PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1920, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A telegram from Wangariui says Katora Poni, a well known Maori Chief, died at Jerusalem, Wanganui River, aged % years. Mr. L. A. Bone, of Hawera has been appointed manager of the Napier branch of MeGruer and Co., Ltd., in the absence, of Mr. I', W. Peters, who leaves shortly on a visit to Kngland. A cable from Ottawa says that Sir Robert Borden (Prime Minister of Canada) has returned from a visit to England. His health has not improved, and it is considered unlikely that he will resume the Premiership actively. Mr. Harry Nixon, formerly of New Plymouth, who was editor of the Christ, church Star before he went to the front, is on a visit to New Plymouth. Mr. Nixon was badly wounded in France, and hag been in hospital since he returned to New Zealand about a year ago. The Rev. H. A. Favell has accepted the invitation of the Venerable Arch- | deacon Reeve, vicar of Wanganui, to take charge of the Gonville and CastlcI cliff district in that parish, and will be leaving New Plymouth for his new sphere of work at the end of the month. The rapid growth of settlement in that district has led to a strong desire for the formation of a new parish. Advantage was taken of a welcome home social tendered by the' Manaia branch of the Hiberiaii Society Inst Thursday to returned brothers from the | war, to farewell Bro. ,J. B. Dunn and Mrs. Dunn, who are leaving the district The president (Mr. J. Landers), on behalf of the members of the branch, presented Mr. and Mrs. Dunn with a suitably inscribed silver tea set and tray.—Star. The Rev. J. G. Chapman, who has been minister of Weslev Church, Taranaki Street, Wellington, for the past nine years, and who was formerly in New Plymouth, has intimated to* his congregation his intention to retire in April. Mr. Chapman had a nervous breakdown some months back, from which he believed he had recovered, but on resuming his duties a few Sundays ago the trouble returned, and, acting on medical advice, he is taking a year's rest.

Appreciative reference to the work of the Rev. T. O. Hammond, who for over W years has carried on missionary enterprise among the Maoris, was made by the president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. E. Drake, at Auckland. It was stated that Mr. Hammond intends to retire this year from the position of general superintendent of Maori missions, and the hope was expressed that he would place on record his experience and knowledge of Maori customs and traditions for the benefit of the Church and the community as a whole. Mr. Hammond labored for many yeßrs in Taranaki, where he is hold in high esteem alike by pakcha and Maori. The Board of Governors oE Canterbury College has appointed Major James Shelley, M.A. (Cantab), to the new Chair of Education at the college. Professor Shelley has been Professor of Education at University College, Southampton, since 1014. Professor Shelley is 30 years of age. and was born at Coventry. From the Bablake School at Coventry he went to Christ's College, Cambridge. In 1007 he was appointed assistant-master at the Heanor secondary school, and a year Inter a tutor at the Chester Training College, fin 1010 he went to Manchester University as lecturer in education. In 1917 Professor Shelley was given a commission in the Royal Field Artillery as 2nd lieutenant, and subsequently secured his majority. He has published various articles on art and craft in scholastic publications. Mr. Robert Henry Stewart Irwin, who for the past throe years had occupied the position of acting-Town Clerk of Kltham, died early yesterday morning. (To was just over 53 years of age, and had been in ill health for some months past. Bcfr.re Christmas he had an extended holiday, and appeared to have benefited thereby, but. Inter he suffered a relapse and, pneumonia supervening, ho passed away. He leaves a. widow, two Sons and three daughters to mourn their loss, and the most heartfelt sympathy is extended them in their bereavement. Tho late, Mr. Trwin was the third son of Mr. .lames Irwin, C.R., of Randalstown, County Antrim, Ireland, and was born at Larne in the same country. He was engaged in several large business houses in Belfast before coming to New Zealand over twenty years ago, and since that time had been employed exclusively in local body work. Among appointments held by- him were those ot clerk to the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board, clerk to the Grey Lynn Borough Council, and more recently acting-Town Clerk of the borough of Elthara.— Argus.