PERSONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16545, 19 November 1915, Page 2

PERSONAL.

News is to hand of the death of Mr W. W. Lindsay, 8.L., principal of the China Inland Mission Preparatory School at Ruling, in China. Mr Lindsay was trained for the law, but left his profession to become editor of tho English edition of "China's Millions" in London. About 17 or 18 years ago he visited New Zealand, spending quite a long time in Dunedin, where he made many friend's. He returned to China, and at his station at Chefoo, and later Kuling, did excellent missionary and educational work for the China Inland Mission, with which he was associated. He is survived by a widow. A Press Association message from Invercargill statoj that there were 162 applications from all parts of the South Island, and some from the North Island, for the position of ranger for the Southland Acclimatisation Society. Mr John Devoy Ballantyno was appointed. A large number of applications came from men apparently eligible and fit for active service at the front, and it was resolved to return these without consideration, the applicants to be ! informed of the reason. The death has occurred at Timaru of. Captain Archibald Weir, who was for many years a resident of Oamaru (says the North Otago Times). Captain Weir, who was 83 years of age, arrived. in New Zealand in about 1862 in the ship Chili, landing at Port Chalmers. In 1863 he was sailing small vessels between Dunedin and Oamaru, which occupation he followed for about five years. He then entered the employ of Messrs Galbraith andi Co., timber merchants. as yardman. In 1871 he took a position as foreman with the Oamaru Surf Boat Company, afterwards joining the New Zealand railways as foreman on the wharf .at Oamaru Harbour, , which position he hftld until his retirement from active work. His wife predeceased him by about 10 years. Three sons survivo, all of whom are well known in Oamaru. Captain Weir was a staunch advocate of temperance, and whife in Oamaru took a prominent part in the Good Templar Lodge. Referring to the lato Mr Alfred Dillon, ex-M.P., the Hawke's Bay Herald) says: "Mr Dillon was a native of Wales, and came to Hawke's Bay by the first wool ship, tho Southern Cross, in 1857. He first found employment as cowboy at the late H. S. 'iiifen's Home wood Estate, whence he went to Tamumu, and afterwards to Mr J. Knight as bullock driver. A the age of 19 ho entered into partnership with Mr C. Clark, of Kaikbra North, purchased teams of bullocks,- and became a public carrier between Napier and the Waipawa County district. He carted wool to Napier from the Patangata, Oero, and Tamumu district for over 14 years. Mr Dillon then soid out, and purchased his tather-in-law's property, on which he commenced sheep-farming. He also purchased a portion of the Homewood Estate. During his long residence in Hawke's Bay Mr Dillon devoted a good deal of his time to local affairs. He was at one time or other an active member of nearly all the local public bodies."

NATIONAL SUPERVISION OF' WEALTH. TO THE JSUITOB Sir. —I am pleased that you are with us in the demand to include wealth in a national service enactment. You quote my words ■"conscription of wealth," but you know I look upon "conscription" as a shibboleth ! and I am'not, and never have been, a,. Socialist. It is no more out of place, I think, to say conscription of wealth " than "conscription of men," but my last phrase I admit is much more expressive and convincing and to the point. May I take this opportunity to say that your space is too Valuable and my .mission too 'important to aide-traok my energies to answer anonymous scribblers who try to drag in my consistency in land matters. This has no bearing on national service. If the writer is anjjious to get a good dressing-down, and you permit him the space when we have time to play marbles, if ho chooses to come openly out over his name and have a game I will oblige him. Meantime. I have matters of national importance to attend to, and he must pocket his little spleen until a proper occasion arises. I have been asked to write a further article on the lines of the last, and will, with your kind permission, do so later an. Side-issues to the subject, which is my mission, will not be even noticed. —I art), etc.. J. J. Ramsay. Alexandra, November 18. COMPULSORY NATIONAL SERVICE. TO THE EDITOR. Sua, —A corresipond'ent signing himself "Orr (navvy) " challenges your anonymous correspondents on the albove su'bject to come out in the limelight, if they dare (mark the words!), as, according to him, they are not workers, but belong to what he calls the capitalist class. As I am one of the correspondents referred to, I wish to inform "Orr (navvy) " that I am a worker, getting j 9s a day, that I have four children and a ' wife to support, the oldest child being only 10 yctars old, and that the only property I possess is enough furniture for a four-roomed house. If "Orr (navvy) " is not satisfied, I give you* permission to let him have my name and address, and then he can satisfy himßclf. I think ' Orr (navvy)" could do with a little limelight himself. Why docs he not publish his full name and address, seeing he is so much concerned about others? I notice tho one point, which nearly all your correspondents liarp on, lis that of wealth . and property. One would think there was j nothing else involved in this war but pro- I perty and wealth. It is always the cry, | vv by should I fight for so-and-so's property '( I have none; the war won't affect me" Surely one's personal liberty is worth more than all the property. Speaking for myself, I do not look at it from a wealth point of view. I consider I have as much to fight for as any fanner has. I have my own freedom, which I Would not soil for a cartload of wealth, and I have my wife and family, which I place first. Men of the stamp of " Orr (navvy) " the country would be bettor without. I would be ashamed to write such a letter as he Ims written. I am no shirker; I am willing to fight if my country needs mo, and I have signed the census card to that effect. —I am. etc.. No Shibkee.