PERSONAL

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1921, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mrs. H. Y. Widdowson, wife of Dunedin’s senior magistrate, died on Sunday after a long illness. Constable C. A. Anderson, who has been stationed at Feilding for some years, has been transferred to Kaponga

The Dominion Ministers and their wives have been invited to a State ball at Buckingham Palace on July 7. A Capetown message reports the death of Mr. John Ware, a prominent leader of the South African Labor Party, and formerly a Senator in Australia. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) and the borough manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) returned to New Plymouth from Wellington by the mail train last night. Mies G. Opie, M.A., M.Sc., principal of the C.M.S. Ladies’ College, Colombo, Ceylon, is visiting her father, Mr. C. H. Opie, of Christchurch. The Hon. Dr. Collins, M.L.C., of Wellington, will visit New Plymouth next week, arriving on Tuesday night and addressing a meeting of the British Red Cross branch on Wednesday. The death occurred suddenly at Wanganui on Wednesday evening of Mr. E. W. Stevenson, who was well-known in Manaia and Hawera. The late Mr. Stevenson was in business in Manaia as a baker for a number of years, and had lately been in business in Wanganui. A London message reports the sudden death of Lady Randolph Churchill. Her foot was recently amputated as the result of an accident. Lady Randolph was the daughter of Mr. Jerome* of New York, and married, in 1874, Lord Randolph Churchill, third son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough. In 1900 she married Mr. George CornwallisWest, whom she divorced in 1913.

Archdeacon F. G. Evans has tendered his resignation of the Archdeaconry of Taranaki to the Bishop of Auckland, to take effect from December 3.1. This decision will be received with regret by the people of the district, who have an affectionate regard for the Archdeacon, who has wrought faithfully and well in the district for the past quarter of a century, first as coadjutor to the late Archdeacon Govett (his father-in-law), then as vicar of St. Mary’s, and for the past eight years as Archdeacon of Taranaki.

The Revs. A. C. Lawrey and T. G. Brooke, representatives of the New Zealand Methodist Centenary movement, arrived in New Plymouth yesterday morning. They held a conference with the New Plymouth church officials at mid-day and intimated the progress of the appeal that is being made in connection .with the occasion. Owing to the serious illness which has overtaken the Rev. W. A. Sinclair he has had to cancel his engagement in connection with the visit to Taranaki of the centenary delegates.

Members of the Auckland police yesterday afternoon made a presentation to Inspector Johnstone on the eve of his retirement from the force after some 40 years’ connection. Inspector Johnstone has occupied his position in Auckland for the last three years. His early days in the service were spent at Christchurch and after a period as sub-inspector at Auckland he went to Gisborne, and finally completed his long service in Auckland. The presentation was a gold watch and chain and a suitcase to Mrs. Johnstone. —Press Association.

The death occurred at Timaru on Wednesday of Captain David Cownie Johnstone, aged 45, for the last ten years superintending stevedore at Tjmaru for Messrs. John Mill and Co. Previously he was well-known in the intercolonial trade as a master of sailing vessels, especially the King Edward and the barquentine Rio. He was wellknown and respected on the New Zealand waterfront in those days. He became ill six weeks ago, a chill developing into congestion of the lungs. Captain Johnstone leaves a widow and seven young children. He was a member of the Masonic and Druid Lodges. Mr. 11. L. Fowler, principal of Nelson Boys’ College for the past eighteen years, has resigned, the resignation to take effect at the end of the year (says a telegram from Nelson). Great regret is expressed by the governors of the college and the people generally. Mr. Fowler is retiring from the teaching profession. Mr. Fowler, who is now in his sixtieth year, was educated at Rugby and Oxford, and in 1885 he went to Madras as principal of a college there. In 1886 he was acting professor of history and an examiner in Greek and Latin at the University of Madras. His next move was to New Zealand, and from 1893 to 1903 he was rector of the Southland High School, going to Nelson College as principal in 1904.

The Public Service Commissioner has announced the appointment of Mr. J. A. Campbell, assistant Director of the horticulture division of the Department Of Agriculture, as Director in succession to Mr. T. W. Kirk, who is retiring on superannuation. The new director, who takes office at a critical time in the industry, has already been prominently associated with efforts to combat the serious ravages of fire blight in northern orchard districts. He was engaged in horticultural work in Australia prior to coming to New Zealand, when he joined the staff of the Buxton Company in Christchurch, and was responsible for laying out the grounds, of the International Exhibition in Christchurch in 1906. He entered the service of the horticulture division the following year as orchard inspector, then becoming instructor and afterwards receiving the appointment of assistant .pirector iu 1916.

The death of the Rev. Canon Henry Thomas Purchas, which occurred on Monday, has deprived the diocese of Christchurch of one of its ablest preachers and scholars. The late Mr. Purehas was a son of the late C. W. Purchas, of New Brighton, and was born at Ross, Herefordshire, England, in 1800. He came to New Zealand in 1879, and graduated M.A. in 1884, with third-class honors in languages. In 1884 he was ordained deacon by the late Bishop Harper, and appointed curate at St. Michael’s, Christchurch. Since then he was successively incumbent of St. Matthew’s, 'St. Alban’s, theological lecturer and tutor in the upper department of Christ’s College, and vicar at Little River, Papanui, New Brighton, and for nine years at Glenmark, North Canterbury. lie was a scholarly writer, and his principal works include “Johannine Problems and Modern Needs,” “The History of the Church in New Zealand, and “The Life of Bishop Harper.” For some time he assisted Dean Harper at the Christchurch Cathedral, and was later made a canon of the Cathedral.