PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 74

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A London message advises that Lieutenant T. E. Esoourt, of the Royal Scots Greys, has been appointed extra aide to Lord Islington. Mr S. G. Smith, jun., LL.B., has been elected president of the Otago University Students' Association for the ensuing year.

Mr Val. Johnson, assistant general manager of the. Union Steam Ship" Company, has been appointed manager for Tasmania, and will be located at Hobart. Mr C. H. Hughes, who is at present at Hobart, is to be transferred to Dunedin, where he will take up the position of acting secretary. The many friends of Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P., will be pleased to learn that there k every prospect of his restoration to good health in the I immediate future. He reoonitly visited his son, Dr M a^°°lm Thomson, who is in charge of the hospital at Hawera, and after consultation decided to undergo an operation. The operation was performed on the Bth, and on the 9th the chairman of Mr Thomson's Election Committee received a telegram that it had been a success.

A Greymouth message reports the death on the 9tih of Mr Hanwell Williams at the age of 76 years! H© went to Greymouth in 5865, and was in business as a chemist until six years ago, when he was said to be the oldest surviving chemist in New Zealand. On March 23 last he celebrated his golden wedding. Mr Williams took a, keen interest in the welfare of the town, and.was highly respected l throughout the Coast. He leaves a widow and three sons.

At the first statutory meeting of the newly-elected Gisborne Harbour Board on the 10th. Mr John Townley was (says a Press Association message) ne-elected chairman. Tho board now consists of 15 members.

At the. annual meeting of the Greymouth Harbour Board Mr Felix Campbe!! was (says a Press Association message) unanimously re-elected chairman and warmly eulogised for his strenuous and successful work during the past year. It" is reported by our Wellington correspondent that m, oablegram has been received announcing the death, at Santander, Spain, of Mr Adam H. F. Johnston, son of the Hon. C. J. Johnston, M.L.C. Deceased, -who was 33 years of age, was educated at Wanganui College, and afterwards entered the Royal Navy. Subsequently he returned to New Zealand, and for the last few years resided in Spain..

The death is reported at Inveroargill of Mr William Henry Mitchell, in his 80th year. He was one of the Gabriel's Gully pioneers in 1861, and settled at Invercargill in 1863, afterwards settling at Kennington, where he farmed some land. He is survived by one son, Mr Walter Mitchell, of Auckland, a l '' ,!i daughters, Mrs N. J. M. Rein, of ~-v^-cargill,' Mrs Geo. Searle, of Queensto"' klrs W. H. Sebo~ of Invercargill, and Mrs Manson, of Riversdale. Mr W.-J. Crawford, who was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, has taken the degree of Doctor of fc'cienee in engineering. This is an honour which is held by not more than a dozen people in Great Britain. He has also written a textbook on " Graphic Statics," which is being published by Messrs Griffin, of London, and has also a book in the press on " Technical Education." Mr. Crawford some years ago contributed several articles to the Otago Witness.

The Dunstan Times records the death of Mr J. S. Sheehy, a welhknown resident of Clyde. Mr Sheehy pursued the occupation of mining for a number of years, but of late years turned his attention to fruitgrowing, and gained a reputation for producing remarkably fine fruit. In his capacity as correspondent to several newspapers the deceased gentleman was a strong advocate of the fruit-growing industry in Central Otago, and (fie ocular demonstration he gave of its possibilities was a great factor in inducing others to follow his example. Mr Sheehy, who was only 58 years of age, had been in failing health for some considerable time.

On the occasion of the retirement of Mr Andrew Young after 31 years' continuous service as head, master of the Bluff Public School, a complimentary concert was tendered to him by ex-pupils of the school last Friday night in the Drill Hall, which was crowded to the doors with an assemblage of pupils, ex-pupils, parents, and friends. Tho chair was occupied by Dr Torrance,

present chairman of the School Committee. After many speeches had been made in praise of the retiring teacher's valuable services, the chairman handed to Mr Young a gold watch bearing the inscription: "Presented to Mr A. Young by the pupils, ex-pupils, parents, teachers, and committee of tho Bluff Public School as a mark of esteem and appreciation of his long and honourable services as head master, 18801911"; also, conjoined with Mrs Young, a silver tea set and hot water kettle. There was a very large gathering of residents of Bruce and Clutha at Bailclut'ha on Friday, sth inst.,' to bid farewell to Mr Sinclair Wiight and Mre Wright, who are leaving for Miller's Fiat to take up one of the Ormaglado runs. Tho Mayor (Mr E. J. Boyd) presided, and during the proceedings presented Mr Wright with an inscribed gold watch and Mrs Wright with a gold watch and chain.

