PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2747, 15 April 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

His Excellency the Governor is to open the new Boys' Grammar School at Auckland on April 26. The Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) and the Director of Education (Dr. W. J. Anderson) will also be present.

Sir Joseph Ward arrived at Wairoa from Gisborne, via Morere, yesterday morning, and was received by the Mayor and townspeople. He was afterwards entertained in the Borough Chambers, and received deputations, leaving at 1 p.m. for Napier.—Press Association.

Lieut. Keith Murray, of Auckland, has been promoted from lieutenant to flight-commander. It was only in September last that he was appointed first lieutenant.

Mr. F. H. Wood, of Auckland, who has been seriously ill in a private hospital 6ince his arrival in Wellington, leaves'by to-day's express for Napier.

Frank Kevil, an old boy of Roseneath School, and now on H.M.S. Philomel, is (says the annual report of the Roseneath School Committee) to be congratulated on his act of bravery recently in saving the lives of two of the crew. The boat they were using in transhipping operations was swamped, and but for the prompt and plucky action of Kevil both would have been drowned.

Mr. John Algie, of the Government Printing Office composing staff, who is going on an extended tour of Australia and the Old Country, was the recipient of many tokens of esteem on the eve of his departure. The teachers and members of the Roseneath Presbyterian Sunday School last Tuesday evening presented Mr. Algie with a silvermounted wallet, suitably inscribed. Mr. W. P. McGirr, senior overseer, on behalf of the State composing staff, made a further presentation of a travelling rug, and in doing go eulogised the many unostentatious acts of philanthropy in the community to which the recipient had devoted his leisure time. Mr. Algie, whose only son is serving at the front with the Australian Expeditionary Forces, feelingly replied.

Dr. Makgill, formerly district health officer at Auckland, has cabled to friends stating that he will be proceeding to England shortly. Afterwards Dr. Makgill will return to New Zealand. A very old resident of Petone died yesterday morning in the Wellington Hospital, in the person of Mr. John Wood. Mr. Wood was born 54 years ago at Pipitea Point, Wellington, and was educated at Mr. Mowbray's School. Deceased went to Petone in 1880, ana immediately found work in the Petone Railway Workshops as a wood-working machinist. He was a prominent member of many sports organisations, being the founder of the Petone Football Club, and a prominent member of the old Petone Rowing Club, in which he was one of the crew in many whaleboat competitions. He was a life member of the Petone Municipal Fire Brigade, and lieutenant of the Railway Fire Brigade, secretary to the Working Men's Club Miniature Rifle Club, which he was instrumental in forming, and secretary of the ex-Navals' Association. In connection with the Navals, he was one of the members of the Naval Brigade chosen to represent New Zealand at the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament. He took a great interest in the formation of the Boys' Institute, of which he was instructor for many years. He was chosen as a member of the first New Zealand Native football team to visit England in 1887, but was unable to go owing to the illness of his wife. The late Mr. Wood was taken to the Wellington Hospital thirteen weeks ago suffering from an internal trouble. He leaves a widow and one daughter, Mrs. D. W. Fraser, of Petone. There died on Thursday at the Wellington Hospital one of the oldest residents of the Hutt Valley, Mr. Edward Henry Collett. Mr. Collett was born in Wellington in 1841, his 75th birthday being last Monday. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Collett, arrived in Wellington in December, 1840, by the ship London. Deceased took a great interest in the Oddfellows' Lodge, and was the second oldest Oddfellow in the Hutt Valley. He had been a semi-in-valid for the last two years. He never married, but is survived by eight brothers and sisters, six of whom are in or about the district, one at Waipawa, and one at Dannevirke.

Mr. David Robertson, chairman of the Clyde Quay School Committee for the past twenty-seven years, has decided not to seek re-election at the annual meeting of householders next Monday.