PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1922, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A Dunedin message reports the death of Mr. John Ewing, the latter day great gold prospector of' Central Otago. He had very large interests at St. and Cambrians. Mr. I. E. Newton, M.A., at present director of the Napier Technical College, has been recommended to the Education Department out of twenty applicants for appointment as director of the Wanganui Technical College. —Press Association.

Mr. Tom Pollard, for many years connected with the theatrical profession and well known as a producer of musical plays, died at Christchurch yesterday, after a long illness (says a Press telegram). He was head of the well-known Pollard Opera Co. of a couple of decades ago. His eldest son is Mr. J. J. Pollard, editor of the Southland Times, Invercargill.

Mr. F. W. Connell, headmaster of Upper Hutt School, who is retiring upon superannuation, has had forty-five years’ service under the Wellington Education Board. Leaving Victoria, where he served his apprenticeship, he arrived in Wellington in July, 1877. In 1890 he obtained the headmastership at Upper Hutt, and for thirty-two years he had held this position. Miss E. Billens, 8.A., of the Staff of the Palmerston North Girls’ High School, who has been granted three months’ leave, sailed for Canada and the by the Niagara on Tuesday. Miss Bil-. lens was for several years on the staff of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, a position she resigned about two years ago to join the staff of the Palmerston North Girls’ High School.

Mr. William Andrew Woods, aged 50, proprietor of the Central Hotel, Auckland, has died. Mr. Woods was a native of Dunedin, being a son of Mr. C. W. Woods, a well-known Dunedin builder, and he had been at' the Central Hotel for about four years. Prior to going to Auckland Mr. Woods was in charge of the Grand Hotel, Rotorua, for twelve months, after having been proprietor of the City Hotel, Dunedin, for seven years. Death was due to a paralytic stroke. Mr. Woods is survived by Mrs. Woods and one son, Mr. C. Woods, solicitor, of Auckland.

The death took place at New Plymouth on Sunday last of Mr. James Macfie, of Oaonui, at the age of 81 years. He was a native of Scotland, and during his early life followed a seafaring occupation, being skipper of various coastal boats plying round Scotland. He took the keenest interest in yachting, and was regarded as one of the best yachtsmen in Scotland So great was his knowledge in this direction that he was chosen by Sir Thomas Lipton to judge an important sailing contest. The late Mr. Macfie came to this district about 40 years ago, being .one of the original leaseholders under the West Co'at Settlement Reserves Act. He was also one of the original shareholders of the Oaonui Dairy Company, and in his earlier days associated himself in a quiet and unostentatious way with most, moves fur the advancement of the district. He was at one time chair man of the Opunake Wharf Company and an acknowledged authority on marine matters. He is survived by u grown-up family consisting of Mrs. Jas. Young (Oaonui). R. Macfie (Hamilton), and Messrs. James. Andy and John Macfie (Oaonuijj—Onunnke