Mr James Ledgerwood, one of the old Gabriel's Gully pioneers,, who arrived on that goldfield in October, 1861, and has been a resident of Dunedin for nearly 40 years, is about to pay a visit to England, after an absence of 58 years. Mr LedgerWQcd is going by the Scharnhorst, which leaves Sydney on May 20, and he hopes, to be back in Dunedin by November next. Mrs Harris was tendered a farewell social at Ranfurly on Friday, sth inst, about 100 friends being present. During the evening Mr J. Law, jun., in a very appropriate speech, presented Mrs Harris with a gold watch, suitably inscribed. Mrs Harris feelingly replied. Mr J. Millar rendered a song which was much appreciated,, and dancing was kept up with vigour till the early hours of Saturday morning. Miss TWnshend, who for the past two years has been sole teacher in the LauderBecks School, but who, on account of tho falling attendance, has resigned her position, was entertained by the residents at a social and dance in Becks Hall and presented with a very handsome silver oak© basket, suitably inscribed. Mr Howjohns, chairman of the School Committee, who made the presentation, spoke very highly of Mis? Townshemd's abilities as a- teacher, and expressed the general regret felt by all concerned at her departure. Mr R. Wilson suitably replied on behalf of Miss Townshend.

At a meeting of graziers, buyers,, anr] others who were in attendance at the Burnside sales on the 10th, feeling [reference was made to the tragically sudden death ol Mr Wm. Kirk, at the Taieri, on Tuesday. Mr T. Smith, who presided over the meeting, said he was sure ho was voicing the feelings of everyone present when he said, how diseply they regretted Mr Kirk's death. Mr Kirk was a frequent attender at the Burnside sales, and was widely known and universally esteemed. A vote of condolence with Mrs Kirk and family was passed, and will be forwarded to Mrs Kirk. The death of Mrs M'Neil. at Balclutha, removes (says the Clutha Leader) a link that bound the earliest history of Balclutha with the present. .She was a sister of the lato Rev. Dr Bannerman, and came out from 'Scotland with him in the ship Oamaru (Captain Strang) about the year 1876, on the occasion of his visit to the Old Country. She married, in 1878, the late Mi; John M'Neil. For neairly 10 years after that they lived at Sawyers' Bay, but returned to Balclutha in 18S8, where she, resided ever since. Her husband died on the 31st January four years ago. The late Mrs M'Neil was a most accomplished and highly educated woman. She was for a considerable time ir. Holland, and could talk Dutch as well as her mother tongue. Indeed, some of her last utterances were in that language, bygone days no doubt crowding in upon her mind.

Constable Macartney, who has been gaoler in Oamaru for about two years, has (says our correspondent) been transferred to Mornington, and will bo succeeded by Sergeant M'Grath, of Bluff. Miss Grace Palotta, having received advice by cable of the illness of her mother, left Dunedin on Thursday morning for the north, en route to Aubtralia, where she will catch the steamer Osterley, bound for Europe. Mr R. S. C. Brown, B.Sc, A.M. Inst., C.E., an old Otago University student, who is a son of Mr William Biown, of " Dalpeddar," arrived in Dunedin last week on a brief visit from India. For the last 18 months Mr Brown has been acting as professor of engineering in the College of ■Science, Pcona; and has taken the opportunity afforded by a vacation to make- a brief visit to his home. Mr Brown will leave again this week to return to his duties in Poona.- ~".:

The Southland papers report the death of Mr John Milne, at the ago of 65 years. Mr Milne arrived at. the Bluff in 1863, and became a contractor. In 1878 he became a hotelkeeper at Wyndham. Then ho removed to Alexandra, where he kept the Bendigo Hotel. Then he became - landlord successively of the Shamrock, Hotel at Invercargill, the Marine at Port Chalmers, and the Ranfurly Hotel, at Ranfurly. A couple of months ago he retired into private life, and resided.at North-East Valley. He was a member of a large family well known in Southland.

