PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 19803, 29 February 1928, Page 4

PERSONAL

—Vice-Regal,— The Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) and Lady Alice Fergusson were accorded a most enthusiastic reception at Motueka by a very large gathering of citizens yesterday. Notable features of the day were the children’s and pioneers’ functions. A civic luncheon followed, and the fruit, hop, and tobacco gardens were later inspected, and the processes in the tobacco drying kilns and apple packing sheds were described. The Whakarcwa Home, which has been the refuge for destitute Maori and pakeha children for over sixty years, was also visited. Although Nelson was not officially visited, their Exmelloncies were driven round to the schools and colleges, where addresses were given. A call was also made at tho Masonic orphanage for girls, where their Excellencies wore delighted with the surroundings. An interesting visit of inspection was also paid to the “K” jam factory, which is in the midst of a busy fruit season. The vice-regal party left for Wellington last night.—Nelson P.A. telegram. —Ministerial.— Tho Hon. 0. J. Hawkcn (Minister of Agriculture) arrived at Tauranga last evening from Auckland, and delivered a political address in the Town Hall, He will attend the show to-day, and will tour the district to-morrow, leaving for Rotorua on Tuesday morning next. Tho Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Minister of Finance and Customs) will address the electors of Dunedin West m the Early Settlers’ Hail! this evening at 8 o’clock. Tho mayor (Mr W. R. Taverner) will preside.

Sir Lindo and Lady Ferguson returned to Dunedin from their tour abroad by the first express yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward is expected to arrive in Dunedin this afternoon.

Professor Lawson was a passenger from the north by the through express yesterday. Mr A. H. Messenger, Government publicity officer, and Mr C. J. Morton, who have bepn taking films of the wreck of the C. A. Larsen and the Sanders Cup yacht races, returned to Wellington by the through express yesterday. Mr Justice M. Fleming, of Australia, who is visiting New Zealand, is touring tho South Island. His tour is to include the Hermitage and the Southern Lakes district.

Mr H. A. Penn, district traffic manager at Ohakunc, has been appointed traffic assistant to the North Island divisional superintendent in succession to Mr B. 11. Sword, who has Jett to take up the position of district traffic manager at Dunedin. The death occurred suddenly at 9.45 p.m. yesterday at the Greymouth Convent of Mother _ Mary Mechtildos Roland, a pioneer Sister of Morey, who came to the coast last week" from Christchurch, where she had been Superior of the Convent of Mercy lor many years. Previously she was tho first superior of the Greymouth Convent, arriving on the West Coast fifty years ago. She was a native of Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland, and was eighty-two years of age. The deceased was attacked by a stroke of apoplexy at 5.45 p.m., dying four hours later. The funeral will take place at Christchurch on Friday.—Greymouth P.A. telegram. Dir E. le H. Hoyles, of Invercargill, manager of tho Southland Milk Products Company, left for-Wellington by the through express yesterday. 1 Mr H L. Gibson, who has been transport officer for the. Christchurch railway district for the past four years, and prior to that transport officer in charge of the Invercargill district, has been transferred on promotion to a similar position in Dunedin. Mr Gibson will leave for the south on Friday. He will be succeeded at Christchurch by Mr E. S. Brittcndeii, of the head office of tho department, in Wellington. Mr Brittenden is now_ in Christchurch, and will take up his duties in the course of a few days. He will install the train control system between Christchurch and Oamaru.

An Auckland Association message announces the death of Signor John Pagni, Italian vice-consul at Auckland, aged sixty-three. A Sydney message states that during the voyage of the Ulimaroa from Auckland a passenger, Mr F. N. M'Coll, died. It is believed that death was due to heart failure.