of Maori customs and traditions for the benefit of the Church and the community as a whole. Mr. Hammond laboured for many years in Taranaki, where he is held in high esteem alike hy Pakeha and Maori.