ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 21101, 5 June 1930, Page 4

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr A. E. Smith returned to Invercargill by the express last evening.

Mr C. W. Briggs, of the Pukemaori School, has been appointed headmaster of the Greenhills School.

Mr H. L. Dolamore, general manager of the New Zealand Paper Mills, Ltd., motored to Mataura yesterday on a visit to the company’s mill and returned to Dunedin today.

Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, left Dunedin by yesterday morning’s express for Christchurch where he spent the ,night. He leaves to-day for his home in Westport, where he will probably reside until Parliament opens.

A Wellington Press Association telegram, states that Mr E. M. F. Airey, l manager of the Eastern Extension Cable Company at Wellington has retired and has been succeeded by Mr H. M. Gray. The latter is a son of the late William Gray, who was for many years Secretary to the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department.

On board the Watere, which arrived back from the South Cape yesterday morning, was the body of Mr Thomas Ashwell, who died early on Monday morning after an illness of a few days on Stage Island. The late Mr Ashwell was a highly esteemed citizen and had a cheerful word for all who came his way. He had lived in Bluff for 30 years and was employed as a labourer on the waterfront. He was in his 70th year and prior to his illness was hale and hearty. He leaves a widow and two children.

There was a very happy gathering at the residence of Mr H. D. Stewart, of East Gore, on Tuesday evening, when members of the Gore Follies assembled to bid farewell to one of their members, Mr G. Ing, who is leaving the tow;n. Items were given during the evening by Messrs W. D. Shelton, F. Kroning, A. Lungley and G. Paterson. A presentation was made to Mr Ing, on behalf of members of the Follies, by Mr Shelton, who paid a tribute to Mr Ing’s enthusiasm for music and his untiring efforts towards making the concerts promoted by the Follies a success. Mr Ing suitably replied.

On the motion of the Vice-Chancellor at a recent meeting of the Senate of the New Zealand University at which a letter was received from Mr W. A. Stout, of Invercargill, stating that he did not wish to be reappointed as a law examiner, it was decided to write to Mr Stout expressing the thanks of the Senate for his services to the University for so many years. Mr Stout was first appointed to the position in 1895 and for a period of 35 years has acted as examiner whenever examinations have been made by the South Island Board of Examiners. At different times he has had charge of the examinations in the subjects of Property, Evidence and more recently Procedure.

The honorary local representative of tho Associated Board of Music (Mr J. B. Reid) has received advice that the practical examinations of the board will this year be conducted by Dr R. O. Beachcroft, M.A. Dr Beachcroft, son of Mr Justice F. P. Beachcroft of the Bengal Civil Service, was born in the Punjab, India, and was educated at Rugby and at Worcester College, Oxford. He received his musical education as an exhibitioner at the Royal College of Music, studying under Sir Walter Parratt, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, Mr FranklinTaylor and Sir Frederick Bridge; and as Organ Scholar at Worcester College, Oxfdrd (under Sir Henry Hadow) where he graduated Mus. Doc. For a short time Dr Beachcroft considered composition a possible career and was encouraged in this by Sir Charles Stanford and Sir A. Sullivan, but later he concentrated on the educational side of music. He held for many years, until his retirement in 1926, the appointment of Director of Music at Clifton College, also at Clifton and Redland High Schools, and was connected with the Bristol University. Dr Beachcroft has a wide experience as conductor, performer, lecturer and adjudicator, also in giving orchestral concerts, producing choral works and in mass-singing. He is now mainly occupied with examination work for the Associated Board of the R.A.M. and R.C.M. both at home and abroad.