PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2967, 25 January 1911, Page 34

PERSONAL ITEMS.

4t a special meeting of the Clutha Pres- | bytery, held at Milton on Tuesday, 10th ■■ imst., Mr T. N. Cuttle, a licentiate of the Church, accepted a unanimous call from the Milburn congregation, and the ordination was fixed for the let of February at ' half-past 6 o'clock. Advice from England states that Miss Elizabeth Shand, youngest daughter of Professor Shand, has received the diploma of L.R.A.M., London. Miss Shand also holds the leaving certificate of the Stuttgart Conservatiuro, so that she has the distinction of having satisfied the requirements of both the English and the German schools of music. Writing of the death of ex-Police Inepec- : tor Pardy, the Taranaki Daily News reI marks:—" After his promotion here he | arrested Titokowaru and other Maori chiefs i for ploughing up the settlers' land on the I Waimate Plains, and subsequently he I undertook the " second siege of Parihaka i with a handful of police, taking Te Whiti, and gaining for himself the name among the Maoris of " General Pardy." These were very anxious times for him, and his duties led him to undertake many long rides (attended generally by Constable Scully, whose death occurred only a week or two ago) at night, so that the Maoris j began to regard him as a, taipo, so unexpectedly did he turn up where least expected and so accurately did he anticii pate their movements. As a conductor of ! criminal prosecutions he was almost witnj out equal in the Police Force, and his conj 6piouous services were on many occasions I referred to by Ministers. In July, 1887, , Mr Balliance. when addressing his conj stituents, said that " the colony was greatly indebted to one man, who had carried out the administration of Native affairs on the West Coast—he referred to Inspector Pardy,—for the great courage and discrimination he bad 6hown, and for the marvellous success that had attended his efforts in getting the Natives under control." Mr T. H. Wilson, chief clerk in tihe I Lands branch of the Government Railway i Department, who has recently been ap- : pointed a judge of the Native Land Court, is a half-caste Maori, and will be the first man of Maori blood appointed as judge of 1 the Land Court. I Local papers record the death of another

old pioneer of the Gore district, Mr George Taylor. Deceased, who was in his seventieth year, had been ailing for some time, but it waa only about three months ago that the state of his health caused h:s family enxiety. Mr W. G. * Grave, of Oamaru, and Mr A. T. Talbot, of Greymouth, who, in. company with Mr A. Lyttle, of Gore, have been engaged on their annual explorations in the mountainous country of tbe Southern Lakes district, arrived in Dunedin- on fcho 18th instant. They report the discovery of a new direct route from Lake Wakatipu to Milford Sound that will materially reduce the time occupied in journeying between these two points. The route is practically the same as that discovered by this party last year, but it eliminates the chief difficulties of that reute. It involves the negotiation of a pass 5000 ft in height, but the members of the party were able to carry 201 b swags with them, and the practicability of the route is shown by the fact that they returned by it in a dense fog. The party also accomplished the ascent of Mount Balloon, which has not previously been successfully attempted. George Williams, the one-time famous forward, who represented Wellington, for several years, and was a member of the Native football team that visited England, has been spending his holidays in the south, and has this week been visiting Dunedin He is now stationed at Marlborough, and looks almost as fit as he was in his football days.

