PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1921, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr, M; C. Barnett, who has been Act-ing-Assistant Public Trustee for tome time since the retirement of Mr. Ronaldson, has now been confirmed in t’nat appointment. Erie Murtagh, the s£-year-old son of Mr. J. Murtagh, who was run over by a. taxi at Hawera on Saturday afternoon last, was reported to be slightly better yesterday morning.

Mr. A. E. Mansford, a veteran New Zealand journalist, who resided in Wellington in the ’eighties, and who has been ft well-known figure in Nelson bowling circles for many years past, is now a patient in the Nelson Hospital.

The Education Department notified the Otago Education Board that information had been received from the High Commissioner that .Miss Marjory Eaton, now mistress nt St. George’s Training College, Edinburgh', has been appointed kindergarten mistress at the Dunedin Training College. Mr. Blair Mason, of Blair Mason, Lee and Owen, left by the Rarawa last night for Tauranga, where he confers with the harbor authorities regarding the port scheme there. Mr. G. A. Itee, of the same firm, leaves by this morning’s train for Wairoa (Hawke’s Bay) in connection with the new harbor works at Waikokopu. A cable from London says Mr. Andrew Fisher (High Commissioner for Australia) has finally decided to abandon polities. He will remain in Australia for a few months to wind up his affairs, and he wj'l then return to England.

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. IV. F. Massey) left Wellington for Auckland yesterday, in to meet H.M.S. Chatham (the cruiser presented to the New Zealand. Government by the British Admiralty), which is due to’ arrive in Auckland to-day. Mr. Massey is only paying a flying visit to the northern city, and expects to be back in Wellington within a day or two. An invitation has been extended by the Government to Lord Haig to visit New Zealand at the conclusion of the ex-Soldiers* Conference in South Africa (says a Press telegram from Wellington). If he accepts he should be in the Dominion in April. Mr. A. S. Bankart, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, is retiring from that position. At the last meeting of the council of the chamber he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his services during hisa term of office. Mr. Bai*kart proposes to leave for England by the Niagara on her next trip.

Mr. Thomas Johns, whose death occurred last week, was born in Devonshire, and came to New Zealand in 1579 in the ship Glenfern. For some time he resided in Wellington, and then went to Blenheim, and for the past 15 years his home was in Nelson. Mr. Johns is survived by four daughters and three sons. A ‘ fourth son, Mr Leonard Johns, was killed on the Somme in 1918. Mrs. Johns predeceased her husband 20 years ago.

The distinction earned by Ronald Syme, a pupil of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, in heading the Fist for New Zealand in the juniot university scholarship examination, is another notable success to the school. Syme gained 2222 marks, the next highest being 2033, while no other candidates of the ten who qualified secured 2000. Syme not only gained 199 marks more than the next.candidate on the list, but almost double the number required for a pass with credit. Syme is a son of Mr. D. Syme, of Eltham, and to his personal success must be added congratulations to his school and its teaching staff.