PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1942, Page 4

PERSONAL

The Governor-General and Lady Newall paid their first official visit. to Lyttelton yesterday. This morning their Excellencies left Christchurch for Dunedin, where they will fulfil several engagements, including an official visit to Port Chalmers. On Thursday their Excellencies will leave Dunedin to pay their first official visits to Gore and Invercargill, and will return to Christchurch on Saturday evening. Mr S. G. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, left Wellington last night for Christchurch.

Sir Alfred and Lady Ransom, who have been staying with Mr and Mrs A. P. Bennett, Essex Street, Masterton, have returned to'Dannevirke. Mi’ W. Parsonage, who for the past three years has been Director of Education in Tonga, has been appointed inspector of Native schools in New Zealand. Mr Parsonage will begin his duties in Wellington in March. Second-Lieutenant G. D. D. Gray, who is reported missing, believed prisoner of war, , was a former deputycaptain of the Star Boating Club. He was at one time stroke of the senior four and as a youth and junior, had an unbeaten record in regattas at Christchurch, Marlborough, Wanganui and Wellington. He successfully stroked the first Victoria College four in the inter-Varsity race. Second-Lieu-tenant Gray was educated at Wellington College, where he took a prominent part in athletics. An official announcement is expected shortly of the promotion to the temporary rank of brigadier of the Ad-jutant-General, Colonel A. E. Conway, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., the QuartermasterGeneral, Colonel H. E. Avery, C.M.G., D. 5.0., and Colonel K. L. Stewart, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., General Staff Officer (first grade), New Zealand Division, who is at present on special duties in New Zealand while on leave from the Middle East. These promotions will make seven brigadiers in New Zealand, the others being Brigadier N. W. McD. Weir, C.8.E., Brigadier P. H. Bell, and Brigadier O. H. Mead, officers commanding the Central, Northern, and Southern Military Districts respectively, and Brigadier Bowerbank, Director of Army Medical Services.