PERSONAL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 307, 31 December 1909, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr Hall-Jones (says a London! cablegram) is progressing, and hopes to resume his duties in January.

A cablegram from London states! that Sir Robert Stout is leaving London by the Moldavia, and will reach New Zealand on February 27.

A telegram from Palmerston Nort-H states^that Colonel Gorton, one of the1 best-known leaders in the Maori wars, died at Bulls last night, at the age o£

During this week the death occur* red of one of the -oldest of the missionary band in the North Island, thet Rer.' G. Maunsell, second son of the late Rev. Dr Maunsell. Deceased had reached the allotted span of 70 years.He was born at Port Waikato, and went to the Old Country as a youth for his education, studying at the C.M.S. College, Islington. Having been admitted into priests' orders ha returned to New Zealand, where he had since laboured as missionary among the Maoris in various parts of the North Island (says the New Zealand Herald). In the early years of his missionary life Mr Maunsell endured many hardships. He often! travelled into the Urewera country; alone on horseback, taking- a bag of biscuits, tin billy, and tea, and when, as often happened, no bed was available, he rolled himself in a rug and slept under a tree. Deceased was a perfect Maori scholar. He remained at his post till the last, his last pvening on earth being spent in writing a prayer for the Maoris in the gaol for Christmas Day. Mr Angus McKay, one of Dannevirke's oldest and most respected residents, died at the Dannevirke hospital on Tuesday morning, aged ninety years. The deceased was 'for over twenty year 3 a prominent figure in the social and public life of the town. He was the first Mayor of Dannevirke. Mr McKay was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia, his father being a builder and farmer from Sutherlandshire, Scotlaud. He was educated in his native town, and learned the trade of a stonemason and builder. 1n'1853 he left for Melbourne, where he carried on building operations until 1853, when he came to this colony to erect, in conjunction with Mr McKenzie (now a successful contractor in Melbourne), the large wharf at Mokamoko, near Invercargill, at a cost of £30,000. Mr McKay did very well by this undertaking, and was (say» the News) afterwards appointed Government inspector for the Panmure bridge, near Auckland, and the new Post Office *and Supreme Court, Auckland. He then removed to New South Wales> where he was employed by Messrs Ames Bros, to supervisethe construction of the railway between Muswellbrook and Murrunanda. In 1873 Mr McKay returned to this* colony to inspect for Messrs Brogdenv and Sons the bridge on the PictonBlenheim line, and was afterwards engaged in contracting in New Plymouth, Napier and elsewhere, settling: i,n Dannevirke in 1883. In 1850 Mr McKay was married to Miss Janefr Murray, of Eastown, Nova "Scotia, and" had an only daughter, Mrs S. W, Luxford, of Awapunui.