PERSONAL

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1940, Page 10

PERSONAL

A well-known Hastings citizen. Mr. Wal+er Sydney Bennett, died on Thursday. Born at New Plymouth in 1900, Mr. Bennett entered the Post and Telegraph Department when 16 years of age. After flve years in New Plymouth he was transferred to the Accountants' Department, G.P.O., Wellington, and 14 years ago was transferred to Hastings, where at the time of his death he was head clerk and teller in the money-order branch. For a period Mr. Bennett was chairman of the Hastings branch of the Post and Telegraph Employees and Offlcers' Association. He was an encrgetic rnember of the Ancient Order of Drulds and was district president for Hawke's Bay. He was also president of the Hastings Friendly Societies' Association. He was keenly interested in educational matters and at the time of his death was chairman of the Hastings Central School Committee. Mr. Bennett was also a prominent member of the Methodlst Church and for a term held office as a steward. He leaves a widow and three young sons, Don, Geoffrey and Graeme, the last-named only a month old. Mr. D. W. Beswick, a member of the staff of Mr. E. K. Cameron, Hawera, will leave shortly to take up a position at Wellington. Mr. Beswick has, through his positions as secretary of the Hawera branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society and of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce, and as jobmaster of the Hawera branch of Toc H, taken an active part in communal affairs. When Toc H met on ■Thursday night Mr. Beswick was thanked for his services to the ' branch and best wishes were extended to him. Miss Olga Hodge, Hawera, formerly of Alton, and well-known in musical circle's, was successful at a recent musical examination at Wanganui, gaining the degree of L.T.C.L. with 80 per cent, Mr. L. Fisher, who enters camp with the 4th reinforcements and Mr. C. McKenna. who has entered the Air Force at Levin, were farewelled by the members of the Patea Freezing Company's staff, the manager, Mr. A. Coyte, wishing them success. He presented Mr.' Fisher with a wallet and Mr. McKenna with a camera. The Rev. J. H. Batley, Opunake, chap-lain-major, will enter camp at Waverley with the Taranaki Regiment next week. During the period of his absence the Rev. S. Henderson, New Plymouth, will superintend the Opunake Methodist circuit.