PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2745, 24 October 1906, Page 59

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Ir is proposed to gram a pension of £325 per annum to Mr George Gray, accountant to the General Pest Office, who is about to retire from tho department. Tho pension will date fiom April 1. 1907. Mr B. Verdo'i. who has had 37 years' ser\ice in the Railway Department, and who has been locomotive foreman in Timaru for a considerable time, is retiring on superannuation. During his long period of service. Mr Verdon has ne\er been absent from dut\ for a single day through illness, ami for tbe first 21 years be never had a .holiday An old identify. Mr Thcmas Castle, died ro( t'Jitly after a- rc-sidence in tho colony of 6+ year 5 - H<> left (iravosentl, England, on May 26. 1642. by the ship Thomas Harrison, a \os ol of 400 tons, and arrived at \>l-oii on October 25. a passage e\tc-nding o\.-r 152 'J:i>«. A cjbie jnes-age bos been received from L'ngldnd (my- Ihe Lyttelton Times) etatmg that Mr St. -lohn Spademan, oldest fon of the Life Mr \V. 11. Snackman. has been killed by an accident while playing polo. He was 25 ji-osrs cf age and held a lieutenant'^ commission in tbe Royal Enj>iner>rs. The Auckland Star leports that Ijieut<'iianl H. Ci Bank*, oldest son of Licui Pliant -colonel J. 11. Baukx for tome jears in command of the Auckland Volunteer di-triet, has died in I nc?ia. The deceased was atrar'ied to the 78th Batferv Royal Field ArtrlU-rv. and «as m his twentveighth year. While serving in South Africa with the JSccord and Sixth N-ew Zealand Contingent* I ieurenant Banks became attached to tlie Field Artillery of the Imperial a rim. and at the time of his death was with the battery on active sen ice at Meruch. On Monda\ last an old raao known as (J<'O>Ke ISeiity passed away at I^-\in. at the atro of c'o-o upon 98 year=. " Groree " had been a rough man in his da\ . and was cohered with seats received in encounters on sea and land. He touched at the Bay of Island 8 70 years ago in a whaling vessel, and later he visited the colony again and remained. ■ He was well known all along: thi« coast. — Levin Farmer. Ihe death occurred at the Old Men's Hoiik 1 . Now Plymouth, on the 16th of Mr Thomas Paroons at the age of 63. He arrived with his father and mother by the -hip Timamfra on February 24, 1842. He scried in the No. 1 Militia Company, and was present at the .-ngagement at Waireka. Mr William M'Donald (son of MiGeorge M'Donald, Charlton road. Gore), a member of the crew of the Main Chance dredge, has accepted the offer of a syndicate interested in dredging in West Africa (o proceed there. Mr M'Donald lea\es for Africa to-day. Mr F. P. Bartley. who has filled the position of cngineer-in-charge of railway construction in Mariborough for .sony? time, lefi Blenheim last week on. route for Shanghai. China, where he goes to take up- a. \eiy responsible position in "tbe •Municipal Surt&y' "Dopartirent Messj-.s Robert Foster and Thomas Jenkins, jun., have been appointed members of the Kelso Domain Beard," in place of Messrs' liCivis Shaw and George Goodwin (deeea-odl. Mr A. N. Winter (of the- .Onehunga District Hig'u School) has Wn appointed head master of tlie Thames Hi«h School, in suc-c^-sion to tho late Mr Adam--. A *V e Ming!on correspondent l'nforms the Press -that Mr W. F. MBseey. Leader of the Opposition, proposes to \ isit Christ-church for a week nfter the session closes. He will then loturn to hi 3 own electorate. Tbe Catlins correspondent of the Free Press, Balc'utha. states that Mr Nei! M'livtyre, probab'y the last of the Franklm relief expedition," was buried in Owaka Cemetery on the Jf.th inst 3heic was a large gathering arounJ >,be u^-a\e Mr M'lutyro hud icacbed th* j-i eat age cf 00. A Tiintuu telegram states that Mr E G Kerr, managing director of the Timaru Hera'd and formerly proprietor of the Timaru Herald and South Cantsrbury Times, died yesterday morning after a painful illness. He came to New Zealand in 1861, settled in Kaiapoi, and remained there till 1877. when he came to Timaru as a journalist, first acting as cove.v pondent to the Lyttellon Times. He bought •the South Canterbury Times m 18S1, *nd the Timaru Herald in 1887, and was also a shareholder and director of the Lyttelton Time? Company. Deceased did his chare of public work for" many years. He was five years Mayor of Kaiapoi, and served on several South Canterbury local bodies. The late Mr Kerr had b« c a,!i«g from Eng^t's disease for tbe past six years. He was Cl years of pge, and leave 9 four sons and six daughters. Mrs Kerr predeceased her bu&band by a few years. Mr Jame; Fay, who died at Goi-e on tbo l',th jn'-1., was an old colonist, having come to New Zealand in tbe ship iJcbert Hender&on. Born at