A Ohristchurch message reports that the death has been, announced of Mrs Jane Deans, relict of Mr John Deans, of Riccarton, one of the original settlers of the Canterbury Plains. The late Mrs Deans was the eldest daughter of Mr James MTlraith, of Anchenfiower, Ayrshire. She was married in September, 1852, and with her husband arrived at Lyttelton in the Minerva on February 2, 1853. She shared the privations and hardships of the pioneer days, and to the last preserved all her faculties. Mr and Mrs Chalmers, of "Maryfield," Waiwera South, celebrated their golden weddin;g on January 3, in the presence of friends, family, and grandchildren. M.r Frank A. Worley, of Nelson, formerly a school teacher there, has been accepted as a missionary by the China Inland Mission, and left by steamer on the 18th instant for his life's work in China. Intimation has been received at Queenstown of the death at Suva of Mr Leslie John Walker, father of Mrs Packe, of Queenstown, and of Mrs Kemrick. Mr Walker was for 25 years Colonial Postmaster at Fiji, retiring on pension in 1905. The Wyndham Herald announces the death of Mrs Stalker, which occurred at Seaward Downs on Wednesday night. Mrs Stalker and her late husband came to the country in 1873 in the ship Peter Denny, in which her whole family came excepting Mr Donald Stalker and Mrs Watson, who arrived earlier. They went to the Wyndham district in 1874, in which year her husband died. For 23 years upward she had lived at Seaward Downs. Deceased (who was in her ninetieth year) was born in the parish of Killean, Kilkenzie, near Campbelltown, • Argyllshire. She died full of years and full o£ honour. The Oamaru Mail records the death of Mr W. H. Valpy, which occurred at his eon's residence, Thames street, on Thursday. He was well known and highly respected throughout Otago, and in no portion more so than in North Otago, where he formed several business connections, and where he was resDected by all for his uprightness and integrity- The deceased gentleman arrived, with his parents, from the Old Land by the ship Ajax, landing on Januarv 8, 1849, and was given by his father "the management of a run at Waihola, which the latter had purchased prior to leaving England. In 1852 Mr W. H. Valpy shipoed the first fat stock sent oyer water from" Otago to Canterbury and himeelf accompanied by two shepherds, returned to Otago on horseback, a feat never before accomplished. In 1855 Mr Valpy became proprietor of the Maerewhenua Station. Relinquishing Maerewhenua, he nurchased, in 1856, the Oamaru and Upper Taipo runs, but in consequence of a severe accident he was compelled to sell these properties. He afterwards acquired the Patearoa run, in the Upper Taieri, and in 1860 sold it to the late Dr Buchanan. After that Mr Volpy lived in retirement until 10/4, when he was appointed Crown lands ranger for the northern portion of Otago, but retired from the position in 1888, when he and his familv took up two runs at the head of Lake 'Wakatipu, afterwards selling th'-se properties. In the early sixties Mr Valpv was made a justice of the peaoe, and he acted as Sergeant-at-Arms in the Otago Provincial Council during the time that Mr Julius Vogel was Provincial Treasurer. He was married in 1858 to Penelope Caroline, daughter of the late Mr S. F. Every of Silver Acres, Anderson's Bay, Dunedin He is survived by a family of four sons and three daughters. He celebrated his seventy-ninth birthday only a few days ago A Sydnev message advises the death ot the Rev. Albert Pearse, a veteran South Sea Islands missionary. Sir James Mills arrived in Dunedin on Friday levening. Lady Mills and Miss Mills are staying in ChrLstchurch for a fortnight. Miss Natalie Allen, who headed the list for the Dominion in the junior civil service examination, is a daughter of Mr B. B. Allen, chief clerk of the Government Printing Office, and a pupil at the Wellington Girls' College. Three years ago Miss Allen topped the list for the Dominion in the junior Queen's scholarship competition. A London cablegram advises that Marie Lohr was a great success in Sir A. W. Pinero's light comedy " Preserving Mr Panmure." A Christehurch message states that the death occurred on Saturday of Mr Alexander Cra-croft Wilson, at the age of 70 vears. The late Mr Wilson was the second eon of the late Sir John Cracroft Wilson. C. 8., and was for some years connected with the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch, then under the management of the late Mr J. L. Coster. Subsequently he entered into partnership with Mr Henry Sawtell under the style of Wilson, Sawtell, and Co., who traded for some time as general merchants. For a good many years Mr Wilson held the nost of registrar of Canterbury College, till failing health compelled him to resign. He then retired into private life. For some two or three years past Mr Wilson was an invalid. Mr and Mrs Arthur E. Wall entertained the directors and staffs of the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company and the Australian Alliance Assurance Company at a garden party at "Tatiara," Hopetoun road, Malvern, Victoria, on a recent Saturday afternoon. Occasion was taken by the Melbourne directors of both corn-

