PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 66

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr W Burns, son of Mr S. R. Burns, who has been chief clerk at the Paivora freezing works for the past three years, left on March 23 for Balclutha, where he lias l>een appointed manager of the new freezing works. The death is announced of one of Mataura's oldest residents, Mr Charles M'Donald, which took place at his residence on March 22. The late Mr M'Donald was a nativo of Perthshire (says the Ensign), and came to New Zealand by the ship Robert Henderson, arriving at Dunedin in 1858. For some time Mr M'Donald worked about, Milton, and later on took part in the Gabriel's Gully rush, and subsequently followed the occupation of carter about the goldfields. Ho married a daughter of Mr W. Tweedie, of Milton, in 1860, and a few vears later took up farming at Lovell'3 Flat. In 1871 Mr M'Donald removed to Ivlataura, where ho purchased a farm, and had resided there ever since. The deceased left three daughters (Mesdames J. Richmaud. W. Wallace, and J .Pratt) and one son (Mr T. M'Donald), all of Mataura, to irourn their loss.

The new Leader of the, Liberal party (the lion. Thomas Mackenzie) was for a period a resident of Gisbomo (says the Poverty Bay Herald). When the old-established firm of Graham, Pitt, and Bennett became involved in difficulties over 20 years ago its extensive stock was submitted to tender, and was purcliasrd by Mr Mackenzie for the sum of £IO,OOO. He oame to Gisborne, and effected a speedy reaUsation, with considerable profit to himself. The Rev. Wm. Thomson, M.A., 8.D., who died at Grafton road. Auckland, on March 28, was a distinguished graduate of tho University of Fdmburgh (says the Auckland Herald). After completing the usual course of study for tho Presbyterian Church ho was ordained by the Presbytery of Greenock to the Church of Scotland in that town. He was afterwards transferred to the charge of Strathpeft'er in the Presbyory of Inverness. Having a desire to serve the Church in the colonies he made a hurried visit of inspection to Canada, but a few days sufficed to show him that it was not an inviting sphere for him, and ho at once turned his attention to Now Zealand. He arrived in the Dominion in 1896, and after being received by the Presbyterian General Assembly .he served tho Church in several spheres, until ho was inducted into the newly-formed charge at Waipu on June 1, 1898. The late Mr Thomson was an excellent Gaelic scholar, and preached regularly in that language to tho Highanders of that settlement. Later bo was induced to take charge of the Presbyterian congregation of Fiji, and he resigned from W.aipu on August 6, 1901. The climate of Fiji did not 9uit him, and he returned to New Zealand, and was inducted to the charge of Coromandel on December 20, 1904. He was called back to Waipu, and inducted on April 23. 1907, and was minister of that charge up to the time of his death. Mr Thomson was much respected by a largo congregation, who now mourn tho loss of a highly-esteemed pastor. The Chatham, Rochester, and Gillingham News of recent date (says our Inve/rcargill correspondent) makes interesting reference to the doings of a veteran in the person of Mr James Fox. Mr Fox is tho father of an Invereargilll resident, James Fox, jun., who is himself 67 years of age, and there is also a daughter in New Zealands, Mrs G. H. Thornton, confectioner, Wellington. There are six in the household, and it is somewhat remarkable to record that no death lias taken place in tho family for 66 years. The following extract is taken by the Southland Times from an interview which a newspaper man had with Mr Fox, sen., in his home at Chatham: " In view of the fact that the flight of timo has left but very few of the old postboys to form a connecting link with tho past, it is interesting, and will no doubt be surprisiri" to know that two of these veterans are living at Chatham —namely, Mr Hennen, tho old-age pensioner who recently gained publicity by his marriage at the age of 9<t and Mr James Fox, of 8 Bush street. Mr Fox is in his ninetieth year, and lives with his wife, who has likewise long passed th-e allotted span, being only one year his junior. The happy couple retain their faculties to a remarkable degree. When a representative of the Newg oalled at the house Mr Fox gave ium a cordial welcome and related a few particulars of his past history. He is a Rochester boy, having first seen the light of day on May 9, 1822, in the old 'City Arms, of which his father was licensee. Right from childhood ho had always entertained a liking for horses, and at the age of 16 went to Dart ford, where he was employed in the posting business. This work was to convey foreign despatches which were landed at Dover from Dartford to The Times and other London offices. He was later employed as a postilion to the old stage coaches. lie has driven royalty and the nobility on their journeys from Dover en route for the Continent, and in the early forties he well remembers conveying Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and the late King Edward. On part of their journey from London to Walmor Castle Lieutenant Waghorne, discoverer of the overland route to India, was another of his distinguished passengers, while on several occasions Mr Fox was among the party entrusted with the conveyance at. the dead of night of tho money and valuables belonging to the early members of the Rothschild family. Besides driving some of the highest, Mr Fox has driven some of the lowest people in the land, and he still retains rather unpleasant recollections of conveying several pa-ties of convicts in tho huge, cumbersome, prison vans from Newgate to the old convict ships in Chatham dockyards. Mr Fox was later employed for 30 years in the Chatham dockyards, and although then well on in years, his activities wore by no means diminished. Ho was afterwards by the Chatham postal authorities, retiring at the age of 74 years. It is worthy of note that Mr and Mrs Fox were married at Gillingham Church as far back as 1346. and they celebrated their diamond wedding about four years ago. Both enjoy fairly good health, and it is their gratifving claim that they have never h-en attendi <f by a doctor h r any bodly illness." Our Alexandra correspondent informs us that Mr R. Jackson, an esteemed partoralist at Kawarau Station, died recently. His death will be a big loss to the Otago Central district. A Press Association message from Rotorua states that Mr G. A. Empson, who has been promoted to be chief postmaster at Hokitika lias a record of 34 years s postmaster. lie was placed in charge of the ITavelock station four years after joining the department in 1874; and he has