Dur>=». Berwickbhire. near the border, 81 years ago, Mr Hay was a. young man when be sailed for the colony He was first of all engaged in the Taieri with Major Croker, but later lie carted to the Gabriel's Gully po!d diggings, aud he subsequently resided at Gladstone (Invercargill), Wiukaka Valley, and Ea«t Gore. Mr Hay had been ailuig for some time. Mr W J. iuglib, well known in business circles m various parts of Otago. died at Goio or Wcdne-dav, tha 17th. Over 30 jeara ago Mr Inghs enteied the employ of the N"evr Ze»laad Mpat Pre=*rving C'cmp<t»y at Kakamu tXortli Otago). and subsquentlv l>ec:inie manager of llio branch there, which w<u then a large and important industry emp'o>m<? over 100 hand«. He was subsequent "y appointed manager of the AVocdUnds bianch of tbe company's business, and ■when the company disposed of its interests and lft.rcd fioni busineas in the colouy Mr Inghs retained the management of the Woodlands work*, which bad Leeii purchased by Mr W X Tait ALou< 1G years ago Mr luglis was appointed manager of the now defunct Ciovdou Meat Preseiving Works, the Croydcm brand of ni<Mt dunug his management occupying the leading place in preserved meats in the Home markets. About six year= apo. when the works closed, Mr Inghs rir.Ov<d to Gore, and lias resided thenSin cc. His death supeivened after a painful iline" Tlie deceased was in his fifty-eighth year. He married a daughter of the late Capt«.iii Matbesoii, harbourmaster at Kakantu for many years, and his widow and a family of seven eons all grown up) survive him. Mr J. "Walker Johnston, late engineer to the Clutha County Counnl. left by the <■ = Winiuiera on Thursday for Sydney where h? will catch a steamer ior the East. Mr Johnston undertakes 1 is duties on the Malay Peninsula almost i-ni mediately on his arrival there. Mr Murray Blathwavt, son of the Rev. Wyuter Blathwayt of Dunedin. has been appo".uied teacher of Arthur's Point Schcol, veer CJneeaPtown. [ Our Milton correspondent reports the death oi Mis Jagj?er Clar.k,. a t«jt old resident. The

deceased came to the colony witli her husband, who died some y-ears ago, in the ship Jura in ISSB, and has spent her life in the Tokomairiro di=tiict. She leaves a grown-up family, the members of which are all married and residing in the district. Mr T D. Adams, 8.A., has been bSered and accepted an appointment as as3i&lant master at the Otago Boys' High School. Mr Adams was an old scholar of the Otago Boys' High School, and was dux in 1901. and won the Latin scholarship and took h:s B.A. degree last year. The Hon E il'Xab will visit Knapdale for a few days ai*er the session. Departmental business will then claim his attention, but he expects to leturn to Southland to attend the Gore 2nd Invercargill shows. Mr B. C Dean, postmaster at PalmersiOn, vlib has not been in lire best of health for *ome tin*e past, has been granted a month's leave of absence. Mr W. Fisher, of tbe Dunedm office, is temporarily in charge of Mac Palmerston office. The Southland T'mes sta-tss that Mr A. AL Pater=on. M.R.C V.S., Las been offered a posi111,11 on the veterinary staff of the Agricultural Department, to which he was formerly attached. A New York message advises ihe death of Mrs JcSersOn Davis, wii© of the late Jefferson Davis. President of the Southern Confederated States at Ihe time ol tbe "War of Secession, in her eighty-first year. The deceased lady was an accomplished journalist and "the author of a life of her Isrmous husband. Mr VT. R. Morris, Assistant Controller of Money Orders a::d Savings Banks and Assistant Accountant, will succead Mr George Gray, who re' ires ou a i:?nsion at *he end of tbe year, as Contioller and Accountant. Our Wellington correspondent tolegiarh* that news was leeeived fioru Sydney about r>onn oji Saturday of the sudden and serious illnei-s of Mrs Gieslcy Lukm, wife of the editor oE tho Evemi.« Post, and in it a eveniug hirtkei advice camo of her death The cause wps hemorrhage of the brain. Mrs Lukin was a woman greatly respecied and liked by all who knew h?r, both in K«w Zealand and m Anstrpba. On Saturday morning several of the teachers on -the Man" of the Dunedin Technical School met m the chieeters' room to tay farevve'l to one of themselves, Mr J. A. Bruc?. who goes to Nelson a* instructor in agriculture and Xatuic-study under the Mariborough, Xslso'i, and Ciev Education Beards. Mr Mai.