IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 8

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

NOTES AND ANECDOTES. TJUSILY engaged at the present time in preparing the estimate on which the rates will be computed for the current year, Mr James Anderson has held the position of city treasurer since the retirement, three years ago, of Mr H. R. Smith, who held the dual position of Town Clerk and City Treasurer. Mr Anderson was Town Clerk to the Riccarton Borough Council at the time of the borough’s amalgamation with the city in 1903. He then entered the employ of the Municipal Council as City Accountant, a position which he filled until his appointment to his present office. His hobby is juggling with figures, and he has little time to do anything else. But he likes it. He has shown a capacity to keep a smiling face under heavy responsibilities, and he is one of the most popular officers on the staff of the Municipal Council to-day. * T)I RECTOR of Education in New Zealand, Mr J. Caughley, M.A., leaves for Australia to-day to take part in an education conference to be held in the Commonwealth. Mr Caughley is an eminent authority on education matters, and his opinions command a high respect not only in New Zealand, but much farther afield. He was recently in Christchurch to explain the junior high schools movement to a conference of representatives of various i educational institutions. There was a | time when Mr Caughley had his per- | manent residence here. He was then head master of the West Christchurch School, a position which he held from 1910 to 1915. when he was appointed Assistant Director of Education. In 1921 he was appointed to the directorship, and he has proved himself a highly intelligent, dutiful and painstaking officer. Mr Caughley attended the Xapier Main School as a boy, and was later a student at Canterbury College and Victoria College, Auckland.

H AYIXG taken an. active interest in Workers’ Education Association matters for seven years now, Mr J. J. Johnston is in a t position to speak with | authority on the good work .that is being accomplished by the association throughout the Dominion. lie was recently appointed staff tutor for North Canterbury, and his appointment has been an undoubted gain to the movement in the district which he controls. Born l. and educated in Wellington, M r Johnston is a close friend of Mr IT. G. R. Mason, M.P., who was successful in gaining the Eden seat at the recent by-election. They attended the same school together, and later the same high school and university. Both were honours graduates in Economics in 1914, and then Mr Johnston entered the staff of the Customs Department as a statistical clerk. As a private in the Otago infantry, he served in the Great War, and while overseas he played a prominent part in the .. Army education scheme, and was organiser of the “Brotherhood of Men of Goodwill.” ¥ ¥

jYJAJOR BARNES is to be seen every morning at the Magistrate’s Court, his kindly countenance always offering a smile of sympathy to the transgressors of the law who from time to time come under his notice. He is the Salvation Army’s official visitor to the Court, and rain, or sunshine. Major Barnes is always there. He has been paying his daily visits for many years now, and he has become an institution among the Court officials and legal fraternity. He is an enthusiastic social worker, whose hobby is uplifting his less fortunate fellows. Officer in charge of the Salvation Army Men’s Home at Addington, it is Major Barnes’s work to keep an eye on prisoners immediately after their release from prison, and he interests himself in their welfare by securing them work, and placing them once more on the road of life as law-abiding citizens. m * TTDITOR of the “New Zealand U Methodist Times,” the Rev Percy Paris, after being for five years in charge of the Sydenham Methodist Church. recently left for Hamilton, where he will in future reside. Mr Paris during stay in this city was a highly respected and popular minister. His interests were not confined to his church, but his enthusiasm and zeal in ail matters which he took up were reflected in his splendid work in connection with the Student Christian movement and in Labour Mr Paris will be greatly missed in Sydcni ham, where his progressive ideas bad endeared him to many residents. be introduced the innovation into bis church of holding debates on topica matters in conjunction with his services on Sunday evenings. Anyone at all was permitted to “ have a say, and the idea soon became immensely popular. He will be remembered for many things in the district, and amongst them will be ideas