PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 29

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr anc Mrs Boag, of Waikaka Valley, were entertained, on the occasion of their departure from the dietriot to settle in the Hawke'e Bay district, at a 6ocial in Gore on Saturday. Mr Boag received a case of pipes anil a letter-book, and Mrs Boag with a gold and greenstone brocoh. Obi the occasion of his departure from Oarnaru Mr W. Gibson, of the Citizens' Band, was entertained by his fellow bandsmen and presented with a suitably-engraved gold pendant. Mt A. M. Bannett, who has been in charge of the Waitahuna Gully School, has been transferred to be teacher at the Upper Junction School, near Dunedin. Me&=r>s James Bell, Joseph Mcsley, and 'John Smith were re-elected members of the Incholutha Read, River, and Drainage Board cm Friday. Mr William Stirling, sen., of Mantle Bush, South Wyndham. one of the oldest and meet prominent of Wyndham"s "originals." who lias been in the colony since 1862, has deoided to take a trip to Scotland, the land of his birth, very shortly. "I am a total abstainer, but I am not « prohibitionist," said his Honor Mr Justice Ccnolly at the Gisborne Supreme Court. Mr George Flee-twood, formerly a member of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agney Company's Gore staff, and lately book-keeper at the Irtverrargill office, lias received promotion, and been transferred tD the North Island. Prior to his departure he was presented with a handsome dressing case by the Invercargill Rowing Club, for which institution he had acted as treasurer ■for some considerable time. Mr 3 Rae, proprietress of Rae's Junction Hotel, on the occasion of her retiring from .business, after being known to every traveller from Lawrence to Roxburgh for some 30 years r.aat, was entertained last Friday by a large gathering of fiicnds and presented with a handsome marble cock, a travelling rug, and a nurse of sovereigns. Miss Ras was presented with a dressing ease. The testimonial was presented by Mr J. Benne-t, M.H.R., who spoke in eulogistic terms of Mr; Rr<'. At the mayoral elections in Cromwell, Mr H. S. Murrell was returned by an overwhelming majority, his opnonont being Mr Betts. The Taieri Advocate understands that the Hey. J. B. Hall, of East Taieri, has received a call to a church in the North Island. Mr J. Donaldson, master of the WaitaIvuna Gully dredge, on the occasion of his Fevering his connection with the dredge was entertained last Saturday by the crew, and presented with a caso of pipes. On Monday night at the Lawrence Firo Brigade station, at tin close of the practice, Captain Winn, on behalf of the team which Teoently competed at the Napier domonptr&tion, presented Fireman Duncan, who

