LORD RUTHERFORD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 3 January 1931, Page 7

LORD RUTHERFORD

DOMINION'S MOST FAMOUS SON “HONOURS NOTHING: WORK EVERYTHING" (By Telegraph—Special to “ The Mail’’) CHRISTCHURCH, 2nd January. “As a New Zealander 1 am both pleased and proud,” said Lady Rutherford to-day speaking of the honour that had been bestowed upon her husband. “The first indication I had of it was when my mother pointed it out to me in the paper, but soon, after a cable arrived.” New Zealanders will be glad to learn that in this cable the famous physicist stated his intention of retaining his own name. It will therefore be as Lord Rutherford that the will recognise its most famous son. The cable was despatched from Wales where Lord Rutherford is at present on holiday. “Strangely enough,” said Lady Rutherford, “we were just setting out for a holiday about six years ago when he received the news that he had been awarded the O.M. I remember that for days we were snowed under the telegrams that followed us wherever we went.” In Christchurch to-day Lady Rutherford experienced a repetition of that occasion six years ago. The first telegram that arrived this morning was from Lord Bledisloe, who is a very old friend of Lord Rutherford, and the second was from Professor C. Coleridge Farr, of Canterbury College. “A very old and dear friend of my husband, who has followed his career with interest and affection,” said Lady Rutherford. Lady Rutherford is both touched and pleased at the reception that the announcement has had. “I think the more so because' my husband is in himself so simple and natural,” she said. “Honours mean nothing to him and his work everything. I am all the more glad because I find that liis own people appreciate this quality in him.” Lady Rutherford herself is a simple, gracious woman, averse to publicity, but on this occasion rejoicing in the success that has come to her husband. She comes of an old Christchurch family, and is a daughter of Mrs M. De Rienzi Newton, at one time in the forefront of women’s movements in this city. She will, as she intended, remain in Christchurch until the end of February, when she will sail via Panama for home again, meeting her husband in Cambridge, where they will take up their residence again in their home “Newnham Cottage.” Lord and Lady Rutherford have no sons and their only daughter, Mrs Eileen Fowler, of Cambridge, died only a week ago. She leaves a family of four, two sons and two daughters. There will be many who will be glad to think that the news has come at this time to lighten the grief of a period of sorrow.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S CON. GRATULATIONS (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The following telegram has been sent by Lord Bledisloe to Lord Rutherford on the occasion of his elevation to the Peerage: “Heartiest congratulations on your well-merited honour. New Zealand is delighted at this recognition of her distinguished son.”