PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2850, 28 October 1908, Page 70

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr Peter M'Kenzie, of the Bluff, has been appointed' an inspector of machinery. This is the third appointment in succession trom the engine-room of the Bluff tuj. The Clutha Leader states that Mr John P. Shew, formerly of Finegand, is leaving on a five years' sojourn in London to prosecute his medical studies. An Auckland telegram states that Mrs Elizabeth Knox died yesterday morning, aged 99. It is understood that most of the Auckland charitable institutions will benefit under her will. It is believed that the amount which she has bequeathed ,to Auckland charities exceeds £60,000. The Rev. W. Grigg, mnnister at Wesley Church, OargiH' road, has received a unanimous invitation from has congregation to remain for another term. ' Mr W. P. Nolan, clerk in the railway goods office in Dunedin, has bean promoted to the position of statpimaster at Ngapara in succession to Mr Nichol, who retires on superannuation. At Queenstown on Thursday, 15th mst. (reports the Wakatip'u Mail) the employees of the Lake Steamer Service met to bid farewell to Mr J. M. Plato, one of their number, who has been in. the -service come. /eight car nine yeans, and' lias been tx&ns.i erred to Invercargill. Captain Kenned? presided, -and, on bahalf of the staff and ■of lakeside residents, presented -Mr Plato .tfith a. welMilled purse .cf sovereigns. - Two very old Maoris passed away at . Kaikerara daring the past; week— John Beatton nad Ihasa Te Awanui — both over , SO y<s«.r,3 -of age. They- were *well-lcnown, ' and could tell some interesting tales of tiie early Maori days. Beatton was intimate with Te Kooll. An. Auckland message states that the death occurred on the 22nd of Oapt. Walter Spencer Stanhope, late of the 19th Hussars, •on of Sir Walter Spencer Stanhope, of Cannon Hall. Barnsley, Yorkshire. Deceased, who had resided in Auckland for the last few years, -was owner of the yacht Hex, in which he made frequent cruises to various places on ' the North Island coast. Mr and Mrs Louis Becke, who have been staying in Auckland for some weeks, will '.leave by the Manapouri for Suva on the 28th inst. From Suva Mr Beoke will proceed to the Solomon Islands, to pursue his " .investigations for the British and German Royal Geographical Societies, while Mrs Becke, with her two daughters, will go on to Samoa, afterwards returning' to Auckland, to await Mr Becke's return. Mr G. G. Denniston, who has for the' past four months occupied the position of teller in the Alexandra branch of the Back of New Zealand, has been transferred to Lawrence, and left for his new position last week. During his short residence in Alexandra (says the Herald), Mr Denniston made many friends, having taken a prpaninent interest in football circles, and was >elso a member of the local dramatic society. Prior to his departure Mr Denniston was the recipient of a presentation of * case of pipas anii tobacco pouch from the- boarders of the Criterion Hotel and •other friends. Mr J. Richardson made the presentation, and in a neat speech referred to the social qualities of their guest and the regret felt at his departure from the town. . The late Mr Alexander Simpson, who •died recently at West Plains, Southland, at the age of 76 years, was a very old and respected resident. Arriving at Port Chalmers in 1859, he joined the police force, and rose to' the position of sergeant. When tho Tuapeka diggings broke out he joined in the rush to *he field, and wenH; through the stirring times of the early days of the field. Forty-two years ago he settled at West Plains, embarking - in farming, and had resided there ever since. A great hobby with him was tho t. making of bagpip^ef for which he won prizes at various exhibitions— at Melbourne, Uk 1888; India and Colonial Exhibition, in 1896; St. Louis Exhibition, 1329-90 j at the Dunedin Exhibition ; «nd finally at the New Zealand Exhibition, Christchurch, last year. He w«s- an ardent supporter of the Highland games, took prizes for dancing in his younger days, and had frequently officiated as judge. A solemn requiem mass for the repose -of the soul of the Rev. Father Geary, who lost his life while bathing at Tramore, Waterford, on August 26, was (says the «ew Zealand Tablet) celebrated at St. Joseph's Cathedral on Thursday morning of last week. The following further particulars of the sad fatality appeared in the Cork Examiner^ from its Waterford correspondent: — It seems that Faffhcr iGeary, who was a native of Mothel, or Ratgormiok, went to bathe -accompanied by' Fathers Nagle and O'Brien, of Waterford, and Father Coady, of Carriclc Neither of the two last-named could swim. While Father Naglc was dressing it was observed that Father Geary was in difficulties, and a boat was at once launched by boatman Keoghan and Kent, who immediately went and brought Father Geary in a very exhausted condition to shore, where he was given the last rites by Father Nagle. Drs Stephenson and O'Brien were quickly pn ' the scene, but their efforts proved unavailing, for Father Geary breathed his last come time afterwards. A verdict, of accidental drowning was returned. A cable message announces the death of Mr Herbert Flemming, the well-known actor. Mr Flemnring was last in Dunedin in April 'laet irith the company whioh played " The Morals of Marcus," *' Olivia." " The Mummy and the Humming Bird," so much to the delight of theatregoers. A Wellington, telegram advises that Mr R. L. Stanford, stipendiary magistrate at iWanganui, is about to retire. Mr Stanford, who is now 69 years of age, was once a well-known resident of Otago. He was vicar at All Saints, member of the firm of Stanlord and Milne, editor, or at least principal contributor, of the Evening Herald, principal of Orokanui Boys' College, and so on. He was appointed resident magistrate atNew Plymouth in 1894 or 1895, and was transferred to Wangaaui several years ago. Mr Samuel Coleman, a well-known Canterbury settler,, died on Saturday (says a Christohuroh ntessage) at Riverside, near lAniberley, at the age of 83. After the general election Sir W. J. Steward «nd Lady Steward will leave for South Africa on a visit to their son. The Greyniouth Star announces the death fast week of Mr John Patrick Griffen, father of the well-known boxers, Alfred, Charles, and John Griffen. / Dr A«ath» Adams, formerly of Dunedin «ad ftrieon. is about to take up the duties

