PERSONAL ITEMS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 27

PERSONAL ITEMS,

The Outlook reports that tihe Rev. C. [ H. Law 3 writes: — "I am keeping well, and thoroughly enjoying myself. lam charmed with and impressed with the status and vitality of our Methodism. It is a great thing, too, to be at the heart of the Empire's life. But I have not yet seen anything that has drawn my love from New Zealand. I shall be ready to take up my work on the second Sunday in January." Mr M. Angus, chief clerk in the engineer's office of the Westland railways, has received notice of his transfer, on promotion, to Invercargill. He will be succeeded by Mr R. O. Hawkins, of Invercargill. Mr R. A. Pyke, of Cambridge, Waikalo," but formerly of Cflyde and of Milton, ( Otago, is at present on a visit to Dunedin. Mr Joseph M'Kay, the well-known proprietor of ths. City Boot Palace, died at his residence, St. Glair, on the 19th inst. He had been ailing for some time from eheet complaint, and, in fact, had never been well since the death of his wife, four years ago. He leaves four daughters. The deceased gentleman was prominent in bowling and trotting circles. En e ign Robert Emmet, of the U.S.S. Connecticut, and a descendant of the famous Irish patriot, will (says an Auckland Press Association message), when on shore at Sydney, be the guest of his Eminence Cardinal Moran. Mr William Smaill, one of the enginedrivers at the Dock Trust's Freezing Works, Port Chalmers, who is about to take up farming operations at Wangaloa, was the recipient of a presentation from his fellow employees 'on the 15th inst. The presentation, which was made by Mr M. Kirkwood, consisted of a complete driving suit. Mr Kirkwood referred to the high esteem in which Mr Smaill was held, and wished him every success in his farming pursuits. Mr Hamilton, manager for Messrs Tonkin at Port Chaimera, also spoke in a similar strain, and Mr Smaill fittingly replied. The Oamaru Mail records the death of another old resident of the district in the person of Mr John Hodgson, well-known as a farmer in the Hampden district, where his property was known as Park House Farm. Mr Hodgson had been resident in the Dominion for 45 years, 36 years of which were spent at Hampden. In 1854 he landed in Melbourne from the 6hip Red Jacket, and after a nine years' residence in Victoria came to Otago, where he was engaged in mining for one year and afterwards for ei#ht years on the West Coast. Mr Alex. Logan, late of Dunedin, was admitted a« a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand by his Honor the Chief Justice at Auckland on the 11th inst. Mr Logan lias joined the firm of Messrs Reed and Quartley at their Mangonui branch. j Last week's Gazette announces the elec- ! tion of Edmund Giblett Allen, M.P., George Lyon Denniston, and Ernest Godfred to be members of the Otago Dock Trust. • These appointments are for a period of two yeaTS, from July 1, 1908. The death is announced at Wanganui of Mr F. M. Wallace, who. during lb years' residence in Christen ureh, vras intimately associated with every musical movement of any importance in that city. He was conductor of the Liedertafel, conductor of the Musical Society (afterwards the Musical Union), and leader of the Christchurch Operatic Society. He was 56 years of ago. Mr J. L. Passmore relinquishes the position, of managing director of Donaghy's Rope and Twine Company at the end of next month, and will then retire into private life, to enjoy tlie leisure to which his numerous friends will consider he is well entitled after an arduous bu&mess career in Dunedin of 30 years. For a quarter of a century Mr Passmore ha-s been j connected with the company with which his name is most prominen'thr connected, and the management of which "he now proposes to lay down. I The death of Mrs L. E. Reade at Nelson j removes another of the links that connect ; the present with the early days of North Otago. Mrs Rsade was a daughter of Mr G. Booth, -mho came froxn Bradford (England) in the year 1869, landing at Pore Chalmers from the Helcn«lec. Later shs removed to Oamaru, and was married to the" late Mr L. E. Reade, who was then practising in Oamaru as a solicitor. Mrs Reade wa3 a prominent worker" in St. ' Luke's Anglican Church : and took a great deal of interest in musical matters. She had removed to Nelson some years ago, and passed away, as stated, at tho age of 60. A Press Association cable message from Suva on the 21st intimates that the John ■ Williams, missionary steamer, brought j news of the death on the Bth inst. of the •' Rev. Mt Jones, of Perm. Gilbert Islands. It is estimated that the value of the estate of the late Edward Pritchard, of Numba Estate, Shoalhaven district, New South Wales, and formerly of Dunedin, exceeds £100.000. Under his will, his son (Mr James Pritchard), and Messrs Keiran Rv-an (of Kiama, solicitor), and Robert George Watkins (of Sydney, merchant), are appointed his executors and trustees, and practically the whole estate is apportioned between his widow, his sons, and his daughters. The Rev. R. Ferguson, minister of First Church, Invercargill, has received a hearty and unanimous call to St. Peter's Presbyterian Church, Auckland. Mr Ferguson was minister of Devonport Presbyterian Church, Auckland, before going to Invercargill. The call has been sustained by tho Auckland Presbytery, and will be dealt with _by the Southland Presbytery at its meeting on September 1. Through an omission in the notice forwarded to us by the Victoria, Leapue the name of Dorothy Fitzgerald (of Miss Miller' 6 school) should have been bracketed with that, of George Isdale (of the SVaitaki Boys' High School). The young lady will ' therefore receive an equivalent prize for

