PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 16278, 22 November 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL

The Hon. G. W. Russell. Minister of Internal Affairs and Public Health, accompanied by his private, secretary'(MiDrake) returned trom Southland this morning and wont on by the second express, to Lyttelton. his" intention being to go on to Wellington to-ni,;ht. He will probably _ visit the" West Coast district, of the North Island prior to proceeding to Auckland, where he is due on Decern" her 9, for the purpose of unveiling a soldiers' monument at Taukan. Mr Pussell will subsequently visit the King Country for the purpose of opening- a new dairy factory at Kakepu. He has been invited to visit the West Taupo country to confer with the local authorities as to establishment of road boards. This district is too large to be administered as a county, and it is proposed, under the legislation of Inst session to form road boards to carry out the local administration of the cumbersome district. Mr E. Dobbie. railway station master at Dunedin, has returned from his bolidav and resumed duty. ' Cabinet yesterday afternoon confirmed the appointment of Superintendent O'Donovan as Commissioner of Police in succession to Mr John Cullen, 1.5.0. The Balelutha 'Free Press' understands that Mr John Smith, of Hokitika, .has been appointed stock inspector for the Clutha district, in succession to MiThomas Gilmonr (retired on superannuation). Mr J. Harry hang. well, known in New Zealand as Y.M.C.A. student secretary at Hyderabad, India, has been appointed national .secretary for Australia. Miss Nancy 'Wagstal'f has been appointed by the Otago High Schools' board to take the position of assistant mistress at the_Girls' High School. * Mr Victor .Grayson, the well-known Socialist, formerly a member of the British House of Commons, enlisted at Christchurcb last week. Constable Shanahan, of Alexandra, has been promoted to the rank of sergeant ami transferred to Dunedin. Mrs Ann Smith celebrated her 100 th birthday at Lower Hutt on Monday last. -Mrs Smith was born in County Deny, her maiden name being Dool. 'and she. lived there until she was 50 Years of a.-re, helping to support herself 'bv weaving the famous Irish linen. She emigrated to Australia about, 1846. and was' married in Sydney, living there and in Melbourne for eight years, when she left for Canterbury, where she passed over 60 years, being a resident of Kaiapoi for 50 vea-rs. Two years ago she- went- to reside at Lower Hutt with her sou. Mrs .Smith is astonishingly active, and gets about the house and grounds with but slight- assistance from a walking stick. She is quite robust, and -with the exception of slight' deafness has all her faculties unimpaired. Her memory of events of her voutb is wondertul. She attributes the attainment of her groat age to an active life and plain living. The death occurred at the end of September of Sir Charles Cavzer. Bart at Gartmore, Perthshire', at the "age of 75. Sir Chnrles Cavzer was head of the Clan Line of steamships, and father-in-law of both Sir John Jellicoe and Pear-Admiral Sir Charles Madden. Whatever the rest of the world tuought, he had no illusions about Germany. U.s regarded war between England and Germany as certain, "and when it comes, if it comes soon." ho would say to intimate friends, "-watch my son-in-law the Admiral." Acting under medical advice, the Bishop of Nelson has cancelled all his pastoral engagements for the present. It is hoped that Dr! Saddlier will be able to resume the clerical duties of his diocese some timein January. The Pre'sbyteriau Church of England has suffered «. heavy loss by the death at Edinburgh on September 23 of the Rev. W. \l. Macpliail, 'M.A. He was born in Newcastle 59 years atro, and was educated in Scotland, taking his M.A. degree with honors at- Edinburgh, and his theological course with much distinction at the, Glasgow Free Church College. After a short pastorate at Maybole, Ayrshire, he accepted a call to Trinity Church. Streatham. His ability and sound views brought him to the front in. ecclesiastical affairs, and his reputation Jed the Synod in 1890 to choose him as colleague clerk, an office which he held until ,the resignation of the Rev. Dr William M'Caw, when he became sole clerk. He>as the unanimous choice of the Synod when in 1907 the election of a general secretary became necessary in consequence, of the death of Dr Joseph Thoburn M'Oaw. His election -to the Moderatorship of last Synod was unanimous and hearty. He was a recognised authority on Presbyterianism, and had published 'The Presbyterian " Church, its Doctrine. .Polity, and Worship.' A Christchurch~inessage states that Dr Scott, for five years medical superintendent of Christ-church Hospital, resigned his position to-day, ini order to take up private practice, the board decided to invite applications for fhe position from New Zealand onlv.