PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 25

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The ordination and induction to the charge of Mahurangi (Auckland) of the Rev. Evan G. Evans, a theological student from Otago, was carried out last week. In the course of his remarks, when welcoming Dr Charles North ai^Wanganui last week, the Rev. A. Dewdney stated that during the doctor's stay in India he had ministered to over 26,000 patients. No fewer than 634-,570 visits had been made to the hospital.

Mr J. G. Thomson, M.H.R.. for Wallace, accompanied by Mrs Thomson, returned from a trip to Australia on Tuesday (says the Southland News). During his travels Mr Thomson visited Sydney and Melbourne, and generally made a study of Australian public and private life. " Australia for the Australians" was impressed on the visitors, and, in the opinion of the legislator, " they may keep their country," as there is no place like New Zealand^ and only a short absence is required to thoroughly impress this verdict. Several ex-Inyercargillites were encountered in nourishing circumstances. Mr Thomson thoroughly enjoyed his excursion, and returns with an increased zest for tho coming Parliamentary campaign. The Palmerston Times states that Mt J. T. Gwynne, registrar of eleotors for Waikouaiti, is retiring after 16 years' service. Mr Gwynne, who is retaining the position of returning officer, will be succeeded by Mr W. B. Galloway as registrar of eleotors. Master Percy Arthur, son of Mr A. Arthur, formerly stationmaster at Lawrence, has been appointed to a cadetship in the Education Department, Wellingtop. Mr Weir, who has occupied the position of manager of the Taieri and Peninsula Company's creamery at Balclutha North since its establishment, is to be transferred (says the Free Press) to Momona, East Taieri. The transfer means promotion to Mr Weir. The Southern Standard states that Mr R. M'Nab, M.H.R., left the Bluff by the Hinemoa on the 21st for the West Coast Sounds, where he intends inspecting some of the localities which his " Murihiku " history deals with. Mr M'Nab will probably be away about a fortnight.

The Clutha Leader understands that Dr Wheeler (l&te of Owaka), who has been in indifferent health lately, is going for a trip to the Old Country. On his return he intends joining a friend in station life 111 North Canterbury.

Mr James Campbell, of Kaitangata. was in Balclutha on Monday (says the Free Press), h&vius returned from Fiji for the pxirpose c£

taking his two children back with him. He says the. Fiji climate agrees well with him. His plantation, comprising 213 acres, is situated near the town of Suva, on the large island of Viti Levu. Mr Campbell intends cultivating maize and- peanuts, and raising cattle and goat 3. He leaves for his new honn? in about a fortnight's time. News has been received by Mr J. Lamond, of Puerua, that his son James has just tindergone a trying experience in Africa. He formed one of a party to prospect some gold dis-' coveries in Central Africa. Two of his companions died, and Mt Lamond was down with malaria for some weeks, more dead than alive. The effect of the malaria was to leave him blind fox a c6nsiderable time, but he was tenderly nursed by a missionary and his family, and finally his sight returned. He made his way to the coast at Scinde, where he secured an engagement with a railway construction company. Miss B. M. Harlow, at present on the staff of the George Street School, has been recommended for appointment to the position of mistress of the East Taieri School. The Tapanui Courier states that Mr James Wolferstan, manager of the National Bank in Tapanui for some years, has been promoted to Blenheim, and leaves for his new office next month. Mr C. N. Baeyertz, editor of the Triad, has received a cable message offering him the position of judge at the Ballarat musical competitions, to be held in October The Tablet states that the Rev. Father M'Gratb, who returned to the colony before Easter after a trip to the Old Country, and has since been the guest of Bishop Verdon at the bishop's palace, has been appointed to the charge of the Tapanui and Herioi district, a portion of the Gore parish. Commissioner Dinme was an interested spectator daily m the Supreme Court during the hearing of the cases against ex-members of the P °A ICe Hokitika message reports the death of Mr John Duncan, late inspector of fisheries, f liighly-respected resident of Westland, from the Sliest days. He died on Thursday night, aeed 93 years. , , Constable Hunt, of Clinton has been transferred to the detective office here to take the place of Detective Livingstone who has been transferred to Gisborne. Constable Treacjs of ArTowtown, nils the vacancy at Clinton. Constable Clariage, of Dunedin, has been transfeI Tle $£!ES£d- Insurance <*»*«** extending operations in South Africa, and has oiSxl I branch in place of an agency in Durban, and appointed Mr A. J. Scandiett, formerly of Invercargill. manager for the colony of Natal Two prominent South African business men have been made local directors one being Mr Charles Whylock, connected with the business house of Mr J. Nicol, who recently made a lengthened stay and tour m ]SeW Zeala The Hon A. Baldey, M.L.C., having decided to take up his permanent residence at Wellington, thcr«? will be a vacancy on the Southland Education Board. Mr Oeorge Clark, telegraphist at Balcliittia., has received notice of his transference to Wellington. His successor at Ba'clutha is Mr Newell, from North Dunedin. Mt P. R. Sargocd, senior partner of Messrs Sargood, Son. and Ewen, New Zealand, accompanied by Mrs Sargood and family, is at present en route for a pleasure trip to California, where they intend spending some few months. l> The friends of Mr William Gonyers, formerly Commissioner of Railways,' will regret to learn that he has fallen into a very low state of health, and is all but blind, in Melbourne, where he has been practising as a patent agent, etc., for some considerable time. It will be lememfcered (says tlio N-e-w Zealand Times) that he met with an accident about 26 years ago, on the occasion of the opening of the railway between Dunedin and Inveroargill, by which he lost the sight of an eye. For some little time back the other eye has been showing symptoms of failing sight, and one morning in January last he awoke to find it almost extinct. Since then he hag undergone two operations in the hope of averting total blindness. On Wednesday evening last Mr and Mrs ChaTles Kerse, of Dunrobin, who are leaving the district after a residence of 28 years, were presented by th& residents with a handsome marble clock, a set of caa-vers, and «. set of silver-mounted brushes. At the same time Miss M. Kerse was presented with a Bible by the members of the local church choir in recognition of her services in connection with it. During the evening several neighbours spoke in highly appreciative terms of the active in-

