PERSONAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14439, 4 February 1909, Page 8

PERSONAL

Loul Noil hcote ex-tiovernor-general 0 f the Commonwealth, has (says a cable message) been created a l'riw Councillor Ml- James Wills is a by the Clinia, which arrived ai Frcinantlc ti'oin London yosterdav.

-Miss Minnie Thomas was selected last night by the St. Clair School Committee [or the jKMition of second assistant. .Miss Thomas was for some time pupil teacher at the school.

A Christchurc-h message stales I hat Mr A W. Rutherford, ex-M.P. for Huianui was entertained at a bmupid' at liumner or. Tuesday night. The Lion. D. Buddo represented the -Ministry. Speeches eulogistic of Mv Rutherford's services to the electorate were made.

Mr D. S. Columb, who lias been promoled tc the Wellington branch of the A.M.P. Society, was an active member of St. Joseph's Club. Dunediu, and took a. deep interest in its progress. As captain of the Hibernian Cadels he endeared himself to all, and during ihu past two years, under his able captaincy, tlie corps lias reached a high slulo of efficiency. On Tuealay evening (says ilio New Zealand Tablet) lie was (he recipient of a presentation and address at the hands of the members of the corps.

Mr George Bissof, of the Department of Agriculture, arrived at Ohristchurch from Wellington on Tuesday, accompanied by Mr W. Norman, a retired English farmer, who is looking into the condition of fanning in the Dominion on behalf of English fannc-rs. Mr Norman has alieady spent some time'in Australia on the same matter, and after seeing the Canterbury district lie will (says the Lytteltou Times) come on to Olago and Southland.

Owing to the death of Mr Kmil C. Skog, Danish Consul in Chrietelmreli for the South Island of New Zealand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, has appointed Mr O. 11. Moller, Vice-consul in Dunc'lin, Aoiing-consul for tho South Island of New Zealand. At- present- no provision has been made for the establishment of the consular office in Christchurrh.

Mr William Peek, a very old Maiakanui resident, died in the Dunslan Hospital on Sunday morning. The dec-cased was at the first tush at Gabriels m 1862, and came to the Dunstan district the same year, residing at, Matakanui ever since. During the whole of that period It-ays the Dunslan Times)— some 46 years—Mr Peek was never out of Matakanui. lie leaves a wife and nine children.

The Southland News'records the recent deatli ol Mr Marl in Campbell, a very olit resident of Southland. Mr Campbell was in the old days, when in Riverton, 11 distinguished athlete, and won a hulf-rnile race against a Scottish runner who came to New Zealand with somewlmt of a reputation. Three of the dccoassd's sons have also been champion athletes in their day, being the scratch men in long distance races in Invercargill. On Saturday night hist, at Kett's Kensington Hotel, a number of men who had been employed at the Chain Hills on the Mosgiel construction works, under Ganger Barratt,, met and r,resented lo Mr Barratt a meinento o[ their uppiwiulion of his services as a ganger. Mr Riley, in an appropriate sncech. made the presentation, and leferred to the kindly feelings existing between them and to the uniform treatment dealt out to the men by Ganger Barratt, and expressed the regret of all at. the stoppage of the work. Messrs Tbnrlow, Fay, Napier, Wilkinson, Keen, Clatterbuck, anil M'Donnell endorsed the speaker's remarks. Mr Barratt, having suitably replied, the meeting terminated. In reporting the death of Mr John Dent, or Piierua, Ihc C'lutha Leader says deceased had been a resident for 34 years. He was married at Palmerston to Mary llut.ton. third daughter of Peter llutton (Perthshire), and he leaves a family of three daughters—.Tanet, Mary, and Koto—and two sons—lrving and George.—all five being still at home. Mr Dent had always been of a very strong constitution until a year ago. when his health began to fail iiim, and on Thursday evening, at, 6 o'clock, lie passed away at the age of 73 years. The deceased was a man upright in every way. respected by neighbours and friends, and oven up to the last he took a keen interest in events of the day.