PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mataura Ensign, 16 December 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr Chas. Kerse and Miss Kerso, of West Gore, will leave shortly on a six weeks' tour of the North Island. j Mr Richard Essex, aged 55, ex-Mayor of Palmerston North, died there on Frij day night. He had suffered from a severe internal complaint for which he was operated on on Tuesday. I The deatli of Mr James HuttTiison, I aged 54, an old resident, occurred nnj expectedly on Thursday afternoon at I Blenheim. He lay down in bed during ; the afternoon and shortly afterwards I was found dead. ! The death of Rev. Dr Bruce. oxModerator of the New Zealand and Now South Wales Presbyterian Churches, is announced (states a Sydney Press Association cable). Ho was 87 years of age. Rev. Dr Bruce was born at Craninioud, near Edinburgh. He took up the duties of minister at St. Andrew's Church, Auckland, in 1853, and in 1872 he was appointed general agent of ihe Presbyterian. Church in Now Zealand. For some time Dr Bruce was editor of the 'New Zealand Times.' He went to New j South Wales in 1889. ! i Captain Hicks, a very old and highlyosteomed resident of Queenstown passed away last week. The deceased gentleman was born in Cornwall, England, in 1827. In 1849 he left bis native place , for Australia, and was attracted to the gold rush in New Zealand in 1862. He worked at Wetherstones, Dunstan, Nokomai, Nevis and Alexandra. He was successful in his operations and removed to Arrow in December, 1862. In February, 1863, he settled in Queenstown, and wont into the sawniilling business at the Head of the Lake, at Kinloch, with six aprtners, under the stylo of J. Robertson and Co. The late Captain Hicks won the golden opinions ; of the community by his many sterling ' characteristics. . j Mr W. Eraser, who recently re-eon- ' tested the Wakatipu seat in the Opposition interest, received a pleasant surprise yesterday when on the journey to Gore from the Lakes. He was in- ; formed that a number of ladies at j Athol wished to see him, and when the ! train pulled up there Mr Gilfedder read an address appreciative of Mr Eraser's I services and of the fair contest he had participated in, which was signed by j Mrs Dobbie on Ik half of the ladies of j Athol. In addition to the address Mr j Eraser was presenter] with a case <<>n- | taining three pipes handsomely mounti ed in gold, subscribed for by the ladies |of the township and district to mark I their esteem for their old friend and • member. Mr Eraser expressed his {warm thanks for the good wishes ex- ! pressed and the presents. I