PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2884, 30 June 1909, Page 34

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The retrenchment scheme has affected Wyndham (says the . Farmer). Mr F. Urquhart, local stock agent, has , received notice that his services are to be diepensod with. Acting Captain -Joseph Johnston, Lieutenant Malcolm Francis, and Messrs James E. TaJleritire acd James Pringle, all ot Duntro'on, have* been appointed- trustees of the" Duntroon . Driilshqd Reserve. . . The "Oamaru Mail chronicles the death "at"- Christeimrch. of Mr John Pratt,., who•liveS for some years -at -Willowbridgev where he was regarded as a kindly, and. obliging neighbour and a cleHer and successful farmer. ! , • Mr J. P. Malcolm, who has just received word that he has been recommended for the position of head master of the Kaitangata- School, has (says our correspondent) - had charge of the N&seby Scncol for the last 18 years During that time Mr Malcolm has proved himself a most capable master and a popular citizen, and his departure will be keenly felt. Ali&a Ward, who aoccmc-Miied har parents to England, wi!) probably remain in London attea* they leave for New Zealand, and * return v.-ith Mr Vincent Ward, who is expected out in November. The death at Beaumon.r, is reported of Mrs Gilbert Taylor, a weH-lcnown resident, who. passed away on Sunday afternoon. She was" the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs G. H. Welsh. Mr Taylo? 16 left with two young ohildr-an, the eldest about two years and the youngest seven days old. The death is reported in t3ie Tuapeka Times of Mrs Johnston, wife of Mr David Johnston, a very old and highly esteemed r-seident of the Lawrenoa district. The deceased, who was in her sixty-eighth year, hod. been in indifferent health for some time, and the ond oamc om Monday evening, when &he peacefully passed to her rest. The Waifcahuna correspondent of the Tuapoka Times reports the death of Mr George M'Kenzie ; Th-:6 young man, who was serving his time as an engine-driver in Duncdin,' met with a slight" accident some time ago, andythougjh notihing- much vms thought of it at the time, yet he -never wae altogether himself- afterwards. Latterly he developed a fatal disease, .which carried him oif..afte^ a few; vvoeksi severe -iHncss. Afc'the annual meeting of the Milton Fire Board yon Monday, 21sfr inst., Mr'J. W. 1 ? 6 . the Governmennt nominee on the board, .was r-e-elected chairman. The ,Waimate Tiniest records the deathof 'Airs Ann Grigson, at fh© age of 84 years. The late Mrs Grigson, with her husband and two daughters, arrived in Timaru on February 14, > 1859, just over 50 r ycai-3 ago, Th© year following Mr Grigson' purchased 20 acres near the centre of the town of Waimat-e, for many years known as Grigson's paddock. On this property a cottage was erected, and hero Mrs Grigson resided to the end of her long life. My E. H. Wilmot, who has beon Commissioner of Crown Lands in Southland foj: nearly two ' year?, and has been appointed to a similar position for the Otago land distrior, was met on the 24th (says our correspondent) by the officers of the local -Lands and Survey Department and presented with a tea and coffee service and silver salver, subscribed for by the staff, members of the Lan/d Board, and private surveyors. It wns mentioned that there had been absolutely no friction in the office during the time Mr Wilmot .had been chief, and that he had won the regard" of tho officers and fcho respect and esteem of the Crown tenants and public generally. At the function Mr H. M. Skeet (from" Hokitika), who succeeds Mr Wilmot, was welcomed. On the 18th" inst. Mr E. P. Moir, stationmaster at Lovell's Flat, who is under orders to transfer to Dunedin, -was entertained at a social by the Ix>veii"s Flat and Hillend settlers, and presented with a travelling bag and dressing case combined. A musical and elocutionary programme was given by local amateurs-, and tne- valedictory speeches of the chairman (Mr Dunlop) and the gentleman who made the presentation (Mr .f. M-Donald) were of a distinctly complimentary nature. During Mr Moir's stay at' Lovell's Flat, by his uniform courtesy (as was said— to the child who went' to ' purchase a penny stamp, as well as to the settler who t) ucked his thousands of sacks of grain) he had made himself popular, and while upholding the regulations to the letter, yet did not act in any arbitrary or autocratic way. News has been received in Christchurch by cable of the death of Mr F. E. A Graham, brother of Mr Frank Graham^ 6en., of "the firm of F. Graham and Sons! About a wec-k ago Mr Frank Graham, sen., received news of the seviou3 illness of his brother, and determined at once to leave for London, and he is now on his way. a ?' c J3-^J 3 -^ Mr Graham went to Canierbm-v about 45 years ago, and was accountant for some time for Dalgety and Co. Subsequently lie represented Matheson's agency, and was in business for himself for some time. He was the first secretary cf the New Zealand Shipping Company. It is now som© 28 years since he left Canterbury to reside in London. Th"c dieath is reported of Mrs Aitoheson, an old and respected resident of Hampden. where- she had lived for upwards of 40 " years. She died alter a few days' illness. - le, is reported 1 m the Olutha Leader that Mr Edfrard Breeze, farmerlv of Waiwera, died at Manakau. He had resided 54£ years in New Zealand, and for 20 yeare waS in business as a- store-keeper at Waiwera. The Frea Press reports the eomowhat serious illness of the Rev. Henry H. Williams, Presbyterian minister at Waiweia

