PERSONAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13077, 13 September 1904, Page 5

PERSONAL NOTES.

Word lias just been icceivcd by cable that Mr P. Fitzgerald, youngest son of Mr !W. S. Fitzgerald, inspector of schools, has been appointed manager of the Vivien thine, Latalcrs, Western Australia. Mr P. Fitzgerald is an associate of tho Otago School of Mines, and was, while in Dunetliu, lecturer on metallurgy and mineralogy. He has bsen for some years acting as metallurgist to tho various large mines managed by Messrs Bewick, Moreing, and Co., Lately ho has bmi actingmanager in charge of tho Great Fingal jnino and tho Sons of Gwaiia mine. These cbncerns are among the roost important in .'Western Auntrallo. That Messrs' Bewick, Moreing, and Co. should havo selected Mr Fitzgerald for the responsible position of manager of the Vivien mine furnishes another example of the value placed by experts upon tho mth turned out by the (Jtago School "of Mines, an Messrs ftewick, Moreing, and Co.'s mino managers are generally selected from men with American, South African, or •New Healstlid experience, 'i'ho closing down of tho Otago School of Mines would be no. thing short of rank injustice to tho associates who have been educated in our local. school, as tho diploma cf a defunct School of Mines would bo practically worthless.

The ltev. A. Hodge intimated to his con-, gregation on Sunday that he had received on invitation from tho Davcy Street Congregational Church, Ilobart, to occupy the pulpit? from October 9 till November U, to till up ft gap. Mr Hodge said he would liko to go, and, as tho other ministers had kindly promised to tako a turn to supply tho pulpit, lie thought ho could mako arrangements satisfactorily.

News was received yesterday of tho death of Mr William Basketi, builder, of St. Clair, a very old resident of Duncdin, having como to the colony some 50 years ago. Mr Baskett, who was G8 years of age, had been in indifferent health of late, and hoping that a chango Would do him good, paid a visit to his daughter in kelson; thence he decided to visit liotorua. Ho reached Auckland on Saturday, and died on Sunday. Mr Baskett was an active member of the Otago JSarly Settlers' Association, and bad been a member of the St. Clair School Committoo since the school there was opened. He was also well known in Masonic circles. Ho Iwcs a. widow and a grown-up family. One of the earlier offspring of Otago passed away on September G, Annie Charlton, late wife' of William Charlton, and second daughter of the late Georgo Steel, Of Wairuna Bush and Kuriwao, was born it the North-East Valley, Dunedin, in 1854., The same year as sho moved to Wairiina with her parents, so for' 50 years she lived in the same district. 01 a quiet, retiring disposition, hor first thought was her duty as a daughter, wife, and mother. Ever ready to visit tho sick and needy, her lifo was at longth given in nobte sacrifice to her eldest sister's family. She passed away voluntarily relieving others. The early travellers on tho old coach road to Invercaigill will remember her kindly face; aiid thfe Anglican clergy who have ministered in the Clutha district will miss her willing aid and the comfortable firesido whenever duty calls One of their number to Clinton.

A Nelson wiro records the death o{ Mr Walter Ladley, (or many years inspector o( schools at Nelson, and of Mr William Flett, for ,30 years rate collector for the town o£ Nelson, and formerly of tho police. Tho latter was) the first to find the body of Mathieu, oneof the victims of the Xlaungatapu murderers (the Biirgess-Sallmn gang). A Pshnerston North wire announces tha death of Mr J. Poster Kells, aged 81 years, a:veteran of the Maori war. Ho held colonial and Imperial medal?, and fought throughout tho Wellington and Wanganui campaigns. H» leaves lour sons and three daughters. An' Auckland telegram reporla that- Mr Daniel Tole, formerly Commissioner of Crown - lands, died at his residenco,; Ponsonby, yesterday morning. Deceased had been in failing , health for some time. - The Hon. J. A; .Tol'e, Crown' Prosecutor, is brother of the deceased. Mr Gillor, Mr .Vaterson, Mr and Mi* M'Ciufdie, Mr Walton, Mr Agpew, Mrs Moore, and Mrs Moore, jun., arrived at the CoJTeV i'alace last night...