PERSONAL.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1938, Page 6

PERSONAL.

The Rev Basil C. D. Palmer, a former student of St John’s College, Auckland, and Auckland University College, has been inducted as vicar of Derry Hill, Wiltshire. The Most Rev T. O’Shea, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand, returned to Wellington yesterday after a three weeks’ visit to Australia. The Hon W. Nash, Minister of Finance, left Wellington for New Plymouth by motor car this morning. He will open the Winter Show there this evening, and tomorrow afternoon he will officially open the National Dairy Conference.

The Hon P_. Fraser, Minister of Education, left Wellington for the South Island by the inter-island express steamer last night. He is to deliver a broadcast political address at Dunedin tomorrow night. Mr Fraser expects to return to Wellington on Saturday. Preacher and author, the Rev A. Wylie-Blue, of Belfast, arrived at Wellington yesterday on a brief visit. He has been the visiting preacher at Scots Presbyterian Church, Sydney, for six months, and is now returning to Ireland.

A noted singer, Mr Alexander - Kipnis, Russian basso, arrived at Wellington yesterday by the Awatea. He has been touring Australia, and is to give a series of eight concerts in New Zealand, under engagement to the National Broadcasting Service. The funeral of the late Mr George Dryden, which took 6 place yesterday afternoon, was largely attended by mourners, many residents of the Mauriceville district, including all employees of the Lime Works, being present. A large number of wreaths was sent by sympathisers. The Rev D. McNeur officiated, and the pall-bearers were Messrs B. Dryden, R. G. Graham, L. Joyes, S. Jennings, L. Cameron and S. Jermy. Mr Andrew Liddle, Wanganui, the oldest Past Provincial Grand Master of the Oddfellows’ Lodge in New Zealand, and thought to be the oldest in the world, attained his ninety-sixth birthday on Saturday. One of the city’s oldest inhabitants, Mr Liddle walks without using a stick, and can read without glasses. Leaving his native town, Paisley, Scotland, in 1857, with his parents, he lived in Otago, and was one of the pioneer diggers at Gabriel’s Gully. He drove bullock wagons and did a little mining, worked at his trade of saddler, and lived in most parts of New Zealand. Now he spends the winter with his son and his family at Wanganui, and the summer in the South Island with other members of the family. The death occurred at Napier yesterday of Miss Lydia Williams, aged 84. She was the eldest daughter of the late Archdeacon Samuel Williams, and the only surviving member of his family. Although blind, Miss Williams took an active interest in foreign missions, and, indeed, in all good causes. With the use of a Braille typewriter she conducted her own correspondence. She was also a skilled knitter. She inherited from her father good judgment which, together with a bright and cheerful disposition, made her popular with a wide circle of friends and a real inspiration to all with whom she came into contact. Until about two months ago Miss Williams had been in good health. The funeral of the first Roman Catholic pastor to be buried at Blenheim, Father Henry Le Bouteiller, generally known as Father Henry, took place yesterday in the presence of more than 1000 mourners, the funeral being one of the largest seen in Marlborough. After 21 years’ work in the Blenheim parish, Father Henry was transferred a few months ago to Nelson, where he became ill, his death occurring in Christchurch on Friday. Eleven visiting priests participated in the service, a panegyric being delivered by the Rev Father Cullen, Nelson, a former fellow student of the dead priest. Father Henry, who was 57 years old, was born in France. After serving in the London branch of a French mercantile house, he studied in France and Belgium, and at Greenmeadows, Hawke’s Bay, for the ministry. He spent almost his entire priesthood in Marlborough.