PERSONAL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1536, 7 August 1901, Page 37

PERSONAL

News was received in Wellington on Monday that Sir John Mackenzie’s illness has assumed a critical phase, and that he was not expected to live many hours.

A meeting of the Eighty Club and friends of the Hon W. O. Walker was held last Monday, a large number of persons being present. A committee was formed to carry out arrangements for a banquet and presentation, to the hon. gentleman to congratulate him on the honour recently conferred on him. Mr J. W. Macdonald, who has been, transferred from the Cromwell Magistrate’s Court office to the clerical staff of the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, arrived in Wellington on the 31st ult. Mr Hewlett, assistant clerk of the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, is at present laid up by an illness. Th© death is announced at Napier of Captain John Gleadow, aged 75. Deceased came out to Australia about forty years ago in charge of the ship Roseberry, coming on to New Zealand for the gold rush. On settling in Napier h© was appointed Marine Surveyor, which position he held till fourteen years ago. Our Masterton correspondent telegraphs that Dan Lea, the custodian of th© Drill Hall at that place, was found dead on Sunday afternoon, it is supposed from heart disease. The de« ceased lived for many years at Timaru, where he was a teacher of boxing. He was a prominent light weight in England some forty years ago, achieving considerable celebrity in the ring. Dr and Mrs Harrison, of Eltham, who are about to leave for a twelve months’ trip to Europe, were entertained at a “social” given in the local Athenaeum Hall last week. During the evening Dr Harrison was presented with a gold Albert, curb pattern, and Mrs Harrison with a gold muff chain. Mr F. McGuire, M.H.R., made the presentations on behalf of the Eltham people, and spoke of the popularity of the recipients, and the esteem in which they are held by all in that district.

News has been received from England of the death of Mr Frederick Sedgwick Abbott. Mr Abbott, who was seventy-seven years of age, was "an old New Zealand colonist. In 1850 he held extensive runs in Hawke’s Bay, including Abbottsford, near Waij>awa, which is amongst the properties to he acquired by the Government for close settlement. Surviving settlers remember the deceased gentleman for his generous hospitality. He was buried at St. Heliers, Jersey. During the Roval visit to Adelaide, Miss Elsie Hall, the Australian pianiste, through the special favour in which his Excellency the Governor of South Australia and Lady Tennyson hold her, had the honour of a private presentation to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, before whom sh© played by command, delighting them with the beauty and finish of her interpretations. Their Royal Highnesses made minute inquiries of her a s to her career and pi’ospects. Mr J. G. Gow, the travelling representative of the Department of Commerce, intends setting out on his world tour about the 17th inst. Large numbers of merchants and manufacturers throughout the colony have complied with Mr Gow’s request to supply samples of their manufactures, and he is busy putting them up into convenient parcels preparatory to his departure. Those persons who have promised samples, and have not yet sent them along, should communicate with Mr Gow immediately. The Rev Otho Fitz Gerald, who at present has charge of St. Thomas’s Church, Newtown, has joined the Urn* versities’ Mission to Central Africa. Ho intends to resign his charge in September. He then sails for England, whence h© leaves on his journey to Cen* tral Africa. He will be stationed at Licoma, an island on Lake Nyanza. Mr Fitz Gerald is a son of the late ControlleraGeneral. It is interesting to note in connection with Licoma that the Ven. W. V. Johnston, M.A., Archdeacon of that diocese, is at present staying with bis brother at Whananaki, north of Auckland, recruiting his health. The death occurred at Christchurch on Sunday week of Mr Donald Hugh Monro, who was for many years head of the transfer department of the Survey Department there. Mr Monro, who was a cousin of Mr W. H. Field, M.H.R., was bom at Wandsworth, Surrey, in 1845, and educated at private schools in England ana France. H© arrived in Wellington by th© Wild Duck in 1861, and was articled at Wanganui, practising there as a surveyor until 1874, when he entered th© service of the Provincial Government. He was appointed to the Christchurch, offic© of the department in 1878. Mr Monro leaves a widow and two children. Mr D. McKellar, Collector of Customs, who is severing his connection with the Department after thirty-nine years’ service, was last week made th© recipien of a golden chain and locket. In the absence of the Landing Surveyor (Mr Carter) through illness, Mr Bt. R. Spence made th© presentation on behalf of th© Customs staff, and referred to Mr McKellar’s many estimable qualities and Jus uniformly courteous manner. Mr J. tyHempton also said a few words of farewell to Mr MoKeHar. That officer feelingly acknowledged the good words of thi speakers, and assured his k o aj®£s that it was with genuine regret that he was severing bis connection with th© service,