of medical officsr to the Stratfo-Taieri district for about a fortnight aa locum « tenens to Dr Rosa Collier, wiH> is leaving for the southern lakes oa a weil-ceserved noliaay. Dr Collier is also medical otnoeT to taer consumptive sanatorium at Rook and Pillar, at which institution also Dr Adams will bo locum tenens.

The Hon. Oliver Samuel, M.L.C., New Plymouth, accompanied by Mrs Samuel, will leave New Zealand in January on an extended holiday tour. They will first proceed to Colombo, and afterwards spend a considerable time in Japan, China, &nd other p]aocs. They expect to he absent for some 18 months.

Having, agreed to the request of a number of electors to contest the Timfc.ru eeat at the coming election as an Oppositionist, Mr W. D. Campbell has resigned from the editorship of the Tirearu Herald. A private cablegram has been received i (says a Christchuroh me&sage) announcing the death at Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales; of Mr Sidney Buclriand Harris,jfor many years a resident of Little River, and a prominent figure on a number of lecal todies.

We learn that -the Rev. Andrew Allan, of Glasgow, an evangelist of no mean order, intends visiting New Zealand about Christmas- time. He is a gentleman of w/de experience, and Jias travelled largely in America, Canada, South Africa, Palestine, and Egypt. After three most successful pastorates the stirxincr life of the m^ssioner seized -him, , and, r emnkting the examples of Dr Daweon -and Dr Pentecost, he gave up his large 'Presbyterian Ghurch in favour of' -an .evangelistic campaign. In this ie has already had conspicuous success, and is - esteemed one of the foremost of mksioners in. the Presbyterian Cb-iweh. Mr Allan i« at present evangelising in Victoria, and intends being present at the Christian Convention, arranged on Keswick lines, to be hwid at Pounawea, Owaka (Otago), in the December holiday week. His next programme is a convention at Wanganui, to be followed by a mission in Invercargill in February. \ Mr Archibald Hodge, a well-known resident of Oamaru for many years, passed away on Friday morning at the age of 68. He was a native of Edinburgh, and first came to New Zealand with the Royal Engineers in 1863, servinig in the Maori war in the Taranaki, Tau-ranga, Wanganui, and Waikato dtistricte under Generals Cameron and Chute. After a few years he returned to Great Britain, purchased hia discharge, and returned to thie colony, eventually entering into business as a saddler in Oamaru nearly 55 yeans ago. He was a man of few words, but of integrity, and "his firm — Hod-go and Jones — became very well known. Mr- Hodg.e/'duTinig the lest few years lost' hia partner, his wife (a daughter of tho late Mir A. Symon, -of Ta:©ri), and his single invalid child. For some timo he has been in indifferent health, and his death was sot unexpected.

A New Plymouth wire announces the death, in his eighty-ninth year, of Mr W. K. Hulke, a very old settler, who may be regarded as tihe father of the dairy industry. The deceased landed in Wellington in 1840, and introdtrodti the first milch cows to that settlement. He had a small dairy iarm and market garden near the present suburb of. Ktlbirnie. In 1642 he erected the first Jiour mills at Wangaimi and New Plymouta. ■ We regret to hare to announce the death of Mr Harry &hximpton, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 41 years. Mr Shrimpton, who was very popular, had been ill for a few weeks, and some days ago this illness took a very serious turn. The cause of death was pleurisy and pneumonia. Mr Shrimpton was in the service of Messrs, Sievwright and James for many yeare. Early in 1907 he became •ecretary of the United Starr-Bowkett Building Society and sub-agent for the United Insurance Company, and he also carr : ed on business as land broker, financial agent, and sharebroker. He was also secretary of the Forbury Park Land Company. The Very Rev. Faithes O'Neill is (says the Bruce Herald) expected to return to Milton about the first week in December.

Ths- Rev. C. E. Davidson, Congregational minister, died at Auckland on •Sunday as the outcome of an attack of pneumonia. It has been decided (says an Auckland message) that the remains be interred at Maungatuoto, where Mr Davidson put in many years of faithful service.

The Yen. Archdeacon Harper, of Timaru, celebrates this month the fiftieth anniversary of Jus ordination as a priest of the Churoh of England, he having bsfen admitted to -holy "orders by hie father, the late Bishop Harper, at St. Michael's Church, in 1858. The clerical life of the archdeacon has been dedicated to service in Canterbury and on the Wcet Coast.

At tho ■ last meeting of the Maniototo County Council a. resolution wad passed expressing regret that it was Cr Logans intention not to offer .himself for nomination at the forthcoming election. A minuiewas passed placing on record the council's high opinion of the many services rendered by Cr'Lc^an in the administration of the affaire of the county, and for the interest he had always evi&eed in the initiation of successful efforts to secure local coiitrol of tho hospital and the distribution of charitable aid- The numerous nattering things said cf Cr Logan wore appropriately acknowledged by hinu