PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1941, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mr A. J. H. Benge, secretary of the Education Department, has retired on superannuation.

Mr K. Miller, Masterton, has passed in secretarial practice stage 11. in connection with examinations held in October by the New Zealand Institute of Secretaries.

Messrs O. H. Cooper, J. F. Davie, C. E. Evans, F. J. Evans, F. Fargher, K. R. Hislop, J. Reid, C. H. Schnell and W. T. White have been appointed members of the Rongomai Domain Board. Mr H. I. Austad was elected president at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in Wellington on Saturday. Mr A. C. Kitto was elected chairman of the management committee. The Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, Prime Minister, returned to Wellington on Saturday from Dunedin. He will travel to the West Coast by air tomorrow for the ceremony of driving the last spike on the Buller Gorge railway. Mr Fraser will return to Wellington the same day.

A well-known figure in Timaru, Mr James R. Bruce, proprietor of the Bruce flourmills and biscuit factory, Timaru, died on Saturday, aged 82, says a Press Association message. He owned and operated one of the earlier flourmills in-.the district and was well known and respected throughout the industry. He was a leading worker for and a senior elder of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Timaru Bowling Club for 45 years. The funeral of the late Mrs J. A. Donald, which took place in Master (on on Saturday afternoon, was very largely attended. Wreaths were sent by the Masterton Methodist Circuit, 'Masterton Methodist Choir, Methodist Church Trustees, Methodist Junior Choir, and management of the Methodist Children’s Home, besides many from other sympathisers. The Rev. H. S. Kings conducted the service at the residence and also officiated at the graveside. Messrs W. H. Judd, A. H. Daniell, F. G. Rutter and F. E. Wells were the pallbearers.

The death occurred yesterday in Wellington of Mr John Burns, for many years a member of the Wellington City Council. Born in 1869, in Prestonpans, Scotland, Mr Burns came to New Zealand at a very eaily age and was educated at Newtown School. Leaving school at the age ot 13| years, he spent 40 years in the Government Printing Office, being for 20 years in charge of the stamp printing department. He retired from the service in 1925. Mr Burns was closely associated with sport till toward the end of his life. He was one of the founders of the Melrose Football Club, and also of the Karori Rifle Club. He served for some years on the management committee of the Wellington Rugby Union. A successful rifle shot, Mr Burns has won the Karori and Wellington championships, and has also represented the North Island in rifle shooting.