PERSONAL ITEMS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 83

PERSONAL ITEMS,

Mr Horace Bastings has disposed of Iks property in InvercargiJl to Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M.. and lea-^es for Auckland towards the end of the month. It is Jlr Basnngs's present intention to settle down in the northern capital. One of Alexandra's earliest residents, in the person of Mrs James Rivers, died at that town on the 7th inst. Mrs Rivers was very well known throughout the district, and the funeral cortege at the Alexandra Cemetery on Saturday afternoon was a large and representative one. Captain Flaus, who has been a member of the Invercargill City Guards since 1875, and is now leaving the Southland district for Lake Hayes, was, after the last parade of the company, presented by Colonel Boyne with the Colonial Forces' auxiliary medal for 16 years' unbroken service, or 20 years' broken service. A special meeting of the "Wangamii Presbytery was held at Turakina on the 12th (says- the Press Association), when the call addressed by the First Church, Invercargill. to the Rev. R. M. Ryburn, of St. Paul's, Wanganui, was considered. After discussion the call was placed in the hands of Mr Rybarn, who accepted it. A resolution was carried placing on record the Presbytery's appreciation, of Mr Ryburn as a minister and a man. The pastoral tie will be severed on January 31. The Oamaru Mail reports that a painfully sudden death took place on Monday, 11th inst., rhe victim being Mi's Isabella Lineley Radford. wife of Mr W. J. B. Radlord, coaching foreman at the Oamaru Raihvay Station. The deceased lady went about her household duties in the morning in her usual hearty manner, there being not tha slightest indication of impending trouble. About 10 o'clock Mrs Radford retired, and about 15 minutes later complained to her husband of a choking feeling. Mr Radford at once went for medical assistance, and although only a few minutes elapsed > before hie return 'with the doctor his wife was dead. Death was due to heart failure. Mr Johnston Turnbull, of Dunedin, who, two years ago left for Angae College for training as a missionary, has completed his course, and, with bis intended wifo, Mks Underwood, has been accepted by the Bolivian Indian Mission. Mr Turnbull is to be married on January 22, and is expected in Dunedin on the 2nd proximo. A Welling-ton Press Association message announces the appointment by the Railway Department of Mr Mathieson (traffic inspector) to be stationmastcr at Timaru. Mr Graham, at present stationm^ster at Tdmaru, is on transfer. Permanent-way Inspectors Crutch and Day have retired on superannuation, and their places are to be filled by Inspector Voye (Aramoho), who will go to Hawera, and Ganger T. Lome- (Dunedin), who is promoted to be permanent-way inspector at Middlefnareh. Mr Walter Robertson, who has been railway stationmasrer at Wyndham during the past 18 months, has been promoted to the post of booking clerk at Bluff. Hi« successor will be Mr J. Patterson, from the Gore office. Pending the new stationmaster's arrival Mr James Aitken, of the relieving staff, is in charge at Wyndham. Mr J. A. Forbes, who went to Gore 25 years ago, while in the service of the Bank of New Zealand, and after a few years went into business as a bookseller, remaining there ever since, recently decided to retire and settle at Sawyers' Bay. On Tuesday evening he was met by a valedictory gathering representative of the Gere 'League of Service, the No-liecn«e League, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animale, and kindred bodies. Many complimentary things were said with respect to the zeal and energy displayed by him, many largely attributing the success of the no-license movement in Ma-taura to his efforts. The president of the league (Mr Hargest) presented Mr Forbes with a apade and a. pair of binoculars, and Mrs Forbes with a dressing-case, accompanied with wishes for their prosperity. , The following transfers in the second division of the Railway Department are notified:— J. Cunningham, guard, Balclutha to Dunedin; T. Pile, guard, Dunedin to Balclutha; C. M'Phc-rson. guard, Balclutha to shunter Oama.ru; A. J. Lowe, guard, Lawrence