PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 April 1939, Page 6

PERSONAL

Mr E. Wilkins, of Blenheim, and a former resident of Masterton is on a visit to the town. Mr Trevor Beetham was re-elected chairman of the Masterion Fire Board at its quarterly meeting last night. Tributes were paid by members to Mr Beetham’s interest and guidance during the year. The death has occurred of Mr Edward Milner Stephen, New South Wales Supreme Court judge, aged 69, a Sydney cablegram states. He collapsed in court while summing up a libel suit. Mr Stephen was an aiderman of the Sydney City Council fl'om 1900 to 1927.

Dr W. R. B. Oliver, Director of the Dominion Museum, was elected a British Empire Member of the British Ornithological Sociey at the last meeting of the society in London. This is regarded as a high scientific honour, and is conferred as a recognition of outstanding work in that particular field. There are only 10 such members.

At the annual meeting of the Wellington Union of Public Speaking Societies the following officers were elected for the 1939 season:—Patron, the Hon P. Fraser; president, Mr W. B. Forsyth; vice-presidents, Messrs F. M. Renner, W. B. Ponder, W. J. Lyon, M.P., V. Piper and V. E. Jones; secretary, Mr R. Dwyer; committee, Messrs R. H. Beaumont, M. V. Keogh, N. Hunt, J. G. Oliver, M. Gear.

Six Ministers of the Crown, as well as members of Parliament from all over New Zealand, marched in the procession which followed the body of Mr E. J. Howard, late Chairman of Committees and member of Parliament for Christchurch South, to the grave today. Mr Howard was accorded a civic funeral and the body lay in state at the Christchurch Municipal Chambers during the morning, when hundreds took an opportunity to pay their last respects. At a brief civic ceremony, the Mayor, Mr R. M. MacFarlane, paid a tribute to Mr Howard. Later a service was conducted in the Municipal Chambers by the Rev J. K. Archer, M.L.C. The long funeral cortege was headed by the Woolston Band. The service at the graveside included an address by the Hon D. G. Sullivan, who spoke in terms of great eulogy of Mr Howard. Other Ministers present were the Hons P. Fraser, P. C. Webb, H. T. Armstrong, R. Semple and W. Lee Martin.