PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1942, Page 2

PERSONAL

Mr Ken McMullen, has left Masterton to undertake a course of training in a R.A.F. school. A civic reception in honour of the United States Minister to New Zealand, Brigadier-General P. Hurley, will be held in the Wellington Town Hall tomorrow. General Hurley is a forceful public speaker, and he made a great impression with those present when he spoke at the luncheon given by the Government in his honour at Parliament House last week. Tomorrow will be the first opportunity for the general public to hear the General.

The death occurred on Saturday of Mr Gregor McGregor, a noted authority on the Maori tribes of the Wanganui River and district. Born in Matarawa Valley 86 years ago, Mr McGregor in 1876 entered the Wanganui Post Office as a cadet, where his knowledge of the Maori language proved very useful in those days. Leaving the postal service, he took up farming, and later became assistant Native land purchase officer. Later he was appointed manager of the Morikau (Maori farm estate) on the Wanganui River, and laid the foundations for its successful enterprise. He founded a small farm scheme for Maoris. Mr McGregor was a former chairman of the Waimarino County Council, a former member of the Wanganui County Council, and a foundation member of the Wanganui Beautifying Society. He was also a noted botanist.