her essay -on " The Pioneers o£ New Zealand, Their Difficulties and Successes." In the death of Mrs Joan Adam Walker we have to record £he passing of another of the eai'ly pioneers of the Otago settlement. Arriving with her husband by the ebip Aboukir in 1862, the deceased was early initiated into the hardships incidental to the times, as after a short period spent in the* township, she followed her husband to "Waipori, and assisted in the management of the somewhat primitive store and hotel of those days. It was while on a visit to Dunedin, accomplished by waggon, for the purpose of obtaining medical assistance, the deceased was advised of the " stick-yip" of the store by the eang, who had overawed Mr Valpy, the gold-buyer, and brought him captive from a point nearer the Dunstan. Returning to Dunedin, she took a permanent residence in the city, and by her kindly and sympathetic . disposition succeeded ;n; n endearing herself to a large circle of friends. Deceased is survived by her husband and a family of four sons and four daughters, all resident in the city. Her death occurred at her residence, Cargill street, on Sunday last, at the ag« of 67 years. &s\ "interesting and pleasing ceremony to those interested took place at Kaitangata on Wednesday, 19th met., the occasion being the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the " wedding of Mr and Mrs Stepheneom, very old and respected residents of Kaitangata. The event was celebrated at the Presbyterian Church Hall, the large hall being used for games, vocal solos, etc. A bountiful 'spread was laid out in the minor hall, to which over 60 guests sat down. The Rev. Mr Hoskings presided, and the happy couple were the recipients of a large number of handsome presents. News was received by cable on the 21st from Seattle (U.S.A.) -of the sad death -of a Dunedin young man, Mr Thomas Thomson, aged 22. and son of the late Mr Alexander Thomson, of Messrs A.. Thomson and Co. The deceased was a well-known arhlete and footballer, having placed for Nelson College and the Otago Boys' High School. Last year he played wing three-quarter for the Pirates first, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him, both off and on the field. The deceased only arrived m America last month, having gone there for a trip. His body will be embalmed and brought to. his mother's home at Wakari. Mr Massey (Leader of the Opposition), who has been suffering from tonsilitis for the past few days, has now practically recovered. ~ Mr Cochrane. solicitor, of Inder and Gochr&ne, of Gore, has received advice from the London agents of the firm that the faculty of a. Notary Public for the Dominion has been conferred upon him. Mr Edgar Fowler, who has been connected with the- Tu-apeka Stock Office for some years, first as clerk and subsequently as a rabbit agent, and who has just Jbeen promoted to the position of Inspector of Stock for Tapanui district, was (says the Tuapeka Times) entertained by his friends in Lawrence on Tuesday night. Mr B. VV. Winn presided, and on behalf of Mr Fowler's many friends throughout the district ,-isked his acceptance of a purse of eovereigjis as a ©light token of their appreciation of his many good*, qualities and as a souvenir of his connection with the local stock office. Mr FowJer suitably replied. The Christchurch Press announces with regret that Mr W. Lowrie has resigned his position as director of Lincoln Agricultural College, having accepted the appointment of director of agriculture in one of the Australian States. The death is announced by the Melbourne Argus of Mr A. M'Donald Cooper. He was a well-known figure in firancial circles, and for many years was on the staff of the Bank of Australasia, which he joined in Newcastle. New South Wales, in 1858. At one time he was manager of the "branch at Bendigo, and later on became manager at Christchurch and Wellington, •. th« chief branch of the bank in New Zealand. Mr George Biddle died at R&ngiora recently, aged 85. He was. one of the picked miners who went out to the Crimea in 1855, and assisted in the formation of the railway from Balaclava to Inkerman. On returning to England he was engaged in tunnel work. He left for New Zealand in the Robert Small, arriving in January, l? 60. Mr Biddle worked on the Moorhouse tunnel under Messrs Smith and Wright until they «aye up the contract, and he then worked on the same tunn-el under the Provincial Council (Mr Edward Dobson, engineer). The Southland Times states that "by the Vancouver mail news is to hand of the appointment of "Mr A. R. Acheson, B.Sc 8.E., to the position of assistant professor of mechanical engineering ar Syracuse University, New York. Mr Acheson went to the School of Engnieering at Canterbury College from Riverton, Southland, and after a successful careor gained in 1905 the degiee of bachelor of science in mechanical engineering. On the completion of his course he worked with tho Westinghouse Brake Company and with the Wellington and Manawatu "Railway Company, and also held a position in the Wellington Technical School. In 1906 Mr Acheson joined Oie Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, of Pitteburg, U.S.A."