PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1940, Page 4

PERSONAL

The Hon P. C. Webb. Minister of Labour, left Wellington last night for the South Island. Mr T. L. Rawston, formerly of Wellington, has joined the staff of the Masterton Post Office. The Hon A. Hamilton, Minister without portfolio in the War Cabinet, left Wellington for the South Island last night. Mr C. 1-1. Bannister has been appointed a member of the Langdale Domain Board in place of Mr E. I. Carman, who has resigned. The Rt Hon P. Fraser. Prime Minister, left Wellington for Rotorua by the Limited express last night. He expects to be away from Wellington for a few days.

The Bishop of Wellington, the Rt Rev H. St. Barbe Holland, who underwent an operation in a Wellington private hospital last Monday, is making satisfactory progress. Pte Ben Summers of the Third Echelon, and Lance Corporal A. Maxwell. were the guests of honour at a social held at the home of Mr and Mrs K. S. Ralph, Masterton. this week, when a very enjoyable time was spent.

Captain I. O. Manson. Invercargill, who is in England with the Second Echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, has been appointed bri-gade-major of the sth Infantry Brigade. Cabled advice to this effect has been received. The sth Infantry Brigade is commanded by Brigadier J. Hargest. The Very Rev G. H. McNeur and Mrs McNeur, Canton, will be in Auckland till about the end of the month. Mr McNeur, who recently retired after about 40 years’ service in the mission field, was the founder of the work of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church in South China.

The Government has appointed Mr Ward, M.L.C., and Mr J. Abel to fill vacancies on the National Patriotic Council created by the appointment of Mr Waite, M.L.C., as Gifts Commissioner abroad for the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and the departure for England of Dr A. Gillies. The funeral took place in Masterton yesterday of the late Mr W. H. Turvey, the officiating minister being the Rev. David McNeur, of the Lansdowne Presbyterian Church. A service was conducted at the residence and also at the graveside. The pall-bearers were Messrs L. G. Gill, R. Matthews, A. A. McDonnell and A. W. Thompson, The Rev Dr Alexander Hodge, minister of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, will begin a 10-day mission at the Hamilton Baptist Church tomorrow under the auspices of the Baptist Union of New Zealand. He will conduct a similar mission in Greymouth in September. The missions are part of a Dominion-wide evangelistic campaign launched by the Baptist Union.

Reference to the death in a flying accident at Blenheim on Wednesday night of Leading Aircraftsman T. E. Denbee, of Masterton, was made by Mr G. G. Hancox, Principal of Wairarapa College, at assembly on Thursday afternoon, Mr Hancox called on Mr G. W. Morice to speak regarding Mr Denbee’s association with Wairarapa High School, of which he was a' pupil for a number of years. The school stood in silence as a mark of respect and the College flag is also being flown at halfmast.

A well-known resident of Auckland for a long period. Mr Herbert Boucher Dobbie has died at the age of 88 years. Born in India, Mr Dobbie was taken to England as a child and was apprenticed to the engineering trade. He came to New Zealand in 1875 and joined the railway service, spending 20 years in Whangarei, where he eventually became manager for the district. He was later appointed manager of the Picton section of the railways, but retired from the department after three years in this position. About thirty members of the Masterton County Council staff assembled on Thursday night at the County Office to entertain four members of the stall who are with the Third Echelon —Sergeant K. Power, Corp, J. Marshall. Sapper T. Coley and Private E. Morris. The County Clerk, Mr J. C. D. Mackley, on behalf of the staff, made a presentation to each member of the forces and conveyed to them the best wishes of all for a speedy and safe return. Musical honours were accorded the guests of the evening. There was a large and representative attendance at the funeral yesterday of the late Mrs M. Gillespie, an old and highly respected resident of Masterton for over sixty years. All sections of the community were represented. The Rev. H. S. Kings conducted the service at the residence and also officiated at the graveside. Among the fine contribution of wreaths were those from the following: Methodist Sunday School, the St. John Ambulance and British Israel Society. The pall-bear-ers were Messrs W. H. Judd, J. A. Donald, A. H. Daniell, W. R. Nicol, F. E. Wells and J. H. Handyside.

Mr William Henry Kelly, who had lived in Petone since 1836, died there on Wednesday. Mr Kelly was born in 1853 in Stabereen, Ireland, and entered printing trade when he was aged 10. and came to New Zealand in 1874 in the ship Otago, landing at Dunedin. He worked on the “Oamaru Mail,” the “Timaru Herald,” and the "Evening Post," leaving the Wellington newspaper to go to the Government Printing Office, from which he retired ten years ago. Mr Kelly had been prominent in many sports. He held trophies for running, and was a keen rifle shot, having been sergeant-major of the Oamaru Rifles, lie had assisted Mr James Lynsky (formerly of Eketahuna) in the promotion of school football in Petone.

The death occurred yesterday after a fairly long illness of Kir Arthur M. Sidey,' who for half a century had been engaged in business in Dunedin. Mr Sidey, who was the youngest son of the late Mr John Sidey. one of Otago’s most prominent early settlers, was born in Dunedin 72 years ago. He was educated at the Otago Boys’ High School, then entered the employment of the National Bank in Dunedin. He was later transferred to the Napier branch and returned to Dunedin 43 years ago to enter into business on his own account as a sharebroker. He was a director of the Provident Life Assurance Company and a local director of the Yorkshire Insurance Company. Mr Sidey did not enter public life as did his brother, the late Sir Thomas Sidey. He was twice married and is survived by his second wife, three daughters, and one son.