SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5791, 10 September 1880, Page 2

SOCIAL AND GENERAL.

PERSONAL. Captain Barry has been lecturing to large •udiencts at Invercargill. A few nightß ago, after explaining that some pemonß in Dunedin had been Bnrprised to hear of hia having got into such society, Captain Barry said that he told them he was, like his father before him, a genUeznsji bred, and born, and that waa how &«

got among thoroughbred company. He next proceeded to detail tho exertions he had made to place the advantages of the Colony before the public of Great Britain, staticg that he bad lectured ia eTery large town in England, having at one place addressed an audience of 10,000 from a epring-cart At the same time he was particularly severe on the paid emigration agenta, one of whom—Mr G. M. Reed—be described as doing the lah-de-dah in Ireland, while all were spoken of as merely theoretical men—men whi had, to quote the lecturer, "never humped a swag or boiled a billy." It is rumoured that Mr John Batbgate has been requested to become a candidate for tho i ffice of Mayor of Dunedin, but we have not heard whether he has consented to stand. It ia tolerably certain that Mr A. H. Roes will be nominated. Sir Hercules Robinson left Wellington for Sydney at 6 o'clock on Saturday evening by tho s.s. Rotomahara. About 350 students attending the School of Art assembled there on the 8-h to present Mr R, Butter, late assistant master, with a very handsome gold pencil-case and locket, on the occasion of his departure for Europe. Mr Hutton, the head master, in presenting the gift, referred to Mr Butter in very flattering t(-rmg as a hard-working and patient teacher. Mr Butter thanked those present for the very handsome testimonial. The proceedings terminated by wishing him a safe voyage and prosperous career. We understand that Mr Floyd, the late superintendent of railway telegraphs in this Island, and an able electrician, has been, compelled to retire, after 11 years' service in the Colony, with L 490 of compensation, to which he was entitled under the Civil Service Act. Retrenchment is, we understand, the sole ciuse of his services being dispansed with. Mr Aimsiiong, locomotive engineer of South Island railways, received notice from the Government that his services would be dispensed with. Before leaving Mr Armstrong wag presented with a purae of sovereigns by the employees of the department-. We have to annonnce the death, at Wellington, on August 15 ,h, of Mr G. Ireland, member for Waikaia in tbe House of RepnsentativfS. Mr Ireland was in tho House on Thursday, August 12th, He was known to be in failing health, but there was no expectation of any immediate serious reßult. Since Thu-sday, however, he appears to have suuk rapidly, as his death occurred , on tbe 1G h at about' 7 o'clock. Mr Ireland ; had no Colonial reputation as a politician, but: from the fact that he sat in the Provincial' Council as representative of the Benger district' for three or four yeers, he was known to a considerable extent in this Provincial District. He had resided at tho Teviot for some 12 or ~H years, we believe. At one time he held the position of schoolmaster in Roxburgh, but before be went into politics he hr.d gone into mining, and worked a river bank claim-on the Molyneux, a short distance above the tofrnship named. The present was the first Parliament in which Mr Ireland sat, he having beaten Captain Mackenzie and Mr Bocnett 'in the contest for Waikaia (formerly represented by Mr H. Basting?) at the last general election. He was a candidate for the same district at the previous election, bat with Mr Mervyn suffered defeat at the hands of Mr Bastings. Personally, Mr 'Ireland was quiet and unassuming, -was of unswerving integrity-, and was greatly respected in the district in which -he resided. He war unmarried, and was probably 45 to 50 ' years xjf age- His remains were brought from Wellington and interred at Roxburgh. Mr John H. Blackwood, of Melbourne, has been appointed Resident Commissioner on behalf of New Zealand for tbo approaching Melbourne International Exhibition. Mr Edward Lancelot Holland, a solicitor of the' Supreme Court of Judicatnre, England, wai on recently admitted and enrolled a banister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand by his Honor Mr Justice Williams. It will be remembered .{says the Oamara Mail) that on the 9th of November last Master Georgj Brownlee greatly distinguished himself by his bravfry in attempting to save from drowning at the Phconix Mill dam two young children named Woodcock. Though unsuccessful., his conduct was co plucky that representations were made to the Royal Humane Society with a viewc having Master Browul^e'a courage suitably recognised. The Society has awarded Master Brownlee one of its medals, which was received through the Governor by his Worship the Mayor yesterday. It in of bronze, with a bror zo claap attached to a >ibbon, while round the edge are the words, "George Brownlee, 9ttt November, 1879." The medal is accompanied by a letter from the secretary to the Royal Humane Society, setting out why the medal is presented, and another from Lord Kimherley, Secretary of State for the Colonies. Toe "medal was presented to Master Brownlee at the High School a few days ago. Mr J. Batbgate retired from office as Resident Magistrate and District Court Judge of Dnnedin on August 28. Mr W. L.(Simpson _will occupy the bench at the Resident Magis""SS^VvCa.n*' for the present, but it i« not yet denmtar^-^.j, .£ th . t occupy «,« position of Ke«deJlK^LXi. rate c f the district permanently. -—«*____ At the conclusion of the practice onau B »t •26th the choir n' AH Saintu' Church presented the following testimonial to their • respected choirmaiter: — "To Mr W. J Morrish. Dear Sir, —We, the undersigned members of All Saints' Church choir, being anxious to show our appreciation of your eminent ability as a musician, and also of your uniform courtesy and kindness as a skilled conductor, would take this opportunity, on the completion of your Bixth year as choirmaster and organist," to present you with thia addrcßß ;»3 an evidence of the esteem »" which you are held by us. We trust you will be long spared to assist and advise us with your kindly counsel in tbe sacred service of Divine worship in All Saints'' Church, and we hope that you, with -your family, will be long blessed witu health, comfort, and prosperity." Thirty-six signatures were affixed, and several more would have been added had time permitted. The address was presented through the Rev. A. R. OFitchett, who expressed his pleasure at being made the vehicle of such friendly sentiments. Mr Morrish-replied in suitable terms. Intelligence was received in town recently of the death at Auckland of Mr W. G. Blanchard, of the Colonial Bank, and who occupied for the past two year 3 the position of visiting officer and relieving manager of branches. Mr Blanchard wbb a valuable snd highly-esteemed officer of tbe Bank, and his death is deeply regretted by the directors and his colleagues in the service, as well as by the numerous fiiends he has by bis amiable and genial qualities made throughcit-. the Colony during hJ3 brief career as branch inspector. We lewn that Messrs L. J. Weidner and A. Moritzjon, formeily connected with the Standard Insurance Company, have taken charge of the Transatlantic Insurance Company, formerly conducted by Messrs Bouman and Macandrew. We wish the gentlemen all success dn their new career. 'Mr Esket, late-foreman of the Glen Tannery, was presented with a valuable marble clock by his fellow workmen on Saturday last, as a token of their esteem and regard. Regrets at his departure were mingled with many good wishes that the tannery which he was about to open at Burnside would be a succes?. By means of the energy and care which he has exercised throughout the ;20 years he has been engaged at Mr Bridgman's, he is now able to make an excellent -start in the trade for himself. Mr Esket was congratulated on having reared his eon in his own calling, the usual method in the Colonies being to educate the children to be ashamed of their progenitors' occupations. Mr Esket, in a few feeling remarks, thanked his companions in labour for the memento of their good-will. The clock has a suitable inscription beautifully engraved on a silver plate.