PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1922, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The defath is reported from Wanganui of the Rev., Worsley Thomson, at the age of 55 years. A London cablegram states that Mr. Lionel Speakman, general manager of the Furness Railway Company, has been recommended for the position of Commissioner of the South Australian railways. The death is announced of Mr. David Murray, of Wanganui, at the age of 57 vears. The deceased, who was a member of the firm of David Murray and Co., was one of the best known and most highly respected men in Wanganui, and the news of his death, after a short illness, will come as a painful shock to all his friends, says the Chronicle.

Rev. H. O. Hanby, a son of the late Mr. O. W. Hanby, who for many years was editor of the Nelson Mail, was asked to accept the position of organising secretary of the Church of England Diocesan Education Board, and editor of the Church News. He has decided to accept the appointment. Mr. Hanby, who has been vicar of Leeston for the past two years, takes up his new duties at the end of January. He should be well qualified for the position of editor of the Church News, as he had a good deal of journalistic experience before he entered the church. Sir Charles Hawtrey, the latest actor to be knighted, has been one of the most popular comedians in London for some thirty years. His fame has been built up on his personality, for as one critic says “Whatever part Mr. Hawtrey plays it is always Charles Hawtrey and nobody wishes him to be anything else.” Mr. Charles Hawtrey is a brother of the late Mr. W. F. Hawtrey, who played Sapt in “The Prisoner of Zenda” and Talleyrand in a “Royal Divorce” with the first Julius Knight —Ada Ferrar Company in New' Zealand.

Mr. J. O’Brien, who retired from the police force in 1915, after many years of service in Napier and other places, rejoiped the service in 1917 on account of the shortage of officers as a result of so many enlistments (states an exchange). Since the latter date Mr. O’Brien has done duty nightly in the watchhouse and his services have been highly appreciated. With the close of last year Mr. O’Brien retired and the opportunity was taken by Inspector Marsax?k to present, on behalf of the Napier officers, the retiring official with a silver-mounted umbrella and a silvermounted w'alking stick. The recipient joined the Island Constabulary in Wellington on August 16, 1877. He was later transferred to Auckland and Tauranga, and was among the volunteers who went to Parihaka in 1881 to arrest Te W'hiti. Mr. O’Brien was transferred to the police force in 1882 and served 15 years in Auckland, later going to Napier, where he remained.