PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1940, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mr William Beswick, a former chief postmaster in Wanganui, has died in his eighty-first year. Mr R. J. Weir, of Timaru, formerly of Masterton, is at present on a visit to Masterton.

Mr R. W. Hawke has resigned his position as Government representative on the New Zealand Poultry Board. Well known in many parts of Hawke’s Bay for his pioneering work Mr Alexander Lavery, Westshore, has died at the age of 76.

A welcome back to Masterton Rotary Club luncheons was extended at yesterday’s club gathering to Mr S. L. P. Free, who has been absent through illness.

Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P. for Lyttelton, has received notice to enter camp on October 20 for five months’ territorial training with the 3rd Field Ambulance, with the rank of captain. The resignation of Mr W. F. Abel, headmaster of the Musselburgh School, who is retiring on superannuation after 49 years in the service of the Otago Education Board, was accepted at a meeting of the board yesterday. Visitors at yesterday’s luncheon of the Masterton Rotary Club were Dr. Mulholland, Mrs A. Kilgour, Mrs P. F. Fagan, Miss M. Horneman, Sister M. Hodges, Miss M. Allan, Miss Lambert, Major F. C. Ericson, Mr J. McGregor and Mr C. W. Gaze.

Messrs F. Cuilich (Auckland), W. Richardson (Marangi), A. Lord (Napier), S. O. Lee (Hastings), C. J. Hamblyn (Palmerston North), E. Kersley (Wellington), and C. A. McLeod (Martinborough) are guests at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Masterton. Major A. P. Mac Duff, Christchurch, who left New Zealand with the First Echelon, has been appointed to headquarters of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force as a General Staff officer. He attended the Middle East Staff College at Haifa for four months. Majoi - Mac Duff was attached to the Canterbury Regiment for 12 years, and left New Zealand as commanding officer of A Company of the Canterbury Regiment.

The funeral of the late Mrs C. Wilson of Wellington, took place at Tinui yesterday, the Rev. Canon Sykes officiating. There was a large and representative attendance of district settlers and many beautiful wreaths were in evidence. The pall-bearers, all nephews were Messrs H. G., N. W„ G„ and K. Groves and C. and F. Franklin. The late Mrs Wilson was the fourth daughter of Mr and Mrs Isaac Cripps, Sevenoaks, and was born at Mataikona in 1855. She married Mr C. Peach by whom there was one daughter (Miss F. Peach, of Hataitai. Wellington) and later the late Mr R. Wilson, of Wellington. Besides Miss Peach, she leaves two brothers. Messrs George Cripps (Paraparaumu) and Thomas Cripps (Masterton), and many other relatives all over the North Island. The death occurred in the Auckland Hospital of Lieutenant John Blythe Stephenson. R.NV.R., of H.M.S. Achilles, states a Press Association message from Auckland. Lieut. Stephenson. who was 29 years of age and married, was an accountant by occupation. and his home""was in Wellington. He had been a keen member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for a number of years and was commissioned as sub-lieutenant in 1935. After the outbreak of war he underwent courses of instruction and was posted to the Achilles in July. Lieutenant Stephenson’s batting and bowling for the Victoria University Cricket Club last season won him some renown. As a mark of respect, the University team will be silent for one minute before taking the field for their match tomorrow afternoon.