News in Brief

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20296, 4 May 1934, Page 6

News in Brief

The Williams Family. Speaking at Moutoa Gardens recently, Canon W. G. Williams referred to the connection his family had with the Maori race, particularly in Wanganui. It was a privilege, he said, to be looked to by the Maoris to deliver the Anzac Day address; indeed, he felt he had the honour of looking upon himself as a Maori. “My great-grandfather was the first ordained clergyman to settle in New Zealand,” said Canon Williams, “ and for forty-five years he devoted his life to work among the Maori people. My grandfather was the first Judge of the Native Land Court, and my father was forty years in charge of Maori mission work. This year I complete my twenty-first year of work in connection with Maori missions.” Sparrows and Starlings. Time was when the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society paid 10s a pair for sparrows and starlings, imported wallabies, and liberated Murray cod in Virginia Lake. But that was 70-odd years ago, when the society was in its infancy. At last week’s meeting of the society, the president, Mr 11. J. Duigan, said that the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society was one of the oldest in New Zealand. It had started operations in 1862, while the Auckland Society was not established until five years later. Mr W. M. Falconer, the secretary, said lie was still using the original cash book of the society, and in it were the items concerning the starlings and sparrows referred to above. “ Rankers ” as R.S.A. Officials. The election of Sergeant G. Hay ton, D.C.M., M.M . to the position of president at the annual meeting of the Hutt Valley branch of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association on Saturday gave rise to some discussion on the eligibility of “ Rankers ” to become officials in the association. The remark stated to have been made by a past-president of the Wellington Association, that “ all executive positions should be held by ex-officers,” was severely criticised Mr L C. Driver spoke on Mr Hayton’s fine war record and said he disagreed with the statement that officers should hold all executive positions in the R.S.A. Another member said that during the war, especially in the latter part, many men were promoted to be officers from the ranks, but in some cases they were so efficient as N.C.O.’s that they were not given commissioned rank... The retiring president (Colonel D. Colquhoun) paid a tribute to Sergeant Ilayton’s qualities as a soldier, and* speaking personally, said that as an officer he regretted that any distinction between officers and men had been made in the remark by a pastpresident of the Wellington R.S.A. As a matter of fact, he had told some officers that they were not doing their duty towards the association in the way they should. A number of men from the ranks had held positions in the R.S.A. There was no other nomin?tion for president, and Mr Hay ton was declared elected amid applause.