Mr John Stewart, who has been stationmaster at Mosgiel for the past six years., has retired on superannuation. Mr Stewart joined the service in July,- 1878, on the opening of the railway to Palmerston, his first appointment being porter at that station. He lias filled the positions of stationmaster at a number of places in both islands, and was a widely-known and popular officer in the service. On Wednesday evening Mr Stewart was presented by the railway ./employees of the Duuedin and Mosgiel district with a sovereign case, well filled, a presentation of a rug being made to Mrs Stewart. Mr A. W. Kirton, chief clerk at Gore, fills the vacancy at Mosgiel. Mr W. Fisher, of the Dunedin Telegraph Department, has been appointed postmaster at Lawrence. Mr W. Alexander, head master of the North-East Harbour School, has bean appointed teacher of English and mathematics at the Dunedin Technical School, and takes up his duties on June 1. At the services held on Sunday in the East Taieri Presbyterian Ohureih very feeling reference was made by the minister (the Rev. A W. Kinmant) to the sad death of Mr W. Kirk, East Taieri, who, the speaker said, was a most regular attender, with his family, at divine worship, and who never missed the communion services.

A Timaru message states that Mr John Kelland, a member of the well-known family of sheep-breedctrs, is retiring- from farming after 35 years at Kaka.hu. He was presented with a mark of esteem by a num-

ber of old friends. In making the presentation, Mr John Talbot made interesting' remarks on the different estimation in which farmers were held to-day a<nd when Mr Kelland began farming. In those days farmers were not considered as the " backbone of the country," but as interlopers, and were contemptuously called cockatoos by the runholders whom they were displacing.

Mr Leslie H. Reynolds, 0.E., who has returned to reside in Wellington, has been requested by the Wangaaiui Harbour Board to report an>d advise upon extension of the present harbour works, and upon a basis for Admiralty large ocean-going steamers to enter the port. Quito a cloud of sadness was cast over the Beaumont on Sunday week wihen the death of the longest resident of the Beaumont, in the person of Mrs Sarah Borthwick, became known. Mrs Borthwiek was born in Leeds in 1839, and was married in 1862, and, therefore, but for the unforeseen, would have celebrated a golden wedding in August, 1912. She came to New Zealand in the Edward P. Bouvcrie in 1868 with her husband and two children. Upon arrival at Port Chalmers they made their way to the Beaumont, where Mrs Borthwiek had resided ever since, and where 11 of her 13 children were bourn and reared. The deceased is mourned by her husband, two daughters (Mrs Herbert, Heriot, and Mrs Henderson, Dunedin) and five sons (Joseph, Alexander, John, Thos., and Walter), 33 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Mr William Crooks, who had been resident in Ashburton for about 35 years, died suddenly on Friday morning. Deceased, who was always held in the highest esteem, arrived in New Zealand from Belfast on the ship Star of China in 1875, and after residing in Dunedin for a time took up his permanent residence in Ashburton. Deceased had been in failing health for about two years, and, though he took to his bed a week ago, his somewhat sudden death came as a painful surprise. He leaves a widow and a grownup family. Mr W. H. Dunnage, chief railway clerk at Milton, has been transferred to tdie Invercargill district as relieving officer. He will be succeeded at Milton by Mr John Fowler, at present stationmaster at Hyde. Mr J. Allan Thomson has been offered, and has accepted, the position of palaeontologist in the geological survey of the Dominion. Mr Thomson expects to leave for Wellington en Friday.

The death was recently announced of Mr Harry Powdirell (a member of a wellknown Taranaki family) in South Africa. Later news is to the effect our Wellington correspondent) that he was murdered by a Russian Pole, probably for his money, of which he had £250 in a bolt.