PERSONAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16953, 15 March 1917, Page 6

PERSONAL

Mr G. L. Denniston has been appointed Acting Vice-consul for the Netherlands during the absence of Mr G. R. Ritchie. A Press Association cable message from London announces that General Smuts and the Hon., W. P. Schrciner (High Commissioner for South Africa) were sworn in as members of the Privy Council on Tuesday. It is stated that Mx H. Lan Simson, who was defeated by Sir John Findlay in last week's parliamentary election, has decided to contest the next mayoralty election fo<Hastings..

Tho oldest lysident in the Fairlio district passed away on Saturday in the person of Mrs Margaret Paton Hamilton. Hor husband built the first house in Fairlie, an accommodation house, and the locality was long known as "Hamilton's."

Tho Hon. A. M. Myers has been appointed a member of the Recruiting Board in place of the. late Hon. Dr M'Nab. The board originally consisted of Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, and Sir Jas. Allen. Upon the departure of tho first two named the ,Hon. W. H. Herries and Dr M'Nab took their places on the board Thc_ post ol chief musketry instructor to the New Zealand military camps changed hands on Monday, when Captain Wallingford, who won tho Military ftross at Galiipoli, took over tae position from Captain Purdon (says the Dominion) Captain Purdon will leave shortly on active service. He has held the post of military instructor since the camps were established, and 1 his work has been regarded as of the very best. Mrs Mac Donald, mother of the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Minister of Agriculture), and relict of Mr Alexander Ewen MacDonald, who died at Gisborne last week, after a long and painful illness, had' attained tho age -if 83 years. Unable to walk for the last 10 years, she had to be wheeled about in 'a chair. Notwithstanding her advanced year.?, she retained her remaining faculties with remarkable clearness to the end, and, beloved hy ;i wide circle of friends throughout the district, her death will be deeply mourned (says tho Poverty Bay Herald). Setting out from Scotland when only 18 years of_ age, she resided for some time in Australia., subsequently, with her husbajid and family, cominsr to New Zealand and settling in the Wairoa district. The family afterwards moved to Poverty Bay. .On the death of iMr Mac Donald, Joout 20 years ago, she went back to Australia, afterwards returning to Gisborne, where she resided continuously till her death. The family comprises three daughters and five sons—Mrs Fraser (Queensland), Mrs Jobson and' Mrs Grey (Gisborne), the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Messrs George Mac Donald; (Wharerata), John Mac Donald (Tolaga Bayjj Duncan Mac Donald (Tokomaru v Bay), and Kenneth Mac Donald (Whangarei). , '