PERSONAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18848, 10 April 1931, Page 8

PERSONAL.

Mr Will Lawson, of Sydney, is at present in Timaru. Mr A. O. Wilkinson, of Christchurch, is spending a few days in Timaru. Mr J. L. Wight, of Dunedin, is a visitor to Timaru. Mr T. B. Gusscott, of Wellington, arirved in Timaru yesterday. Mr G. H. Ponder, of Christchurch, arrived in Timaru yesterday. Mr G. E. Vial, of Dunedin, is at present in Timaru. Major O. H. Mead, of Dunedin, Is visiting Timaru. Mr J. Hutchison returned to Timaru by the second express from the north yesterday. Mr F. E. Talbot, of Christchurch, returned north yesterday afternoon, after spending a few days in Timaru. Mr C M. Benzoni, District Railways Engineer, was a passenger for the south by yesterday’s second express. Dr Waddell, of Dunedin, who spent the Easter holidays fishing in South Canterbury rivers, returned south yesterday.

Mr James Begg. owner of Bendigo sheep station. South Otago, who is a member of the Board of Agriculture, proceeded north by the second express from Dunedin yesterday. Sir James Parr, formerly High Commissioner for New Zealand, is returning from England by the Remuera, which is due to arrive at Wellington on April 19. Mr W. J. Bare-ley, formerly secretary to the Timaru Harbour Board, and now secretary of the Otago Harbour Board, was in Timaru yesterday. He left later this week for the north, en route for England, where he is to spend an extended holiday. The following resolution was adopted at a meeting of the South Canterbury Patriotic War Relief Society held recently:—“This meeting representing the South Canterbury War Relief Society places on record its high appreciation of the long and faithful service rendered by the late W. D. Revell during the fifteen years he as acted as its secretary, and deplores the sudden termination of his valuable life through an unfortunate accident. The members of the committee who have been intimately associated with the late secretary desire to convey their sincere expression of sympathy to his widow and sisters in their sad bereavement, and join with the community of South Canterbury in mourning the loss of a valued citizen and faithful colleague.”

Mr F. T. Sandford, who has been migration officer in London since 1922, is to take over the control of the trade and produce section of the High Commissioner’s Department. This position lately became vacant owing to the death of Mr W* S. Ferguson. When the migration scheme was in full swing the staff of the Migration Department was the largest in the office, but when it was decided to curtail the number of assisted passengers the staff had to be cut down considerably. Mr Sandford’s transference will give him greater scope for his ability. The Trade and Produce Department has to deal with all purchases and contracts made in this country on behalf of Government departments, and the officer in charge of this business is able to save the Government many thousands of pounds in a year. Mr Sandford, who was educated at the Boys’ High School, Christchurch, entered the Land Department of the civil service in 1897, and remained with it until 1918. He was appointed to Hokitika and became chief clerk and receiver of land revenue. In 1916 he went to the head office as legislative clerk. In 1918 he was transferred to the Board of Trade to control the export of timber. He then became chief clerk in the Industries and Commerce Department and remained in that position until in 1922 he was appointed migration officer in London. The selection is an admirable one, Mr Sandford being a very efficient and popular Government servant.

In connection with the biographical sketch of the life of Colonel B. C. (“Tiny”) Freyberg, which was published in the “Timaru Herald” yesterday. a “Visitor” writes: It was with much pleasure that I read the article, and I am taking the liberty of pointing out one inaccuracy in the very interesting resume of his career. The article states that “at an early age he left New Zealand seeking adventure.” thus implying that he had been away for some length of time prior to the outbreak of War. This is hardly correct. After leaving Wellington College, “Tiny” took up dentistry and served his time with Mr J. S. Fairchild, who is still in practice in Wellington. During this time he made his name at his favourite sport of swimming, holding I think, the New Zealand championships at all distances, until finally dethroned by Malcolm Champion, an ex-seaman on the Hinemoa, who had settled at Auckland. During this period, “Tiny” rowed with the Star Boating Club, Wellington, and played football with the Wellington College Old Boys Club. He eventually left Wellington, and was in the dentistry business in Cambridge, Waikato. I came in contact with him again during the big strike, late in 1913, when we were in the same troop of mounted “specials.” However, this lacked the necessary action to please "Tiny,” who shipped for Sydney in the S.S Maunganui as fireman, and moreover so thoroughly enjoyed his experience in the stokehold that he signed on and “fired” for another voyage. It was not until early in 1914 that he left New Zealand, and he did so with the intention of working his way to England for the purpose of attempting the Channel swim, a lifelong ambition of his. Prior to his departure, he gave himself a long tryout in the Waikato River—l think of 18 hours. As was his way he kept all this “under his hat.” He was ever the world’s worst showman, and publicity knew him not. He confided his intentions to the writer, and a few other friends in touch with athletic and sporting activities in Wellington, said “Au Revoir,” and signed on the Tahiti for San Francisco, armed with a few letters and credentials to the American athletic authorities on the Pacific Coast. This, as stated, was early in 1914, and at the outbreak of war a few months latter he was with Villa in Mexico, with the twofold intention of seeing life and of acquiring some funds for his main adventure, the Channel swim. He then left Senor Villa to “drie his ain weird,” and by various and devious stages made his way to New York and across to London. where he fell in with an old friend in the person of Major G. R. (now General Sir George) Richardson, who was then attached to Winston Churchill’s Naval Brigade, then organising for its ill-fated Antwerps Expedition. “Tiny” was thus adopted into the Naval Brigade, with which he served, I think, in the “Hawke” Battalion, “for the duration,” and the rest we know.