PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12762, 8 September 1903, Page 6

PERSONAL NOTES.

General regret will be felt in literary circles j all over the colony at the announcement of the death of Mrs .Tames Suisted, of St. Leonards, j Westport. Though Mrs Suisted had resided in Westport for verji many years, she was widely known in Otngo and in ot her parts of the colony. She was a cultured,and facilo writer, had an attractive personality, was a true fric-nd, and was always ready to place her services at the disposal of young and old alike. With young people she "was an cspecial favourite, and 110 beginner in the literary world hesitated to consuit her, and in doing so they could not (ail to be benefited by (he kindly counsel they rc- j ceived and the help tlvit was so freely bestowed. Readers ot the Witness will, in the death of Mrs Suisted, lose an old and tried friend. Over the signature of "L. J. S." she has been a contributor to the columns of our contemporary for almost quarter of a- century, and though of late years her contributions have been few and far between, the memory of her widely read , and equally widely appreciated tales, sketchc3, and poems of former days have left such a lasting impression on all lovers of colonial literature that Witness readers cannot fail to experience tho feeling of having sustained the loss o[ a personal friend. In 1884 Mrs Suisted supplied some interesting parliamentary jottings, and was probably the first lady to take a seat in the New Zealand press gallery. Among the many interesting contributions to the Witness m«v be mentioned "Mistaken Motives," " The Trevors," " In Many Lnmls," " A Story of Old Cairo," "The Black Angel: A West Coast Tragedy," etc. We have received no particulars as to the nature of the illness from which Mrs Suisted suffered, but from the fact' that a member of the staff of this journal received a pleasant note from her a fortnight ago, in which 110 complaint was made of ill-health, it may bo surmised that her death was to some extent unlooked for. Her husband i 3 a member of an old Otago family, his father, Captain Suisted having been owner of Goodwood, and also a runholder in the earliest days of the settlement. The family came from Sweden, and some years ago Mrs Suisted visited that country in the interests of her husband, and during her trip also paid a. visit to her native land, England. On the occasion of severing his connection with the Milburn Lime and Cement Company (Limited), Mr ,T. Ilatton was the recipient of a handsome gold-mounted ebony walking stick, suitably inscribed, from the ofnee staff. Mr Oaliden, in making the presentation, referred to the good fellowship that had existed amongst the staff throughout the long period Mr Hatton had been with the company, and wished him every happiness and success in his new venture. Mr Hatton suitably responded. " Pasquin," of the Otago Witness, is advised bv wire that Charles Hugo, the well-known minstrel, died in Auckland on Saturday, and was buried 011 Sunday afternoon. Mr John Henry Brown, sheriff's bailiff, and a well-known figure in Dunedin, died on Sunday evening. ~ ~ _, •A proposal is on foot to convert The Shades," Dowliug street, into aiirst-olass cafe, under the management of Mr J. P. Gunslcr, formerly of Melbourne, who carried on a highclass catering business in that city. A limited liability company is being formed to undertake the business.