PERSONAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18538, 8 April 1930, Page 8

PERSONAL.

Rear-Admiral Byrd, accompanied by members of his staff, passed through Timaru en route to Christchurch and Wellington yesterday. At Christchurch they were tendered a civic reception. A cable message from Sydney announces that Sr Dudley De Chair, Governor of New South Wales, has completed his term of office, and will spend a holiday on a Queensland sheep station before returning to England. A cable message from Sydney announces that General Sir Harry Chauvel, Chief of the General Staff, and Inspector-General of the Australian Military Forces, retires from active service on April 16, on reaching the age of 65 years.

Archbishop Redwood, the oldest living Roman Catholic prelate in the world, will celebrate his ninety-first birthday to-day. He will not mark the event with any special function, although he will preside at a private dinner to celebrate the occasion. After nine years as a member of the Mackenzie County Council representing the Albury Riding, Mr J. McCort, who is now living in retirement in Timaru. yesterday tendered his resignation. Mr McCort stated that leaving the Council was like severing a link with the past. He had greatly enjoyed his associations with the Council, and he must thank them for the courtesy and consideration extended to him. The chairman (Mr C. J. Talbot) said that Mr McCort had been a most tactful Councillor, always willing to bend with the majority in the interests of the County. He was extremely sorry that Mr McCort was resigning, and while they recognised that the longer they could stave off Mr McCort’s resignation the better it would be for the Council, he did not wish to press the retiring member, when it was against Mr McCort's conscience to carry on when he was not resident in the district. Messrs A. F. Campbell, W. Scott, F. H. Buckley, T. J. Seay, and W. T. Smith spoke of Mr McCort’s straightforwardness at the Council table, and his genuine interest in the welfare of the County as a whole. In accepting the resignation the Council decided to place on record Mr McCort’e valuable service to the district, and members wished him every happiness in his retirement.