PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1940, Page 6

PERSONAL

Dr Trevor Knights, formerly of Hamilton, who has been engaged in the Belgian Congo as a medical missionary for some years, is visiting Hamilton. The New Zealand Student Christian Movement has received by cable advice that the Rev Robert C. Mackie, general secretary of the World’s Student Christian Federation, who was previously reported missing, is now in Geneva and hopes to leave this week for the United States of America. The death has occurred in Waipawa of Mr John Leslie Towers, at the age of 71 years. For many years Mr Towers was an officer of the Railways Department in Napier till he retired about eight years ago because of illhealth. He was an enthusiastic member of the Foresters Order and took a prominent part in the activities of the Waipawa Court. After 40 years’ service with the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr G. W. McCarthy, postmaster at the Newton Post Office, Auckland, has retired. Mr McCarthy is well known in many towns throughout the Dominion, having served in 10 centres. Mr McCarthy joined the department in 1900. After serving at Invercargill, Lyttelton, Napier and Wanganui, he was made postmaster at Ormondville, in Hawke’s Bay and subsequently at Pleasant Point and Waiuku. During the depression years, Mr McCarthy was postmaster at Devonport. For the last seven years he has been postmaster at Newton and has completed almost 20 years’ service as postmaster.

A prominent part in the establishment of the sugar refining industry in New Zealand was played by Mr William John Willmet Philson, who died at his residence, 36 Robert Hall Avenue. Remuera, on Tuesday. He occupied'important positions with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Limited, and its predecessor, the New Zealand Sugar Company. Limited, for 37 years. When the New Zealand Sugar Company was formed in 1883 he was appointed accountant and secretary, and was promoted to manager four years later. When the company, which erected the sugar refinery at Chelsea, amalgamated with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company in 1888, Mr Philson continued as manager. retaining the position till his retirement hi 1920.