Personal Items.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17121, 16 April 1921, Page 9

Personal Items.

Messrs J. S! Barl-ett and H. ABown were among the passengers from the J*orth by yesterday's ferry steamer. The Hon. Joseph M. Baynes, C.MiG.. of is at present on a vi.yt to Zealand. He is now at Auckland. • On account of ill-health, the Rev W Gray Dixon, M.A., has resigned the position of minister of the Presbvterian Church at Roslyn (Duuedin). ' The Rev. J. Napier Milne, the newlyappointed superintendent of the »t. ! Albans Methodi'st Church, arrived yesterday from New Plymouth. Mr R. J. Thompson, Director of tho Ashburton Technical* School, has been appointed teachers' representative on the South Island Appeal Board for manual and technical instructors. Mr W. Anstey, of the firm of Norman, Anstey and Co., Johannesburg, has arrived in Timaru on a visit to his brother, Mr John Anstev Highfield. Colonel J. L. Sleeman, who has been deer stalking in the Caplcs and Kiulo'.'h districts, near Queenstown, secured a fine 12 and a 16-pointer. The colonel expressed himse'f as well pleased with tho sport offering. Mr Justice Frazer, and Messrs Wm. Scott and J. A. McCullough, members of the Court of Arbitration, and Mr B. L. Hammond, the registrar, leave-to-day for Timaru, where tho' Court sit' 3 on Monday. Mr T. Is. Lees, who has been ActingController of the Department of Imperial Government Supplies since the death of Mr Triggs in November last, has been appointed Controller of that Department. Dr. E. P. Smalpage., a native of Broken Hill ; and a graduato of Sydney University, has gained the degree of F.R.C.S. at London University. He is ono of the youngest Fellows of ths Royal College of . Surgeons, being only 25 years ■ of ago. Mr Charlei S. Rush, who has been business manager of tho' Manawatu DMly Times Company, Palmerston North, since its formation five years ago, has disposed of his interests in tho concern afftd resigned his position. Ho has purchased the "Dargaville News," and will take possession of that paper at the end of Junp. Mr W. E. Leadley, secretary of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association, who has been attending the Empire Conference of ex-servico men in South* Africa, is expocted back in the Dominion in the first week of May. Mr Leadley hrs been nominated for a seat qn the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board i In reference, to the retirement of the Rev. Dr. j. T. Pinfold, after 42$ years' service in the Dominion,' a motion was passed at a meeting of the South Wellington Methodist circuit, ref rotting his retirement, and wishing im long years of future life and happiness. Dr. Pinfold' has bought a property at Karori, and he intends devoting his leisure time to literary work. The Rov. A. T. Thompson. New Zealand secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, lhte minister of St. Andrew's, will arrive this morning in Christchurch, where he intends to organise the Work of the Society. To- ' morrow, Mr Thompson i' 3 to -preach in | St. Mary'b_ Anglican Church, Merivale, in the morning, and at St. Paul's Pi esbyterial Church in the evening. He is accompanied by Miss Miller, the lady organiser for the Bible Society. At the Public Trust Office at Wellington on Tuesday Mr W. A. Fordham, .who has recently retired after 43 years' service, was the recipient of a presentation from the officers of the Public Trust Office throughout New Zealand. The Public >Trustee (Mr' J.. W. Macdonald), in presenting Mr Fordham;wifh a massivo silver tray bearing a suitable ■ inscription^.-spoke of the esteem in which Mr Fordham was held by his fellow-officers, and the regret which they, felt at the termination of his official relations with them. Mr Macdonald remarked that Mr Fordham had joined the Post and Telegraph department in 1878, and that twelve years afterwards he was transferred to the Government Insurance Department., In 1891 ho joined the Publio Trust Office, to the staff of which he had since been continuously: attached. Mr V. Esselborn, who has beeA in the service. of the Christchurch City Council for the past 34 years, as caretaker: of the Council Chambers, hasretired, on superannuation.. Yesterday afternoon the Council staff gathered in the Library, room to bid farewell to their old friend. The Town Clerk (Mr H. R-. Smith) said that the staff regretted parting with Mr and Mrs Esselborn. The former had always carried out hi-,4 duties to the last detail, and had at all times been most obliging. Mr Esselborn haa seen many councils cdmo and go, and the councillors had. frequently expressed high appreciation of his services. On 'behalf of the staff he presented Mr Esselborn with a Morris chair, and asked him to accept a similar present for his wife. Ali would join in wishing Mr and Mrs Esselborn long life, good health,- and future happiness: After Mr Esselborn had fittingly replied, cheers wero given for the recipients of the presents. Mr E. Dixon, . the new M.P. for Patea, wa3 born at Bunnythorpe, and is a- son of the litfo Mr Joe Dixon, whowas known as the father of Bunnythorpe. .Ho was educated at tne Bunnythorpe School. At one time he lived in Palmerston North, where he was employed by Grace, Clark, and Co., now J. Leary and Co., in the j jnusio business. Later he moved to Hawera, where he atarted on his own | account and built up a very large music business. He has ueen Mayor of Hawera for four years, and.it is significant of the respect in which he is held by all classes, that, though a staunch pro<hibitionist,_ he was nominated for the Mayoralty at the end of his second year by a brewer and a publican, both councillors. An enthusiastic educationalist, he represented Taranaki on the Wanganui Education Board for 15 years. Mr Dixon is also a prominent Methodist, iand holds the position tif vice-president of the New Zealand Conference, the highest office which can be gained by a Fayman in tho Methodist Cnurch. He is also relieving preacher at Hawera.

Mr J. H. McAlister, private secretary to the Minister of Public Works, has retired o'n superannuation after a long period of sercico, and on Wednesday evening, at Wellington, the members of the secretarial corps made him a presentation and wished him long life to enjoy his well-earned rest. Mr McAlister nad served in the Post and Telegraph Department as a telegraphist, and had worked as a journalist in Marlborough before he became private secretary to the. late Mr Seddon about twenty years ago. He was with. Mr Seddon for many years. Latefr he became chief clerk of the Public Health Department, and after serving also as chief clerk of the Marine Department he rejoined the secretarial corps and served with successive Minsters of Public Works. He was private secretary to Mr JR. McKenzio in tho Ward Government. When the Reform Government took office he was appointed private secretary to Sir 'William . Fraser, and more recently he has been attached to tho present Minister of Public Works, tho Hon. J. G. Coates.