PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 15478, 28 April 1914, Page 6

PERSONAL

After 40 years’ work Air R. A. Johnston has retired from the service of the Lands Department. He has been chief clerk in Dunedin for years, and the esteem in which h© is held was made clear yesterday afternoon at a gathering in the Land Board Room. '] hero wer© present employees of tlie department, members of the legal profession, and commercial men. The Mayor (Mr Stewart) presided. Mr E. H. Wilmot (late Chief Commissioner here), in a eulogistic speech, presented Mr Johnston with a marble clock, a large gramophone, with records, a solid oak sideboard, and a gold bracelet for Airs Johnston. The speakers included the Mayor, Messrs Fraser, K.C., J. M. Crallaway, J. Fai'fjuharson. D. Barron, Calder, Morrison, Cullen, Marshall, and Atkinson. Mr Johnston replied in brief speech, expressing his sincere and hearty thanks to those present for their kindness and good wishes. Mr J. Speight, assistant curator of the Canterbury Museum, was yesterday {a Press Association message states) appointed curator, at a salary of £SOO per annum. Mr W. T. Mills, who has resigned the position of national organiser of the Social Democratic party owing to ill-health, left Wellington for San Francisco by the Moana on Friday.

At the conclusion of the Otago Rugby Football Union meeting last evening Mr A. R. Low was mad© the recipient of an oak tray to mark the occasion of his marriage. The presentation was made on behalf of the members of the committee by their president. Mr H. Harris, who eulogised Mr Low as a committeeman and a comrade. Mr Low feelingly responded. The Hon. F .M. B. Fisher arrived in Dunedin by the first express this afternoon, and is staying at Wain’s Hotel. He will visit the Matarae Camp_ to-morrow, and will leave for Southland on Thursday or Friday. It is the Minister’s intention to deliver political addresses at Winton and Riverton. On his return from the south next week he will probably go over to the West Coast from Christchurch.

Sir James Mills arrived at Naples early in March by the Omrah. It had been his intention to stop in Egypt for a few weeks, but he was troubled with acute rheumatism during the voyage, and so came right on with a view to taking a cure at one of the Continental resorts. He was met at Naples by his daughter, Miss Geraldine Mills, and they proceeded together to Vernet-Les-Bains. They were not expected to reach London till about Easter.

Mr G. J. J. Foil, who is shortly leaving for England, was presented on Friday evening by the employees of Andrew Lees with a handsome travelling rug. Mr Blakely, the manager, in making the presentation, referred to the many sterling qualities of the recipient. The Southland Education Board appointed to the position of second inspector Mr Alexander Inglis, M.A., M.Sc., and to that of third inspector Mr Angus M'Neil, M.A. Mr Inglis is at present head teacher of the North ■ Invercargill School, and Mr M'Neil has charge of the Bluff School.

A Sydney cablegram announces the death of John Bennett, the oldest theatrical manager in Australasia. Ho built many theatres, including one at Thames (New Zealand). Mr John Howard Roberts, who died at his residence, Garfield, Inch Clutha, on Sunday morning, at the age of 55, was born at Hclston, in Cornwall, England, in the year 1858, and two years later came with his Barents to New Zealand in the Chili. After residing for a short time at Burkes, the family went to Southland, where the deceased followed tse occupation of building, and afterwards storekeeping. In the year 1883 he was married to the seventh daughter of the late Mr A. Mosley, of Inch Clutha, Some years later he commenced farming at Riverton, and finally removed to Inch Clutha. He leaves a widow and one daughter to mourn their loss.

Mr John MacGregor, who died at Timaru on Sunday, was one of Oamaru’s prominent rifle shots. Mr MacGregor won the Belt in 1898, and two years before, at the Federal Meeting in Oamaru, tied for second place with Mr R. L. Rule, who heat him on the shoot-off. He went to Bisley with a New Zealand team, but owing to ill-health, did not do himself justice.

At the householders’ meeting at tho Moray Place School last evening Mr A. Greig moved a vote of condolence in connection with the death of the late mistress (Miss Rodger), the meeting standing as a mark of respect to the lady who had done so much for the little ones.

We understand that Cr J. S. Sinclair, who has been advised to take a long sea trip for health reasons, intends early next month to pay a visit to the Old Country and the United States, and will he absent from the Dominion till the end of the year. There will thus be an immediate vacancy in the representation of Central Ward in the City Council.