PERSONAL,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18003, 2 August 1920, Page 6

PERSONAL,

Mr Jesse Timson officiated at the organ at St. Clair Presbyterian Church at yesterday's services.

Colonel T. W. M'Donald will go to Inveroargill this morning on departmental business. He expects to return to Dunedin on Friday next. A London Press Association cable message announces the death "from enteric a.t Hamilton, Bermuda, of Vice-admiral Na>pier, commanding the North American Station. A Press Association message from Greymouth announces the death of Dr James M'Brearty, who was well known on the West Coast. Mr J. H. Waigth, jun.. representing the Teviot Hydro-electric Committee, Roxburgh, will leave by the first express this morning for Wellington to attend the conference of representatives of power boards at Parliament House.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that tho Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Internal Affairs, is still in the Bowen Street Hospital, and is likely to be laid up for some considerable time. The probability is that he will have to undergo an operation.

It is announced that the Hansard reporting staff will shortly be strengthened by the addition of two experienced men from the Parliamentary Press Gallery—Mr R. V. White, of the Dominion, and Mi- Arthur Withy, of the New Zealand Times,. The members of tho Queen's Drive Boating Club on Friday evening presented Mr J. W. Thomson with an oak tray as a wedding present. A telegram from Wanganui E.nnounces the death of Mr T. D. Cummins, settler, aged 74. He was prominent in Volunteer circles in his younger days. He won the Carbine Championship in 1872. He was also one of the best-known volunteer fire brigadesmen in the dominion. A Press Association message from Wellington states that Mr Alfrecj Quaife has been appointed to conduct the annual practical examinations of the Asociated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, London, in New Zealand this year. He will arrive in Auckland on August 23, and will make the usual tour through the dominion. A Wellington message states that Mr R. W. Holmes, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, who retired after 49 years' service because of failing health, was farewelled by the departmental staff yesterday. and presented by the Hon. J. E. Coates, Minister of Works, on tlieir behajl, with several substantial marks of esteem. He and Sr Wlliam Eraser expressed tlie sincerest hope that the dominion would be able to obtain the benefit of Mr Holmes's experience and thorough knowledge of tho country whenever the occasion arose. It is announced that the following promotions and appointments in the Public Trust Office have been made: —Mr W. G. Baird, Controller Wills, Trusts, and Agencies' Division, head office; Mr T. F. H. King, inspector, Auckland; Mr A. C. Bretherton, inspector. Clmstchurch; Mr A. R. Jordan, inspector, Dunedin; Mr 11. W. fcj. Pearcc, inspector, Palnjerston, North; Mr W. M. Egglestone, local Deputy-Public Trustee, Nelson; Mr I'\ J. E. Moore, first assistant and local Deputy-Public Trustee, Oliristchutch; Mr C. J. Pavne, district accountant, Christchiu-ch; Mr \Y. ti. t'earce, district accountant, Palmerston.North.

On 'Wednesday the residents of Ue Kawa bade farewell to Mr and Mrs G. Haigh (late of Mosgiel) prior to their departure for Te Ivuiti. ilr Haigh has been in ehiirge ot Te lvawa station for about five years, and the representative gathering was a genuine expression of the esteem in which lie is held. At the supper interval in tho social Mr Broudbentj in a'cw well-chosen words, voiced the- regard of the people, and presented Mrs Haigh with an electro-plated entree dish, and Air Haigh with a solid leather travelling case. Mr Dwight, on behalf of the railway • stuff, presented Mrs Haigh with a set of salad dishes, and Mr Haigh with a set of military hair-brushes. Air Haigh acknowledged the presentation on behalf of Mrs Haiirh and himself.

Mr Charles Bickerton, third son of Professor Biekerton, one time of Canterbury ! College died at Invercaigi'l yesterday morning after a brief illness (says our own correspondent). Mr Bickerton, who was 44 years of age, was born and educated in Christchurch, and at an early ago he attended the Christelnirch School of Art. Ho showed marked ability, and carried off many prizes. His work at "this time possessed such individuality that the famous Dutch artist Van der Valden declared on viewing some examples that Mr Bickerton would liecome a great painter. After studying under Valden for a few years Mr Bickerton went Home, continuing his studies under Sir Hubert von HerUc"ner, 11.A. He then went to Paris and spent two or three years in the Aoademy julien, On returning to New Zealand ho found that his liealtL, which had been fax from goocl- (1111*1115 111s stuv overseas, prevented him from living in anything but a bracing climate. A prolonged stay at Quectistown considerably improved his health, and three years ago he opened a. studio in Invereargill. Since his return to New Zealand he had been a constant exhibitor at art exhibitions, and his work was always looked on most favourably. The death occurred at • llloeroki last Tuesday ct Mr John Edmondston, a well-known ami highiv-respccted resident. Mr Edmondston was burn at Unst, Shetland lslawls, on January lci37, and he came out to Melbourne" in 1860 Dv the sailimr ship William Kirk. In keeping with the common employment ol tlie Shetland people, tho Edmoiulstons had for many generations followed the calling of the sea, and: when the late Mr Edmondston was still of tender years news was received that his father's ship, with all hands, had been. lost. In 1861 he was attracted to New Zealand by the gold rush, and he worked "on tho Dunstan, West Coast, and Marlborough diggings. He next travelled between Ontral Otago and Oamaru, dealing in farm produce, and finally settled in Moeraki, and* was among the pioneers who started the fishing industry of that port. Mr Mmondston married the eldest daughter of the late John Moncrieff, of Oamaru, and the family consisted of nine chilrden, comprising five sons, one of whom made the supreme sacrifice at l'aweliendaele R:dge. and four daughters, two of whom predeceased their father. At the age of 60 Mr Edmondston had the misfortune to lose a leg in a train accident, and ever since then he has been practically an invalid and suffered much pain, which he bore with great fortitude and patience.

— One ex-service man in London is very ingeniously pressing an army idea into business service. He .used to s?nd a subordinate round to customers to collect orders, and bv the time the return was made most of the dav had gone. 'Now hjs man goes round with a basket of carrier pigeons, which are released with everv few order?, and by this means the delivery van ;s able to start out shortlv after the last pigeon arrives, with most of tho day still available..