PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1921, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A London message says that the resignation of M$ Robert Smillie, president of the Miners’ Federation, has been accepted. Mr. Smillie did not feel that his health was strong enough to lead the miners in the coming contest.

Dr. O T. L. Crossley, formerly Bishop of Auckland, who for some years has assisted the Bishop of Llandaff, Wales, has, according to the Church Chronicle, been compelled to resign owing to a complete breakdown in health. Bishop Neligan, whom Bishop Crossley at Auckland, and who is now rector of Ford, in Northumberland, is reported to have broken down in health.

The death is announced of one of the oldest and most popular journalists in New Zealand, Mr. John R. Gibbons, chief reporter of the Wellington Evening Post, aged 60. Mr. Gibbons had been a member of the Post staff for forty years, and there are many successful journalists in New Zealand today who owe much to the late Mr. Gibbons for his kindly help and rich experience, which was always at the disposal of young reporters. For many years Mr. Gibbons controlled the newsgathering staff of the Post, and little happened in Wellington which escaped his notice, and he was always rich in political and town gossip. Two sad bereavements —the death of his wife and the loss of his son—clouded Mr. Gibbons later years, and this, added to failing health, has" robbed New Zealand oi one of its most popular newspaper xnei