to Balclutha; I« . Barltrop storeman, Dunedin goods, to guard Lawrence; J. J. Doyle, storeman, Pahiatua. to Dunedin goods; P. C. Eailand, signalman, Wingatui, to guard, Clinton,; W. Black, porter, Dunodin, to Wino-atui; R. Stewart, porter, Wingatui, to shunter, Oamaru,; E. Barry, shunter, Kurow, to Oamaru; E. Connell, porter, Oamaru, to Kurow; P. J. Brown, porter, Dunedin goods, to Oamaru; T. G. Ferguson, stnreman, Weetport, to Dunedin goods; W. Charles, shunter, Sawvera Bay to Port Chalmers; D. F. Campbell, porter, Port Chalmers, to Sawyers' Bay; D. H. Waldie s'gnahnan. Abbotoford, to Alosj giol; A. D. Gibson, porter, Oamaru, to ! Abbotaford. T , The. rpsult of the election of Grand Lodge representative for tho South I^' IOOF., was made known on the 14th. iho , ot in ? - A -.i= a= follows:— J H Hinton, 231; \ H Yal^ntmo, 20* ; D. Swmton. 203; H L-u<=foinbf>, 160; L. Kemmtz, 132 ; J. M-Donakl, 80; H. Whjrte, 6* Tho fi.-st named four wore declared duly p,--<f.p<l. with L. Kemnitz as alteinat-\e representative. The Grand Ledge sits an. Chri»=tohurch in March next. It is the intention of tI ■> Bruce Kifie Tolunte-is l-ays the Bruce Herald) to tender S?rgrqnt Peattie a -ocia] evening jn d.ii<z: and Co.'s tea i'oots on WedniW iv 20th"in«t., in ordv'r to mark the occasion of thp e-ucoe-M ho attained by v inning th-3 championship at the retort Southland Rifle Association mcetirg. The appointments are gazetted (reports a "Wellington message) of Mi- Eeniy Kernher, of Wellington, to tbe Advances to Sorrier-.' Beard ; Mr Robert E llayr o 36 ren-i-irraj- of Iricci-pc-ated Sccieti^s; Mr Mr William Burgoviio Hi"X"i, at, piogf-nfc secretary of tbc G-overrmeiit Lifo In'-ur-ance Department. io b« a--'s«ant commi--bion«r; Mr Aloxai.dcr Wli. ticy to h" inspector of Mines for the West Og.--+, Nelson, and Marlboiouph di-nict^. The following chdntr»a in t1.3 li'ihtliou-ve ©eivice hj.\e been dscid^d upon oor.^ecpient on th-5 retirement on superaniiii-ttjon, through ill-health, of Piincipal Keeper Dcrii : — Asswtaiit Keeper Duthie, from

Centre Island to th© charge of the Moki- | kmau station, and to bs succeeded at Centre Isl-and by Mr Te Pene, who has just joined the service ; Principal Keeper M'Neil, from Mokikinau to Akaa'oa Heads ; Principal Keeper Paring-ton, from AJoaroa Heads to Nugget Point ; Principal Keeper Field, from Nugget Point to Portland t Island; Principal Keeper M'Leish, from Portland Island ifco Moeraki ; Principal ; Keeper Hart", from Mcenaki to Egmont. ■ Mr J. C. Ga\in, who died at Wellington on the 14th at the age of 73, joined the civil , service in 1840, and went from the Defence Department to the Treasury Department on i March 1, 1860. On July 1. 1874, he was appointed accountant to the Treasury and j secretary to the Commission, of Public t Debts Sinking- Funds. In 1878 he was j promoted secretary to the Treasury, Re-ceiver-general, and Paymast-er-genaroJ. On August 18, 1890 he was appointed Controller and Auditor. In May, 1905, Mr Gavin was granted six months' leave of absence owing to ill-health, and went to England, but unfortunately did not derive much. benefit from the trip. On November 1, 1906, he retired from the public service on pension. He was one of the meet capable and respected of the public servants. Mr James F. Coull, of the firm of Couils and Culling (Limited), passed away at his residence. Roslyn, on the 14th. He was born in London in 1834, and, with his two brothers, learned the printing tra<3e. They started a newspaper and general printing business in London in the year 1860, and this they carried on successfully for 10 years. On account of the failing health of Mr William Coull, the three brothers decided to sell out and come to New Zealand to enter into business. They landed in Dunedin in 1870, and when their plant arrived they started a general printing business under the title of Coull Bros., and quickly secured a good share of the busy printing trade of those days, among ' other things obtaining the contract for printing the Provincial Government Gazette. The business steadily progressed, and the firm, as is well known, became associated with the Mataura Paper Mills, in which they acquired an interest. The