Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 13, 15 January 1918, Page 7

Thirty-four years ago the Rev. D. J. Alurrar, of Lower Hurt, -was the possessor of a pendant—a gift from his congregation at Milton in 1881. He lost it, but about a month ago, much to his surprise and delight, it was returned to him. Here are the circumstances, novel enough to be worth relating:—Farewelling a friend at Mosgiel railway station, sometime in 18S3, Mr. Murray, wearing the pendant, leaned over the carriage window. Catching in the woodwork, his pendant was wrenched from his watchchain, and dropped down between the inner and outer linings of the compartment—apparently irrecoverable, at any rate until the passage of time brought with it the dismantling of the carriage. Inquiries for hia lost token were fruitless, and, by and by, Mr. Murray became reconciled to his loss The year 3 rolled on. During December«of last year Mr. Murray was preaching at a united service at Hutt, and a stranger in the audience, impressed by the discouree : made some inquiries concerning t!ie clergyman. An interview followed, during which Mr. Murray was handed back his long-lost pendant. The stranger, it appeared, had been employed at the Hilleide Railway Workshops, where the railway carriage concerned in the story.was sent for extensive alterations and repairs. He found the pendant, on which Mr. Murray's nann l was inscribed, but was quite unable to trace its rightful owner Until chance unravelled the tangle, at Lower Hutt! The delight of Mr. Murray at receiving his property was. it is told, alii.ost equalled by the pleasure afforded to its fl.ider in being able to restore it.

Mr. Frederick George Stone, whose death occurred recently in Invercargill, *a.9 born in London in 1542, went to Victoria in 18G2, and a few months later came to New Zealand. He was an early settler in Southland, though at different times he resit'ed at Tuapeka, Dunedin, and Wellington for short periods. He w as at one time inspector of works for the borough of InvereargilJ, and later filled a similar position under the Government. He was a member of Invercargill Town Board, and later of the Borough Council.