=hal' B A., diiector of the school, took -the oppoitunily of presenting Mr Bruce, on beha'f of the t?arhers, with a Gladstone bag, and, while expiessing regret that Xe'.son's gain was Dunedm's loss, referred with pride io tbe fact that, as pupil atd teacher, Mr Bruc3 had hssn connected with the Technical School for 16 years. Mr W. Davidson presented Mr Bruce with a beautiful silver-mounted walking stick, and said that Mr Bruce'e work as one of the staff of ilie New Zealand Correspondence College, with which Mr Maisha'l and himse'f weie connected, was one of an exceptionally high cider. In returning thanks for the useful presents so unexpectedly placed in his hands, Mr Bruce spoke of tbe useful work don« by tbo Technical School under tlie eiiarSjetic and well-directed efforts of Mr Marshall, made mention of bis indebtedness io the school, ?nd hoped that bis practical knowledge, {citified by his experience as a "teacher, would bear good fruit in his new position The Port Chalmers Presbyterian Church choir paid a. surpiise visit on Friday evening to the residence of Mr C:eg>horn, its choirmaster, at S&wyeis' Bay. The visit afforded the members of the choir an opportunity to present Mr CJeghorn with t>. tangible token of its appicoiaiion of bis services in musical eiiLles tluoughoiit the ci.stiiet The pre<-onttook the form of a pair of handsome silver cand'esticks, and m making the presentation, Dr Borne, on behalf of the choir, made compLmeiTtiry references to Mr Clesjhorn's enthusiasm as choirmaster, and the valnab c assistance u-ndered by him on in?ny occasions in aid oi local institutions. Mr Cleghorn acknowledged ihe gifts in suitable terms, and exprefesed bis pppreciatiou of tbe complimentary remains with which they were accompanied. Tiie lemairder of i'ie evening was spent most agreeab'y. a number of visitois contnhutmg songß and musical items. A-t the Pukiviti Hotel fShag Point) on Friday la«t, Mrs Gilmmu-. who was licensee of the Carriers' Arms Hotel. Thinbac-k, for a number of years, and who has now removed to Shag Point, was presented by a number of ncr Dunba.'k friends vvi'b a handsome silver tea and coffee service The Mayo r of Pa'merston (Mi- E. H. Claik) piesidcd. and the presentation was made by Mr X Cameioii Other Dunback resident-, present were Mp'-s.rs A. Cameron, T. M'Luy. and John Uunci.n, a '. of whom referred to the esteem in -which the lady was held by the ie=idents ot Dunback. The presentation vva= acknowledged by tho chairman on behalf of -the recipient. Detective Coor.ey. who lias bseii in i)lheaith Tor some '.nife, will le sia-iioiied at Alexandra during the next six month 8 . At l.»->t ijpt^ting of thy Auckland lPrcsV.jtery it was decided to nominate tbe Rev. Andrew Cameron, of Dunedin. for tbe posit. on of 'Model aior of the General A?=emb!y. Mr W. Young, who has been connected with the locomotive bipiich at tho Palmer^ion station for some tiico pu =i. was, en his transfer to DunecTin, made? tli<> recipient of a =ilver-mcunted umbrella by t'ae members cf Ibe staff. " K«-ws has been received by came from Capetown (says the Napier Telegraph) of the death of Jlr Archiba'd MacLaughhii, son. Deceased was a ie a !den>t of Napier ti ' i ?oine three -\ear« as;o, when he went to rcido with his daughter m Oapetowi). Mr MacLaugbhn v.as bettsr known in Dunedin, where the family iivcd for many year". A London cable reports the death, at the dgf oi 69 veji-. of the late Right Hon Colonel E. J. Sauiider&on, M.P. for Arm.igb. 'lhc deceased gentleman, who was the son cf Colonel A. Saundcrpon, M.P.. was born in 1837. He terved m the Royal Iri-h Fusiliei=. He was married in 1865 to the daugbtei of Lord Ventry. He became High Sheriff of County Cu\oi , and was M.P. for that county from 1665 tc 18"4. Up has been member for Ainiagb fince 1&-63. lie has been Grand M-aster of the Orangemen in Cavon County siuce 1901. He was leader m the Hou«-e of Ccniuxms of the anti-Home Rule Jn^'i member?, and could always be depended on to fight, .strenuously again*-! anything <-i\oming of Home Rule. A late message <-lafe« that the gallant eclone' Luiit,'ht a chill on Tliur--day. and ar attack of pneumonia followed His death i-, gipatly deplored. Our 'VVcllijigton i oiieeuondent telegraphs that Mrs Giliuer wite of the proprietor of the j I?o>nl O»k Hotel, died on Morday morning. At (.ladbrook la^t week Mr E Dotherty, farm sherherd. v.a-, presented by his fellowtoip'ovees with a \ cry handsome marble timepiece on tlie occasion of kis leaving to start farming on Ins own account. The presentatKii was made by Mr M'Kmnon. tbe manager, who Bpoke bi^bly of Mr Docherty's good qualities, the latter suitably responding. Mr Docherty has taken up a farm in the Sutton district, "adding one more to those from Gladbrook who have settled in the district. Mr 11. E. Denria, who has been promoted from porfer in the Railway Department, Hindon. to signalman at Waiareka. was presented by his fellow-employees with a gent's silver-mounted umbrella, suitably inscribed. The presentation was made by Mr J. Middletoa. the ganger, who referred to the recipient's

many good qualities, including a very obligj. ing disposition. Mr Dennis suitably replied.