been postmaster in Rotorua for 11 years. Mr F. A. do la Mare, 8.A., LL.B., who lias boon in the Department of Internal Affairs at Wellington for some years, s about to go to Port Chalmers to practise i there as a solicitor. Mr do la Mare (says 1 the Wellington Post) was admitted as a i barrister and solicitor by the Chief Justice j (Sir Robert Stout) on the 26th March. Mrs Fleming, who passed away on March 22, was one of the early settlers, having landed with her husbatxl by tho ! Alpine on September 12, 1859. ' They settled for some time, in the North-East j Valley, and then took up land in the | Taieri. After the flood in 1868 they removed to Oamaru, remaining there until ; 1884, when they went to Geraldine. Mr i Fleming diod 17 years ago. Tho deceased I lady enjoyed good health until some three j years ago, when she began to fail, and ! she gradually wasted away till the end ! came on Friday last. She is survived by her family of two sons and six daughters, i all of whom are married and settled in different parts of the Dominion. Mr John Stephenson, a eon of Mr Wm. Stephenson, Kaitangata, has successfully passed the wireless telegraphy examination, and has been appointed wireless operator on the s.s. Warrimoo. A Wellington telegram states that Mr R. A. Wright, ex-M.P. for Wellington South, has announced his candidature for the city mayoralty. Cr Shirtcliffe, who was mentioned as a probable candidate, has declined nomination. Mr J. Enman Smith (Resident Commissioner for Cook Islands) arrived here on Saturday by tho Aorangi (says a Wellington Press Association message). He will take charge of a branch of the civil service, to be known as the Cook Islands Department, which will bo separated from tho Justice Department, and will probably bo' I administered by the Hon. Dr Te Rangihiroa. Tho appointment of Mr Smith's j successor in the islands lias not yet been considered. A cablegram from London announces the death of Mr Henry Varley, evangelist. Mr F. O. V. Acheson, LL.B., has been I transferred on promotion to tho Land j Transfer Office, Wellington, and will leave for the north early next week. Mr Charles Whelan, who during the past three years has occupied the position of postmaster at Goro (says the Mataura Ensign), has received notice of his transfer to the chief postmastership at Blenheim, for which place he will leave in the course of this week. Mr Whelan has 37 years' record in the Post and Telegraph service. Tho following appointments have been made by the Otago Education Board: —Mr 1 Alex. Lake (at present at Cambrians), head I master of the Ranfurly School; Mr Walter Ir. Macdougall, solo teacher, Rongahere; ' Miss M. R. Sheriff 1 , solo teacher, Berwick; j Miss 3. Ross sole teacher, Merton; Miss E. E. Barber, mistress, Duntroon; Miss Rose Darling, mistress, Tapanui District High School ; Mis 3 Margaret Newlauds, second assistant, Waikouaiti; Miss E F. Fra/.cr, junior assistant, Kaitangata; Miss Eva H. Gunn, teachoi of secondary subjects in the Alexandra District High School. A farewell social was given in honour of : Mr J. P. Havvke upon his severing his connection with the Berwick School. The hall wai crowded, 240 people being pre- | sent. A splendid programme was gone j through, the major t 'art of it being given j by the school children, and included diaI logues, action songs, and Highland fling. At the conclusion of the programme Mr I Hawke was presented with a writing case ! and collar box, suitably inscribed. Compli- ! mentarv remarks were made regarding Mr I Hawke s work by Messrs H George, R. I Summers, and D. M'Lennan, and the hope j was expressed that his work at Pino Hill School would bo as successful as it had been in Berwick. On Wednesday, March 27, a large number of friends assembled at the Goodwood Hall to do honour to Mr and Mrs Duncan M'Gregor on their leaving Flag- Swamp to reside in Waikouaiti. Tho chairman (Mr R. Cameron), after referring in eulogistic terms to the valuable services Mr M'Gregor had rendered to tho community during- his eight years' residence in Flag Swamp, called upon Mr E. P. Leo, M.P. for Oamaru, to present to the guests two easychairs. Mr Lee concluded a neat speech I with the hope that tho recipients might I live long to enjoy their gifts. After tho presentation Messrs Riddle (Mayor of Palmerston), Crisp, and Brcmner spoke of Mr and Mrs M'Gregor in high terms of praise. Mr M'Gregor responded in his best stylo of humour, though at the same time with feeling. During the evening a programme I of songs, recitations, and dances was rendered, and the function concluded with a dance. Miss W. A. Jennings, who for some time ! past has had charge of the secondary deI partment of tho Naseby District High School, left Naseby on Saturday morning to take up a similar position in the LawI rence District High School. On Friday ! afternoon tho members of the Naseby ■ School Committee assembled at the school . and presented Miss Jennings with a silver- ! mounted umbrella, suitably inscribed, and exj pressed to the recipient through their chairman (Mr R. F. Inder). their appreciation and '' the appreciation of tho town of her ability I as a teacher, and the care and trouble sho bestowed upon the pupils under her care, both in school and out of it. Mr Thomas Xeave, 8.A., LL.B.. who has held the position of Crown Law Officer under I t.ne scheme by which the legal work of the j Crown was- two years ago taken up by tho i Crown Law Department, has resigned that position. Mr Neave has accepted a partnership in the legal firm of Brown and Dean, ; of Wellington.