' was captain of the team, with a silvermounted amber cigarette-holder. Messrs F. Andrews, P. M'Rorio, and J. R. May6on were on Wednesday elected members of the Clinton Town Board. Mr Hewland, who lias been assisting the Rev. Mr Fra.er for some time past (says the Palmerston Times), is leaving for Dunedin, and will be succeeded by Mr D. Rankin. Mr and Mrs Davies, who have had charge of the Hillgrove post, and telegraph office for some three years, were (says the Palmerston Times) entertained on the occasion of their departure by a gathering of friends, and presented with a purse of sovereigns as a token of goodwill. At the meeting of the Clutha Hack Racing Club on Wednesday night the sum of five guineas was voted to Mr J. P. Anderson (now of Gore) for past services as secretary, and a movement was also initiated among the members to subscribe for a gold medal for Mr Anderson as a mark of appreciation. On Wednesday evening Jthe friends of Mr W. Stirling, of South Yvyndham, to the number of some 50, entertained that gentleman at his own house, and presented him with a gold albert chain and pendant on the occasion of his departure and trip to the Old Country. During the evening, which wound up with a cupper and a dance, a number of musical items and recitations were given. Master Ben Patrick, of the Lawrence High School. lia3 received an appointment in the Old-age Pensions Department of the Magistrate's Court nt InvercargilL Mr Thomas Pcttitt, champion chopper and sawyer, was enthusiastically entertained at a social at Invercargill on Saturday by the Southland Timber Yards and Sawmill Workers' Union. The Rev. W. GilHes (says the Timaru Post) has received word that a call is coming to him from Tauranga. The call has been very largely signed, and Mr Gillies intends to accept it. A very pleasant and appreciative gathering took plac-e in Tate's Ha.l, Hyde, on the departure of Mt Andy Sawors, «. member of the local railway staff, from the district. A very useful presentation was made Mr Sawers in the shape of a silk ribbon watch guard, heaviiy mounted in gold, together with a heavy Maltese cross. The presentation was made by Mr P. Kinney, J.P., who referred to Mr Sawers' long association with them all. their appreciation of his many good qualities, and their sorrow at his departure. Dancing was kept up to the " wse sma' 'ours," and each and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. An Oamaru telegTam states that Monsignor Meckay, who is leaving this week for a trip to Great Britain and Europe, was last evening presented with a purse of over 100 sovereigns by the parishioners of the Oama-ru Catholic parish. Telegrams were received from several of the clergy of Otago and from the Hon. T. Y. Duncan. Constab'.o Mathieson, for the past 18 months a member of the local foTc°, has been transferred to Invercargill. Couatab'o Drury, of Waitati, has charge of the Ravensbourne station at present, being relieved at Waitati by Constable Connor, cf Wellington Mr W. Reid, secretary of the Caledonian Society, received a letter on Friday from Mir Will S. Douglas, at one time a resident of Dunedin, and now of Johannesburg. Mr Douglas was secretary of the Caledonian Society many yeaTs ago. A most enjoyable evening was spent at Barewood on the Ist ii^st., when a few- of the numerous friends of Mr and Mrs George Maider (Barewood Station) met for the purpose of showing their esteem and ftood wishes on their approaching departure from the district. Dancing, interspersed with singing and refresfimonts, was kept up until the small hours, aaid during the evening Mr James Garret (on behalf of the many wellwishers) presented Mr Maider with a very handsome marble clock and a silver-mounted walking stick. Mr "vfaidcr suitably responded, and the sieging of " Auld lang syne " terminated the proceedings. The report that Mr Edmund Fosbery, C.M.G., was to retire from the position of Inspector-general of Police in New South Wales is unfounded. Mr Fosbery will retain the position for some time to come, and in order to enable him to carry out the duties attaching to his office the Government has decided to appoint Superintendent Garvin as assistant inspector-general of police. Mr Alfred S. Thoma3, of Messrs Reid and Gray's engineering department, has been awarded the first prize in a competition open \o the New Zealand students of the American School of Correspondence. Tho prize consisted of a Reference Library of Engineering Practice, in five volumes, bound in half morocco, and a cheque for £3 Other prizewinners in Otcgo are Mr D. H. Duthie (Milton), Mr John Kelly (Palmerston), Mr J. E. Macfarlane (Balclutha,), who have each been awarded a reference library, and Mr John Donald (Dunedin), who receives a cheque for £1. Mr R. S. Jordan, of Newport. Mon., has left, for New Zealand, where he goes to take up an important appointment as manager of collieries and oil-3liale mines belonging to the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company (Limited). Mr Jordan was formerly out in New Zealand for some years a3 mining ecgineer and colliery manager, 'and returns thereto at ihe invitation of )mh former employers.— Colliery Guardian, London. Mr T. B. PiiTvcs. of Balclutha, has been appointed assistant to the deputy-registrar of old-age pensions. Dunedin. The Hon. J. M'Gowan, Minister of Mines, proposes to leave Wellington for the south about the middle of the week on a visit to the principal mining centres of Otagc, Southland, and Westlnnd. A Hokitika telegram states that Mr D. O. Day, registrar of the Supreme Court, has been appointed stipendiary magistrate and warden of Westland district," in place of Mr D. MacFarlane (deceased). The Revs. H. Raynes and F. M. Macdonald (a deputation from the British and Foreign Bible Society) arrived at Auckland on Monday by the Sierra from San Francisco. They conduct a six-weeks' mission in New Zealand, ami go on to Australia. The object of their visit is to stimulate interest in the world-wide celebration of the Bible Society centenary on 6th March. Our" Wellington correspondent telfgraphs: — " The Rev. J. Paterson, who is resigning from the pastorate of St. Jean's Presbyterian Church after 35 years' work, is an Arpyleshire man, who was ordained in Liverpool in 1&57. He came to New Zealand in the ship Ballarat, arriving in Wellington on Monday, 25th August, 18&S, and preaching his first sermon on the following Sunday, 30th August, in St. John's Church. At tho time of his arrival Wellington was a comparatively small place, having a population of only 7000. Soon after his arrival the Maori war broke out, Titikowaru taking up arms on the West Coast and Te lvcoti on the East Coast. The new n-.'ini?ter of St. John's should have boen inducted by the Presytery of Wellington, but on account of the war the ministers at Wanpanui, Turakina, and Marion could not l»i>ve their charges, and, as their absence would have left the presbytery short of a quorum, the rev. gentleman was inducted by the General Assembly of the Church, which met at that time. In IS6B St. John's Church was a small buildinp, having a seating capacity of only abcut 250. la 1875 a new church was

built to seat 600, with new schools. The church and schools were erected at different times, the school building being opened at the end of the year and the church at the end of ISSS. The church ha 3 a seating capacity of 930, cs compared with 250 in IS6S. The revenue of the church in 186S was about £350; last year it was close on .£2OOO, exclusive of Sunday schools. There are very few members of Mr Paterson's original congregation now living."