( ttrest taken by Mr Kerse in the welfare of the J district during his residence there. } Mr J. J. Eanisay informs us that as a matter of fact his name was not before the meeting that selected a Liberal candidate for the Mount Ida seat at Naseby on Friday. He had previously intimated his determination to take no part in the forthcoming election. Mr J. 11. Rutherford, M.A., of Dunedin, has been selected as assistant nuuster at the Wanganui Boys' District High School. Past and present officers of the Otago Football Association entertained Mr P. Braithwaite at a smoke social on Friday evening, and presented him with a handsome dressing case in recognition of his valuable services as secretary of the association rkiring the past two years. Mr S. S. Myers, the president, made the presentation. The Rev. F. Tubman, who is leaving Dunedin to take up a. curacy in Queensland, was met by the choir of St. Matthew's Church on Friday evening last, when he was presented by the choirmaster with a gold cross, suitably inscribed, as a token of the esteem in which, he was held and in appreciation of the good work he had done amongst them. Information was received by cable on Saturday that Dr Sydney Allen, who took his M.D. degree at Otago University while holding the position of assistant medical officer at Seacliff, Las taken -the degrees of M.R.C.S. anS. Ii.R.C.P., and subsequently of F.R.C.S. Dr Allen left. Dunedin for London about 12 mon-ths since in order to take these degrees, and has therefore made good use of his time. Mr^ James Grant, first assistant at *the» Palmerston District High School, has been appointed "-head master of the Feilding District High "S<jgfg>l, where he takes up his dutiest at the bagmning of July. The -^-witaki High School Board of Governors on Monday selected Miss A. C. Finlayson, M.A., B.Sc. (Canterbury College), second assistant at the Waitaki Girls' High School. Miss Finlayson is at present in the service of the "VVanganui Board of Education. On Monday evening the members of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, in St. Matthew's parish, entertained the Rev. F. Tubman, M.A., B.Sc, at a social evening at Mr G. Moreton's residence, Hillside road where he was pi-- nt°cl during the evening with a handsome two version interleaved copy of the Scriptures, suitably inscribed, and also with a combined silver fruit knife and fork. At the close of the weekly practice of the St. Clair Congregational Church choir on Friday evening Miss Dunham, on the eve of her approaching marriage, was presented with a spirit lamp and kettle. Mr Love made the presentation on behalf of the members, and Mr Charles G. Dunham suitably responded. Constable Miller, of the Central Station, has been transferred to Port Chalmers. Edward Devine, better known as " Cabbage Tree Ned," a once-famous coachdrriver between Geelong and Ballarat in the early gold digging days, was driving a trolly, wh-en the horse shied £>nd Devine was thrown out, and received concussion of the spine. Mr Devine. who is now 70 years of agre, was very well known in Dunedin in the coaching days. During his coaching clays in Victoria, aiid New Zealand "Cabbage Tree Ned" drove over 100,000 miles.