PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 January 1940, Page 4

PERSONAL

Two further Masterton R.A.F. recruits have been instructed to report to the Ground Training School. Levin, for training as pilots. They are J. H. Hamill and W. Swain.

Visitors to Masterton staying at the Hotel Midland include Messrs C. C. Jacobs (Auckland). W. Percival. J. E. Redman. A. Paske. W. V. Lindeman (Wellington), and S. Davies (Wanganui). Guests at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Masterton, include Messrs W. J. Hinks (Christchurch). L. L. Argyle (Auckland), E. G. Coleman. C. Colson. E. A. Hamilton (New Plymouth). H. A. Charlton (Wellington). Colonel G. W. P. Grattan, chief secretary of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, is.visiting Auckland to make arrangements for the opening of the Salvation Army hut at the Papakura camp and attend to other aspects of the organisation’s military work. Among guests staying at the Empire Hotel, M'asterton, are Messrs H. Hawker. M. Martin, J. Martin, E. Roberts and W. Wilson (Wellington); R. Proctor, R. Meredith, and R. Ratcliffe (Palmerston North) and R. Cowley (Auckland). Captain H. L. Upton, R.N.R., a well-, known commander of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s principal liners, has been appointed a Royal Naval Reserve Aide-de-Camp to the King in. succession to Captain R. G. Clayton, R.N.R.. who has been placed on the retired list. Major E. Elliott, who has been in command of the 4th Reserve Battery since the outbreak of war, has been appointed to command the anti-aircraft defences in Auckland. He served in the Great War with the New Zealand infantry, and later received a commission in the Royal Field Artillery, with which he saw service in Mesopotamia and India.

The death occurred at her daughter’s residence. Taradale, Napier, of Mrs Margaret Marion Bennett, widow of the late Mr William Hedben Bennett Plimmerton, in her eighty-third year. Mrs Bennett, whose maiden name was Hughes, was the last of a family of seven who were early residents of Ohariu Valley, near Johnsonville. Her husband was among the earliest settlers to take up bush land at Manakau. in the 'eighties, soon after the Manawatu line was constructed. After farming there for more than 20 years they purchased a sheepfarm in the Wairoa district. From there they retired and settled for a number of years in Kerikeri. Bay of Islands. When their eldest daughter died the}' settled in Plimmerton. remaining there till the death c.f Mr Bennett. Because of failing health, Mrs Bennett later went to live with her daughter, Miss Ina Bennett, Taradale.

The death has occurred at Hamilton of Mr James John Ryburn, of Ngahinapouri, for many years a leading figure in local government in Waikato. Mr Ryburn was born at Clevedon 71 years ago and as a young man was keenly interested in all forms of sport. He became a foundation member of the Waipa Rugby Union, captained several teams and was well known as a referee. After taking up farming in the Bay of Plenty Mr Ryburn was elected to the Tauranga County Council. He was for a long period a member of the Waipa County Council and represented the county for 27 years on the Waikato Hospital Board, serving for 10 years as chairman. and retiring three years ago. He was also a meriiber of the Central Waikato Electric Power Board from its inception to the time of his death, a justice of the peace and a director and advisory member of the Waikato Land Settlement League.