South. He Jias been confined to his bed 'for the last' fortnight, , and it is,, understood hat it will ba some timo befcae he is able to resume his duties. A Feildin^ message states that Mr W. D. Nicholas,, one of the oldest residents of the district, died early, on th© 25th inslant, aged 70. He was "for many years a builder , and coniractoa;, and afterwards a supervisor for, bridges, etc./ Mrs John M'Laren, of Roma<ha«3a, died suddenly on Wednesday, 23rd inst. She was (says the Clutha Leader)' only 35 years of age, and leaves a family of 10. Very great sympathy is felt for Mr M'Laren in his sad loss. . - Mr W. H. Feilder, who has been-manageir ' of the Bank, of New Zealand at Pelmerston . for the past six years, also having charge ! of the branches at Waikouaiti and Hamp- ! den, has resigned, and" is retiring from th© 1 service. The local Times says n:6 deparI tua-e will to regretted' by the eons*itoen.ts cf tho bank as well as by the general public. He is a keen bowler, and held the position of vica-president of the Palmereton Bowling Club. , The Kaitangata correspondent of the Free Press reports the death of Mr William Ramsay, a very old identity. Mr Ramsay arrived in Port Chalmers in the ship Nelson in 1875, a-nd shortly afteirwards went to ICa.Ltauga.ta, where he worked in a small- cool mine owned by. the late M.- "W. M._ Shore. When the compasny took over Mr Shore's mine' Mr Ramsay was^ still ami was " onfijc(3&d about" the ■ engines at the- time « f tho , explosion in 1879. - ii© waa one of the rescuers on t.hat terrible o-coaeion, and afterwarce foiiow-ecV , th<s occupaitioji of a minen till about 10years ago. , . - The eo-nvmiiftee appointed to perpetuate tht; memory of the late Mr James Lindsay, head master of the Oamaru North School, hae (says our corespondent) collected some £32. With this sum it was deckled to erect a memorial tablet in the school, -«vrocijre two photographic enlargements for the school, and endow two -annual prizes, "one each for boys and. girls, to be known as th-e JArAsay prizes. A public demonstration of the popularity of Constable Madden was made at Oamai-u on the 25th, when (says our correspondent) he was mot by a gathering of represent tetive townspeople and felicitated on his well-di3S9rved promotion, after unfaltering adherence to dwtr in Oamaru • extending over 20 yeare. His Worship the Mayor picsanted to Mrs Madidon a handsome srold rin.g 1 and a. weighty purse c? sovereigns, accompanied by just the right sentiments. Constable Madden, who has acted as • gaoler during much of hi.s etay in Oamairu. has been promoted ho Tvan'g.anui, and will he succeeded at Oamaru by Constable M'Artney, of Wellington. - Mr Cecil Andrews, Inspector-general of Schools, Western. Australia, intends paying a brief visit to New Zealand, arriving on June 30, with the object of investigating the New Zealand system of linking up primary and secondary- education. Mr J. Cowan, of 'the Tourist Department, and Mr G. Bissei\ of the Department of Agriculture, iirder the scheme of retrenchment, are to be transferred io the Printing- Office Depai-tment. Both , gentlemen have .been connected . wish fho issue of publications in their.- respective departments, ard it. is understood that ■ thsy wflUhave to undertake similar duties in their n^w sphere. Affei' over 30 years' service as a'volun- . teer fireman, Captain! Mainland has , forwarded liis resignation as _an active member of the brigade to the chaivma'.i of the Fire Board (says the Oamaru Mail), deeming such action necessary by reaeon of his advancing years. Captain Mainland is one of the best-known firemen in tho Dominion. He joined the local brigade as a. nr&ma/;) a-fc the time of its inauguration in May, 1879,^ and after a few months was appointed to 'the rank of captain, an office which he has held with honour to himself and credit to the community ever since. -"Captain Mainland has been awarded afc different, periods of his c^rvice the three • years' certificate, the fiv-o years' service modal from tb-T insurance companies, ih© gold star for 25 years' service from th*» association, and quite a dozen of clasps. At a special meeting of the Arthur Street School Committee on the 28th. all the members being- pr*"=«nt. it was aefved to recommend Miss Pilkington, at pre^nt at Roxburgh, for ths position of fifth assistant. At the conclusion of last meeting; of the Merton School Committee Mr A. Pryde re-r-eivod a presentation in the shapo of a handsome umbrplla from £'••? menjlwrs of the committee. Mr P. Whit" (chairman) made the TM-cf^ntation, and "in , doing fo eulogised Mr Prydc's many and valuahte cervices. 10 -the committee- throughout his 36 years of continuous service^ during- 18 years of which he occupied tho chair. ,Mr Pryde. in r-stylY. very heartily tj-an-ked- t.ho committee for remembering him on the occasion of his retirement. , %