PERSONAL ITEMS.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17169, 28 March 1927, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

/ VICE-REGAL. His Excellency the Governor General (Sir Charles Fergusons will arrive in Oamaru at about 1 p.m. to-day and will leavelfor the north by the second '* express tomorrow. A civic welcome will he accorded his Excellency in the Gardens at 2.30 and the°Mayor (Mr J. McDiarmid) requests that all business premises close from 12.30 to 4 so that as many as possible will be able to attend the functidn. . Sir Francis Boyes, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, was in Oamaru on Saturday. Mr L. F. Pegler, headmaster of the Waimate District High School, was the recipient a suitcase from the scholars and staff on the eve of his departure for Christchurch, where he has accepted a headmastership. Pending the appointment of a successor, Mr J. Menzies will take' chargc of the school. An old and widely respected resident of Oamaru in the person of Mr William Gibson Alexander, passed away at his residence Tees street, yesterday, at the comparatively early age of 57. The late Mr Alexander was born in Oamaru and was a son of the late Mr James Alexander who was a well-known builder and stone mason here. He joined the clerical staff of the Oamaru Woollen Factory and showed such inarked aptitude and business integrity that, when barely out of his teens, he was appointed secretary, a position he filled with distinction until two years ago, when failing health compelied hira to resign. The deceased was a quiet and reserved man who was ahvays sympathetically disposed to many who sought his counsel in time of stress. His character was of the highest and he had thc coveted reputation of being a "white man," a tribute to which all b»s many friends freely subscrihe. The late Mr Alexander took no part in public life, but many worthy objects had his unostentatious and cheerful supporL In his younger days he was a prominent figure on the Rugby field. He was also a lceen student of Freemasonry and was a Past Master of Lodge Waitaki. His Avife predeceased him some ten years ago, and three sons remain to niourn the loss of a kind father and sterling friend.