PERSONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16135, 25 July 1914, Page 10

PERSONAL.

The Dumdin shoo retailers mot on Thursday evening at Branson's Hotel to bid farewell to Mr J fairy Murray, who is leaving Mcrwis Uu.-o ami (iloijciiu in.g" to t.xke a. re.s|Kittsil>l<- position in Wellington On behalf ol i,he rei„ii!ers, in |inwnt.iiig Mr Murray ivil-!; a iiiunl.-xnue lilted .suit eaiiie, Mr referred to liis extreme courtcsy and capability, and wished him every Mn.vifr, in Ins new position. Several cltuiiiriv. in tin; l'ublio Works rtaff (in I lie Catlins railway construction have been made recently. Mr S. G. l'u,tors.on, junior enginwr, and Mr W. T. Ward, ehainman, have been transferred to Stratford, and Mr Hugh Patte-nsori, onffiiutcr in charge, has been removed to Clytle. The last-named is siK-eei «Jed art Papatowai by Mr Mcenan. Meters A. Wallace (blacksmith), A. M'Neill (timel;<viper), and C. Johnston (chain nv:w) have alt*) gone to Clyde to work on tho railway in that locality.

The fli v. J. C. Small, who will probably take up his duties at fit. Mary's, Mornington. on September 1, will bo succeeded at Milton by the Rev. James Morland. vicar of Rivenon. T7u> Roy. W. 'J'. Drake, at prrfcnt. curate it! tho parish of Dunstan, has l>f'en appointed vicar of the parochial district of Maniototo.

A pleasant cermony took place, at the offioo of Mr J. Jackson Purdiu on Thursday evening, when M's.-i Brown, on the occasion of forthcoming marriage, was presented with a cheque bv her employers. Mr l'urdie, in a short speech, expressed his goodwill and esteem. Alr Bcok. on behalf of tho office employee®, alt-o made a presentation. Miss Brown suitably responded. Mr 11. Fildes, senior cleric at the Dunedin Chief lViist Office for the past hix months, will leave for Wellington on Tuesday, to which office, ho has been retransfi rred. Tho vacancy will be filled by the promotion of Mr 1,. Aridoreon, of tho Savings Bank staff. Mr BroacJbent. who has been promoted to assistant, clerk in charge of letter-carriers, Wellington, will leave for tho northern city on Thursday.

General regret was felt on the announcement of the eudden death of Mr C. H. J3i«, District Engineer of the Now Zealand Railways, who died early this (Friday) morning (telegraplis our Chrfstchurch correspondent), after an illness which lasted 'only a few daya. "Tho '.ate Mr Bisw," said a friend of the dcctvisDd to a News reporter, " was a most conscientious and painstaking officer, whose heart was thoroughly in his work. He whs highly popular wherever he was known, and nowhere more bo than in railway circles, lie took the very keenest interest in his work, and particularly bo in the fchemo for tho alteration and for the renovation of the Christehurch Railway Station: and I fancy that it was Mr B;ss who firet suggested that the station should be moved away from its present site. He had made all tlio ncceeeary plans and estimates in connection with the alterations of the existing station, and his trip to Wellington was for the purpose of consulting with his departmental heads on the matter. He came bank on Tuesday weelk from Wellington, and after remaining in his office until half-past 6 o'clock thai evening, ho took suddenly ill, and had to bo taken, home. As an example of his demotion to duty, and of h:s keenness about his work,it may bo mentioned that while very ill in bed ho rat-venal times expressed the greatest satisfaction tliat his plans for t'he station improvements were all complete, and that nothing remained to bo done in that direction. The kite Mr Biss did not go in for sport and for games very much, hut- his particular hobby was mechanics, and he had a very elaborately fitted lm little workshop with a lathe and took, and a good deal of his spare time was spent here." Tip many friends of the Rev. Dr Sidev. of Napier, will regret to hear of hie serious illness. We are informed that he is considerably over 80 years of age, and has been ailintr for some time past. Until recently Dr Sidev acted as secretary to the Hav.'kc's Bay Hi.-srh School Board, in tho work of which for years he has exercised a controlling influence. A few yeans ago ho resigned the position of clerk to the General Assembly and treasurer to the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Ho lias been an outstanding figure in church courts, a man of strong and rugged personality, fino ability, and a wi ; " counsellor, and of genuinely warmhearted disposition.

A circular letter hag been sent to parents of boys attending Christ's College (Chrischurch) to the effect that all will agree in recognising Mr E. A. Belcher's singleminded zeal for the advancement of the school, and that (says the Stan) it would be unbecoming if some recognition of his services were not made. The circular concludes by inviting parents to contribute to a fund which is being raised. Tho circular carries the signatures of Dr J. C. Palmer (Christchurch), Messrs J. D. Millton (Christchurch!, W. H. E. Wanklyn (Christchurch), P. I. Cowlishaw (Christchurch), C. I<\ Thomas (Christchurch), H. F. Nicol (Asliburt-on), C. W. Rattray (Dunedin), A. E. Why to (Wellington!, J. Cecil Tosswill (Hasting?), ajid W. 11. Hargreaves (Oiunai'ii).

The death is recorded of Mr John Walker Mitchell, who for something like 5C years played a prominent part in the public life of fnvercargill and Southland. He came to New Zealand, in 1862, and joined the brother, Mr David Mitchell, in a business i.n Invercargill, which he subsequently carried on upon his own account. In the early stages of the history of Invercargill Mr Mitchell was one of the most prominent figures. He was (the Southland Times says) a leading spirit in the movement for forming the settlement into a municipality, and served many years on the coujl'cil, holding the office of mayor on two occasions. It was in connection with the Harbour Board, however, that he gave his most valuable service holding a seat for verv many years, and being chairman time after time. He participated, moreover, in every movement which appealed to him as being in the interests of the community, and was a warm Mippovter of social institutions, while he was one of the founders of (he Southland Bowling Club, lie was predeceased, by his wife 23 years ago, but leaves a family consisting of one son (Mr .T. J. Mitchell, of the railway service}, and three daughters (Mrs \V. G. Mehaftey. Mrs Alexander Gunn, and Mrs Henry Fowler).