PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1922, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. A. Gray. Inspector of Health for Eltham and district, is relieving at New Plymouth* for the ensuing fortnight.

The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) leaves Wellington to-day for Marton and Wanganui. On Wednesday he will go to Hawera and Opunake aud inspect the Te Roti railway.

A New York cablegram reports that Mr. John McCormack, the singer, is seriously ill following a virulent attack of septic throat. A later report from New York states that Mr. McCormack’s condition has greatly improved.

Mr. W. S. Pratt (states a Press Association message from Auckland), who held an important positron on the Naitional Mortgage Company’s staff, and I also was Assistant Wheat Controller under the Government, has been appointed general manager of the Northern Roller Mills.

The late Sir Ross Smith, a sketch of whose career was published on Saturday. was only 2S years old. He was born in Adelaide, where his parents reside. Lieutenant Bennett was born at St. Kilda, Melbourne, in 1832. He was with some of the leading motor firms in Australia before the war, and on its outbreak enlisted in the mechanical transport of the Australian Forces, later joining the Flying Corps as a first-class mechanic and serving with it in Palestine and Egypt until the armistice. He also took part in the first air flight from Cairo to Calcutta and from England to Australia.

Sir George Winteringham Fuller, the new Premier of New South Wales, is approaching his 61st year. His scholastic career at the University of Sydney was distinguished. While there he' gained the Marks Scholarship and his B.A. and M.A. degrees with honors. Although Sir George Fuller was admitted to the Bar of New South Wales many years ago, he rarely practised. He preferred politics to the law, and it is now 33 years since he first entered, the political arena as the member for his birthplace, Kiama. He was a member of the firet House of Representatives, representing Illawarra. Had the Dolman Government not been defeated, Sir George Fuller would in all probability have gained a baronetcy.

Tne choir of Whiteley Memorial Church assembled at a supper party after practice on Thursday evening for the purpose of saying “good-bye” to Mr. E. B. Gill, who is shortly leaving New Plymouth. Mr. Gill Imus been a member of the choir for some time past, and the opportunity was taken of expressing appreciation of his services and extending to him the choir’s good wishes for his success and happiness in his new undertaking at Palmerston. These sentiments were expressed by the conductor (Mr. R. L. Cooper), to which Mr. Gill suitably responded. Supper was dispensed by the lady members of the choir and a number of songs and duets added to the enjoyment of a happy social hour.

At St. Mary’s Church, yesterday morning the vicar announced that he 'had been granted a year’s leave of absence from the parish by the Bishop of Auckland, and that Mrs. Harvie and he would be leaving New 'Plymouth for a visit to the Old Country in July or August. The vicar explained that he ha<f for a long time bedn anxious to do this on account of the bad health of his mother in England; he also thought that it would be a good thing for the parishioners to have a temporary change. During tlie absence of the vicar, the parish wil’ be in the charge of the Rev. E. H. Strong, who will act as locum tenens, and as he is already fairly well known here through several visits which he has paid in the past, it is expected that his ministrations will be fully appreciated.

At Hamilton on Tuesday a gathering of the Old Boys’ Club gave a farewell to Mr. R. Marks, assistant-master at the Hamilton High School, who is leaving for New Plymouth, where he has been appointed house master at the New Plymouth High School. Mr. Fraser, acting headmaster of the High School, presided, and in proposing the toast of the evening said that while all regretted the departure of Mr. Marks still they were gratified at his advancement. Mr. Marks had identified himself with all branches of sport, and had been an apt exponent of the principles that were taught in the secondary schools, <both as regards educational pursuits and in j the field of sport. The Old Boys’ Foot- | ball Crub regretted, his removal from Hamilton, for he had been their ■ captain, 'and a leading representative. In pre- | Renting him with a case of pipes, Mr. Fraser assured of their best wishes "for his future welfare. .In responding, ' Mi-. Marks thanked the members for their present and good wishes, and said that his actions liad always been actuated by the ideal of playing the game in whatever brar-ch of sport he had been associated with..