PERSONAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 7

PERSONAL

The Mount Benger Mail records the death of Mr John Dunlay, who was among the very earliest to commence fruit-growing in the Roxburgh district. Strawberries and peaches were the principal fruits grown by Air Dunlay, and for the quantity of strawberries Dunlay's Gardens are known far and wide. Mr James Edgar, on resigning his position as treasurer of tho Otago Aclimatisation Society yesterday, was unaimously elooted an honorary member of the society in recognition of his' 17 years' service. • The Mayor of Invoroargill (Mr \V. B. Scandrettf arrived in town by the second express yesterday. Ho leaves by the midday train for Lyttelton to-day, on his way to Wellington to attend the, Municipal Conference" That is expected to occupy the first four days of next week, when most of the members will proceed to Auckland! lo join in the welcome to the American fleet. Mr P. E. Nolan (ex-chairman of (lie Otago Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants) having refused to accept any presentation ,iu recognition of his services to the branch, Mrs Nolan was • on Thursday lost made the recipient of a • silver tea service, suitably, inscribed. Mr Nolan has filled the branch chair for several successive periods with marked success, and it is gonorally..recognised that it is in no small measure to his energy, earnestness, and ability ■ for organising that the splendid position of tho branch is duo. At present the membership of the Otago branch exceeds 1050. Dr Will, who has delivered a course of. winter lectures in connection with womon'o first aid classes of the St. John Ambulance Association, was this week presented by the members with a dressing-case as a mark of their appreciation of his efforts. Dr Will lias also delivered a series of lectures to the Green Island branch of the young women's classes, and hero again his practical show of sympathy with the St, John Ambdancc movement was recognised by the presentation of a photogravure framed in oak. There was a very largo gathering of . employees in tho car" shop at the Hillside Workshops yesterday afternoon to take part in making a presentation to Mr J. F. Robertson. Mr Robertson, who is retiring on superannuation, fust joined the railway service in 1872, and supervised the erection of the first carriages that ran on the Port Chalmers line. He has been car shop foreman at Hillside' for tho past 31 years, and the heartiness and enthusiasm of tho> proceedings testified to. the high esteem in which he is .held among the men. Tho presents consisted of a gold watch, initialled and bearing the inscription, "Presented to Mr J. F. Robertson by the employees of the Hillside Workshops'. 31/7/08.," a gold sovereign ease with monogram, and an inscribed silver calco basket for Mrs ' Robertson. Mr S. P. Evans, workshops manager, in making the presentation, stated that he had been associated with Mr Robertson for 16 years, and he would say that it was very doubtful indeed l ' if. ,-there was any officer in. the New Zealand railway service who carried out his duties more energetically than Mr Robertson had done. It was a very difficult matter for • a man in his position to retain his popularity and yet do justice to tho department, and the fact that Mr Robertson had'succeeded in doing both was a very great credit to him. He wished him long life and health, and assured him that ho would always have their heartiest good wishes in every shape and form. Messrs R. Fan-ant, J. Carson, L. Irvine, and 'SI. G. Thompson in brief, hearty speeches expressed their high appreciation of Mr Robertson's good qualities and their regret at his going from amongst them. Mr Robertson, in acknowledging the presentation and tho kind remarks of die speakers, said Drat the men had always helped- to make his duty a pleasure. Ho had always prided himself on having the best lot of workmen LI Dunedim Tho meeting concluded with hearty bhecra and the singing of " For bo's a jolly good fellow." A Feilding Press Association wire states that Mr James Williamson, a well-known violin maker, of Feildmsr.' left yesterday to take an appointment in the mechanical, branch of the Postal Department at Wellington. He had previously been engaged in making sounding boxes for Morse instruments, and is recognised as an expert. He received an award' for a violin made of New Zealand wood exhibited at the St. Louis Exhibition. The leading citizens of Feilding presented Mr Williamson with a watch and chain and address. A Palmerstou North telegram states lhat the death is announced of J. M'Convdlo, familiarly known as Melbourne's noted whip. In tho old coaching days he drove Hastwoll and Macara's coaches, and was on the Wellington;Foxlon route for many years, and subsequently drove on the West Coast route. The deceased was in his fifty-second year. Mr G. W. M'lntosh, manager of the Invercargill branch of tho National Bank, has been appointed manager of the Dunedin branch, in succession to Mr J. Sinclair Thomson. Mr M'lntosh's stay in invercargiil' has (says I lie Southland Time.-) not been a long one, but he and his family have mado many friends, who wn l say good-bye to them with regret. Mr M'lntosh bits also associated himself with several local institutions, the Acclimatisation Society, the Competitions Society, and the Orphans' Olnb anion'.' the number, and by his transfer those societies will lose an energetic worker. He wili, however, have tho felicitations of ail on his rise in the hank's service, and their best wishes for his continued success. Mr C. J. Roualdson. for many years account- '; ant of the Duncdin Branch of tho National ! Bank, has been appointed manager of tiin ■ Invercargill branch, and loaves on Monday to take up the .duties of his new position. Last evening the staff of the Naiiou.U, Bank, Dunedin. met for a short time at' the close of tlie day's -.business, for tho. purpose of congratulating Mr Roualdson on his appointment to the management i-[ the lnvcroargill Branch. Mr J. Sinclair Thomson, tho manager, on behalf of him.self and his staff, presented Mr Roualdson with handsome eases of fish and dess3rt knives and forks, and referred in eloquent | terms, noj, only to Mr Ronalifeon'fi qualities

as an officer of the bank during; 28 years' S service in Dunedin office, but also to tlic keen personal intcrcflfc takon by him in the members of his staff. Mr Thomson's remarks were received with acclamation whon ho said they all felt (hat in losing Mr Ronaldson tlioy not only lost an experi- ' enced and capable officer, but also a man s who had endeared himself by his personal ~ sympathy and upright conduct in dealing with those under him. Mr Thomson con- ' t eluded by assuring Mr Ronaldson of the £ respect and esteem in which he is hold by the officers of the branch, who. while ] regretting his departure from among,;, t them took this opportunity of wishing himself and family every success and happiness t in (heir new sphere. Mr Ronaldson, in t an appropriate speech thanked. Mr Thorn- < son and the staff for tho sentiments ex- I piessed and the accompanying gifts, which < would be much valued as a token of tho goodwill of Ills fellow officers and a me- J moiito of the many pleasant memories cor- ' noctcd with his years of service in Dunwiin ! office. •' <