panies to present Mr Henry Walkley (submanager of the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company), who has been recently appointed manager for New Zealand for both companies, with a silver rose bowl and jardinieres as a mark of their esteem and good wishes. Mr A. T. Danks and Mr Geo. Lush, in making the presentation on behalf of the directors, expressed their high appreciation of Mr Walkley's business ability and ptarsonal character, and their confidence in his successful management in New Zealand. A further presentation of a silver salver and dress suit case was made by Mr Creswell on behalf of the staff of the London and Lancashire and associated companies, together with a handsomely illuminated address. Music was rendered during the afternoon by De Gilio's Band, and an excellent musical programme was rendered by members of the staff. Dr F. Fitohett, Public Trustee, is at present in Dunedin on departmental business. An Invercargill message states that among the passengers by the Warrimoo from Melbourne, which arrived at Bluff on the 23rd, was Archbishop 01 ark, of Melbourne, who is on a short tour of the Dominion, Rotorua being hie objective. The Gore papers state that Mr Robert Fraser, head master of the Knapdale School, has tendered his resignation to the Education Board in order to enter the military training camp at Wellington under the new defence scheme. Mr L. M. Tanscy, clerk in the local Magistrate's Court, has been promoted to the position of clerk of the court at Cromwell. On Saturday last he was presented bv the staff of the court with a travellingbag. Mr J. Miller, eWk of the Police Court, made the presentation. Our London correspondent writer on December 16 stating that Bishop Neligan, who had then been in Ertgland about a fortnight, had been obliged, on the advice of his medical attendants, to decline the invitation from the Bishop of Manchester to undertake the work of missioncr in that diocese. Since reaching England Bishop Neligan has been staying in Devon, where he has taken a house for the winter. He was met on- arrival by the offer from the Manchester diocese, and was anxious to accept it if the state of his health permitted. Some changes have recently taken place in the staff of Messrs Wright, Stevenson, end Ce. (Ltd.). Mr H. A. Price has been transferred from the Balfour agency to act as manager at Edendale (which now becomes a branch instead of an agency); Mr John Evans (assistant in the stock department at the Invercargill office) succeeds Mr Price at Balfour, and Mr John Maoclonald (of the Kelso office) fills the vacancy at Invercargill, being replaced at Kelso by Mr George Gardener (of the Gore office). The late Mr John Kinder, whose death is recorded at Balclutha, was born in Bedford, England, in 1839, and immigrated to Australia in 1855. For many years he engaged in gold-mining in Australia and Otago with good success, and finally settled down as a farmer at Stony Creek, where he carried on farming and contracting till 1901, when he sold out and went to live in retirement at Balclutha. The late Mr Kinder married a daughter of Mr James Nelson, of Lovell's Flat, and had a family of six sons and four daughters, most of whom had a distinguished career at college. The second daughter is married to Mr Jasper Cla.rk, member of Bruce County Council, of Lovell's Flat. The Rev. P. B. Fraser, who has been pastor of the Lovell's Flat charge for 14 years, and is now leaving for the North Island to assume the position of superintendent of Presbyterian home mission stations, was tendered a valedictory social at Lovell's Flat on Friday evening. There was a very large attendance. Mr William Clark officiated as chairman, end among those present were Rev. S. W. Currie (Balclutha), Rev. W. W. Brown (Stirling), Rev. R R. M. Sutherland (Kaikorai). Rev. James M'Caw (Lower Hutt, Wellington), Rev. J. U. Spence (Waihola), Rev. R. Fairmaid (South Dunedin), Mr John M'Caw (Norsewood, North. Island)) and Mr W. Eudey (Forbury School, Dunedin). The fullest recognition was expressed of the faithful work done by the rev. gentleman during his castorate. Successive speakers gave testimony to Mr Fraser's devotion to duty, and his able and fearless exposition of the truth. The esteem in which he is held in the district also found tangible expression in the gift of a purse of sovereigns, which was presented by Mr Charles Bowie, sen. Mr Fraser made a characteristic and feeling replv. in the course of which he is reported to have said that he was supposed to be one of those men who were never at oeace unless at war, and was always searching for someone's scalp; but it showed good judgment on his part that he always conducted "foreign" wars. There was no minister bad a more harmonious congregation than himself at Lovell's Flat; there bad nsver been any " wars." although some pople thought his chief occupation was "making it'hot " for other people without reference to the needs of the situation. Concluding, he said his stav at Lovell's Flat had enriched his life, and he would ever remember the manifold deeds of kindness extended to himself, wife. _ and family durinsr their residence in the district. Mr W. R. G. Mearns, who has long been closely associated with ambulance work in Dunedin. was. at the close of the day's work at the railway goods sheds on the 23rd. presented with a handsome and substantial leather case containing a very complete ambulance kit. A plate on the case bore the following inscription:—" Presented-_to W. R. G. Mearns, Esq., by the employees of the Railway Goods Department and various wool and produce houses, and carrying comnanies at Dunedin, in grateful recognition of many years of unselfish and invaluable services rendered gratis to the injured.—January, 1911."