PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 72, 16 July 1914, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr Clement L. Wragge, F.R.1.5., F.R.Met.S., arrived at Auckland from Sydney by the Manuka on Sunday. Mr Beattie, of tire staff of the Lowgarth Factory, was the successful applicant for the position of manager. It is understood there was keen competition for the post. * Mr J. Thomson, of Dunedin, has been appointed resident engineer to the Patea Harbor Board, Mr H. F. r Toogood, who had originally been appointed, being unable to take up the position. Mr M. Scaily, at present overseer to the Inglewood Borough Council, was yesterday appointed overseer to the Waimate West County Council in succession to Sir Lopdell, who has been appointed engineer to the Stratford County Council, there were 96 applicants for the position and these were reduced to four from various parts of the Dominion. After personally interviewing these four yesterday, the Council selected Mr Scaily. Mr A. D. Stanley has received a letter from the Rev. W. A. Butler, lately vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, stating that during the voyage to England his elder sister died at sea on May 27th. The immediate cause of death was an attack of sunstroke. Mr Butler and his sisters were very popular during their stay in Stratford, and much sympathy will be extended to Mr and Miss Butler in their loss. Mr W. J. Lopdell, the newly-ap-’ pointed engineer to the Stratford, County Council, was introduced to members at yesterday’s meeting. In response to a request from the Clerk of the Waimate West County Council, which Mr Lopdell left to come to Stratford, leave wag given for Mr Lopdell to make any visits to his old County found necessary during the next few weeks until his successor takes up his duties.

Mr H. T. Twiss, who for some years has been resident at Stratford acting as Crown Lands Ranger under the Lands ■ Department, has resigned from the Government Service, and is about to take the management of a well-known sheep run in Hawke’s Bay for Mr Bernard Chambers. Mr Twiss has made many friends while in the district, especially in musical circles by whom he will be greatly missed.

One hundred and fifty applications from Britain, Germany, France Italy and America have been received for the directorship of the New South Wales Conservatoire of Music Sir Hubert Parry (Director of the Royal College of Music, London), Sir A. C. Mackenzie (Principal of Royal Academy of Music, London), Mr Landon Ronald (Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and one -if the most popular song-writers), Sir Edward Elgar (the eminent English composer), and Sir Henry Wood (the popular English orchestral coductor) will consider the applications, and each will select three, from whom the Hon. Mr Carmichael, who is now at Home, wJI make the final selection.—(London cablegram).

A portrait of the late Mr George Laurenson, M.P. for Lyttelton, was unveiled by Sir Joseph Ward at Lyttelton on Monday evening in the presence of about three hundred people, including the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Postmaster T General, and many members of both Houses of Parliament. Sir Joseph said that the late Mr Laurenson was for manj f years member of Parliament for Lyttelton, and had devoted the best part of his life to the serviqe of his district and to the service of the , great mass of the people of New Zealand. The Hon. Mr Rhodes said that the late Mr Laurenson had championed every cause which he believed to be just and tending towards the uplifting of humanity.

Mr E. C. Robinson formally re- • linquished his position of engineer to the Stratford County Council yesterday. In the course of the Council’s meeting, Cr. Smith moved the following motion:—“That this Council desires to place on record its high, appreciation of the professional services rendered to the Council by Air E. C. Robinson in his capacity as engineer extending over a period of years, and while wishing him every success in his sphere of life trust that the severance that has taken place between himself and the Council may in no way mar the friendly and cordial relations existing himself and the Council in the as in the past.” Cr. Thomson seconded the motion, drawing attention to the trying times through which the Council had passed during Mr Robinson’s term of service. The motion was carried.