increase in their business and the admission j to the partnership of sons of two of its < , members caiised the merging of the firm j into the present company, Couils, Culling, and Co. (Limited), with its head office in Dunedin and a branch in Wellington. The late Mr J. F. Coull took an active part in the control of the business until the last two or three years, when advancing &%& caused him to ' practically relinquish very active work. He leaves a widow and one son (Mr H. Coull, of Wellington) and one daughter (Mrs Mandeno, of this city). A Hokitika message announces the death of Mr Owen M'Guigan, one of the okfesfc identities of Westland. A Nehon message states that the Rev. W. G. Baker, vicar of Brightwater, has been appointed Archdeacon of Waimea, in succession to the late Archdeacon Wright. Mr Graham, stationmaster at Timaru, who is being succeeded by Mr J. P. Matheeon, late traffic inspector at Dunedin, is to be the sfcationmaster at^Port Chalmers, where he was located some years ago. Mr Brownell, who is at present in charge of the Port station, will succeed Mr MatheBon as traffic inspector. : Our Wellington correspondent says that Mr D. M. Luckie, deputy-commissioner of the Government Life Insurance Department, - has retired on superannuation after 30 years' service. Mr W. B. Hudson, who succeeds Mr Luckie, has been in the service for over a quarter of a century. Our correspondent adds that Mr Hudson is a thoroughly reliable and capable publio servant, and the appointment is an excellent one. A venerable Highland lady, Mrs Margaret M'Donald, of Mokoreta, who reached tho age of 89 years, died on NewYear's Day. Mrs M'Donald, with her family, came to New Zealand in 1873, and settled in tho Mokoreta district in 1882. The M'Donalds (says tho Wyndham Farmer) were among the first settlers in that district, which was then practically a terra incognita. The Palmerston Times reports that at Mount Royal Station, on Thursday, 7th inst., the employees met to say good-bye to Mr and Mrs Allan, who will shortly ha leaving the station. Mr Allan has acted as manager of the estate for the past three yeaiu, and the esteem in which he is held by th-e employees wai made manifest, every person employed on the station being present. During the evening Mr Allah was presented with a hand*om© travelling bag, suitably inscribed, and Mrs Allan was the recipient of a valuable travelling rug. At the Mosgiel Woollen Company's warehouse on the 14th Mr J. Dryden, who has recently resigned hie position as mill manager, and who has already been presented by the mill workers with a handsome gold watch as a token of their esteem, was made the recipient of another presentation from the s-taff. This took the form, of a massive barometer, and also a hall dressing stand. Mr Ewen Cameron, the general manager, in a happy and eulogistic speech, referred to Mr Dryden's long service to the company and to tha great ability he had shown in the management of the mill during 35 years. Mr Nicolson slid Mr Allan also spoke on behalf of the staff in appreciation of Mr Dryden's many good qualities, and exprrs-^ed rear ret that, through the woijrht of increasing- years. he had felt it necessary to resign his duties. Mr Dryd'Mi, in a few well-chosen words, t!iauk< d the starf for their handsome tokon of esteem, which would always remind him cf the pleasant relations which had existed between the staff and himself. Three hearty cheers for Mr Dryden brought to a 010.->e a very pleasant function. A London niPi.sat>c advises that Mr Jenkin Jones has been elected to succeed Mr G. N. Barnes. M P., as general secretary of Hie Amalgamated Society of Kng-ineers. Mr dlcorge .Sievwright, well known for many yrais in local commercial and musical circle*, loft la.st week for Now York, where he intends to take up his permanent residence. Mr John Graham, M.P. for Xel=on, who celebrated his sixty-Mxth birthday on Mondxy ia^r, cycled from N-^l=on to Chri-t-church lij way of t!;e Wsst Coa^t ar.d Otira Gorprr> during the New s>ar holiday;. A C'hri-uhurch mc= : a;'o ieport- the death of Mr Francis Ai^r.a.-. Kp;nn-h Vice Con=ul for Chn-'tchurch ; a a<-<l 67. Ihe deceased \\«s for n.aiiy jcars a leading hotclkceper in that city. An Auckland m-es-^cre states that Howard BueVkn. of Wellington, won a scholarship guinea three yeais' tuition in the Sacred Heart Colic,";', Auckland. The scholarship

[ was open, to the whole of the MariS, 1 schools in the Dominion. Many, especially those concerned witt. scholastic afiairs, will hear with regret ols the sudden death of Mr James Lindsay, head master of the Oamaru North School. Mr Lindsay had been spending the holidays with some "friends at Moeraki under canvas. • On Friday night about 9 o'clock he was . seen to be in his usual health, but early 015 ; Saturday morning it was found that he had 1 expired during the night. He suffered! from heart disease, a fact of which he wap aware. Tho deceased gentleman was bora ai Banholm, Kincardineshire, in 1847, and' ! was educated at the Johnshaven Publio School, where he served an apprenticeship i of five years. He wa3 intended to underj take a scholastic career, but his health was such that a sedentary occupation was unsuited to d\im, and lie was advised to go; abroad. With this object in view he con' templated a seafaring life, but one or two trips so restored him, and New Zealand* had such attraction for him, that he ventured again along the walk in life which he had first trod, and settled in Dunedin in 1870, where he joined the Otego Education Department as second assistant at the Dunedin Middle School, a position which he held for four years with signal success,, so that he gained rapid promotion as first as- ' sistant first at the High Street School (then situated in William street), and afterwards at the Normal School. In 1879 he went to Oamaru to undertake the care of tho Oamaru North School, and he filled that post for the past 30 years. Mr Lindsay took high rank as a teacher, his organising ability being very great, and he had th« faculty of endearing his pupils, who ins variably became firm friends in after lifer He was first lieutenant of the Oamaru Naval Corps at its inception ; and was always keen on Volunteering, being majo* of tho local Cadet battalion. He was a. Past Master of the Lodge Waitaki, and for some years an office-bearer at St. Paul's ' Church. He is survived by Mrs Lindsay and four sons and three daughters. Mr J. Grattan Grey and Mrs Grey are at ipresent on a short holiday trip to Dunedint from Australia. Mr and Mrs Lampert,, of Oreti, celebrated their golden wedding on Christmas I Day. In the course of his reply to the felicitations, Mr Lampert mentioned that he and his wife were one of 30 couplea married in the same ohurch that Christmas morning 50 years ago. The Milton Mirror understands that tho Very Rev. Father O'Neill will not return to Milton. He has entered the novitiate of the Redemptorist Fathers in Limerick. The work of this celebrated congregation, founded by St. Alphonsus Ligueri, i 3 entirely devoted to giving missions. The death is recorded in Oamaru of Mr John Symington, at the age of 55 years. He was a dyer by trade, and came from Selkirk, Midlothianehire, in 1883, to tho Oamaru Wcollen Mills, 'where he was engaged till he resigned a few months ago. Ho was art althlete in his younger days, and later was a successful angler, a breeder j of prize poultry. He was also a prominent ! Oddfellow. The Rev. Jones M. Myers, minister of the Jewish synagogue at Brisbane, died lasfc week; aged 82 years. He founded in Ade- • iaide. in 18*9. the -first Sabbath school and the Jewish Young Men's Literary Assopia- ! tion. ! By the last English mail Messrs J. and 1 N. Tait received the news of tho death ok \ Mr Walter Brearley, who was a member of i the Besses o' th' Barn Band, and on tho recent tour of Australia and New Zealand by this organisation made many friends in this part of the world. Mr Brearley died 1 in Manchester a few weeks ago. j Mr J. Campbell, who has been attached! ] to the locomotive staff at Palmerston for j the past two years, is under orders to proceed to Gisborne. On Wednesday even.' ing last (says the loca.l Times) Mt Camip* bell was met by the local railway employees and presented with a handsome travelling bag, suitably inscribed. The presentation was made by the stationmasfer (Mr Cameron), and Mr Campbell suitably re- ; sponded.