PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 65

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr and Mrs David M'Gill, of Milton, purpose paying a visit to Great Britain and tho Continent. They will travel by tho Orinet line, via Suez, and will leave Milton about the middle of this month.

Mr A. W. Oxley. senior check clerk in tho local telegraph department, is to bo transferred to Invercargill, where ho will succeed Mr J. L. Bush, at present officer in chargo of telegraphs, who is retiring on pension. Mr A. J. Talbot, who has on several occasions acted as officer-in-chargo of the telcgrupb department in Dunedin, has received advice of his promotion to Christ ohurch. where ho will take up tho position recently held by Mr B. N. Martin, now retired on pension, as officer-in-charge of telegraphs. Mr Talbot has been directly concerned with the Pacific cable, and he is an officer whoso promotion is well deserved. Mr Talbot will leave for Christchurch this morning. On Monday night (writes our Lawrence corro-.pondent) Mr G. O. Taylor, who after a residence of 40 years is leaving the district, was presented by the citizens with a nurse of sovereigns, and by tho members of the Bowling Club with a silver-mounted umbrcVila, appropriately inscribed. Tho first presentation was made by the Mayor (Mr Ja-s. Robertson), who spoke in eulogistic terms of the qualities of Mr Taylor as a citizen and business man. Messrs Stenhouse, Jeffery, J. K. Simpson, and Jas B. M'Kinlay also expressed their regret at the loss the town was to sustain by the removal of Mr Taylor and his family, spoko in complimentary manner of his services to the town in tho past, and conveyed to him the good wishes of the citizens for the success of himself and family in their new sphere. The bowlers' presentation was mado by tho president (Mr E. C Brown), who -referred to Mr Taylor's long association with the club and his popularity as a player. Messrs Darton M'Hattie, Jeffery, W.' Anderson, sen., H. H. Leary, and Mr Robertson also spoke. and many interesting reminiscences in connection with the early history - of the club were put on record. To both presentations Mr Taylor made a very happy ro-

sponso. \ pleasing ceremony took place at the Napier Boys' High School recently, when the scholars assembled to bid farewell to one of their masters, Mr W. Gordon, M.A., who leaves Napier in a few days to enter the Otago University and later to take up missionary work in China. Leo. Bestall, on behalf of those assembled, presented tho retiring master with a handsome set of ' military hair brushes, and in doing fo expressed tho wish of those present for his future welfare. Tho recipient made a suitable response. \n Adelaide cablegram reports the death of'Mr Argall, a well-known cricket umpire. Constable Kean, the well-known wrestler and athlete, has resigned from the Police Force, and is entering into tho occupancy of tho Ciroon Island Hotel. Mr J Moore, who at one time played for the Carisbrook Cricket Club, arrived in Dunedin on Wednesday night from the Argentine or. a business trip. Mr Moore will .return to the South American Republic next month. Dr F. W. Pennefather, who some years ago temporarily acted as judge of the Supreme Court in the Dunedin circuit during the absence of Mr Justice Williams from New Zealand, is at present visiting Dunedin. The Christchurch Presbytery passed a motion of" condolence with the relatives of the late Rev. R. Telford, who ministered! for some years at Roxburgh, and who was for the latter portion of his life a member of St. Andrew's Church, Christchurch. Mr F. Archer, who has been in charge of the grain department of Messrs A. Moritzson and Co. for many years, on severing Ins connection with that firm to take over tho same department for Messrs Dalgety and Co., was presented by the firm with a handsome biscuit barrel, and by the staff! with a barometer. Mr Moritzson who presented the mementoes, referred to tho long service and ability displayed by the recipient. Mr Archer responded in a neat speech. "An Auckland telegram reports that Mr Adam Ayles, caretaker of the Rockynook Bowling Club's Green, dropped dead on the 4th. while working on tho green. lie was one of the heroes of tho Arctic expedition under Nares and Stephenson, in tho early seventies. The term "hero" is used

j advisedly, for when a boat's crew was In- ! capacitated by scurvy Ayles travelled 100 i miles across the ice to take it relief. He j was at one time a chief petty officer in the I British navy, and was in receipt of a penI sion. He was 70 yea r s of age. i The Rev. S. J. Seamer, who for some time past has been in charge of the Petone Wesley Ohurch, left Petone on the 2nd inst. lor his new sphere of duties at St. Kilda. Ho was tendered a farewell "social" at Petone by members of the congregation, when presentations were made to Mr and Mrs Seamer. Mr F. De La Mare, of the Crown Law Department, who is leaving the service to manage Mr Platts's practice in Port Chalmers while that gentleman ia away in England, was entertained by his colleagues m ! the department on Monday (says the Wel- | lington Post). Mr James Hislop, UnderSecretarv for Internal Affairs, presented Mr Do La Mare with a digest of New Zea- ! land laws, the gift of his fellow officials. ! Mr Hislop made reference to the excellent ! work done by Mr De La Mare during his j 16 years' connection with the department, and wished him every success in his new sphere. j Port Chalmers people will leani with re- . gret of the death of Mr John Cablo at j Perth, Western Australia, on Good Friday. j Mr Cable was born near Dundee, and arrived at Port Chalmers in the ship Paria, in 1866. Ho had the unique distinction ! of being tho first engineering apprentice tp loarn <ho trado in Dunedin, which ho did thoroughly under the late Mr William Wilson at the original Otago Foundry, Cumberland street After completing his apprenticeship Mr Cablo joined the s.s. Maori, serving on that vessel under Captains Malcolm and Bernich, and ultimately be- | coming chief engineer. Ho was the first j junior engineer in tho province of Otago !to gain a certificate. He left the Maori and joined the late Mr J. Morgan in founding the business so well known as that of ; Morgan and Cable. Mr Cable was for a number of years a member of the Port j Chalmers Borough Council, and was an 1 enthusiastic supporter of the band, football, and rowing clubs. He was also a member of the Port Chalmers Miarino Lodge, E.C . and of the Now Zealand Mark Marine, E.C. Mr Cable retired from business at Port Chamers, now known as tho Maori Iron Works, and went to Perth, where he again entered business. Deceased loaves a widow, three sons, and four daughters. On Friday evening last between 40 and 50 of tho residents of Ealing mot to say good-bye to Mr Watson, who has been Presbyterian home missioner for about 18 months. Having recently passed his M.A. decree, Mr Watson is now going to the Dunedin Theological Hall to finish his studios. Mr Watson was presented with a parcel of sovereigns as a token of personal esteem and appreciation of past services. Sergeant William Gilbert, who has been in charge of the Police Force at North Dunedin for th© past 15 years, has retired) en superannuation. Sergeant Gilbert was for six years in the service at Cornwall, and then came out to New Zealand in 1873, when ho enlisted under Inspector Weldon. He has dome duty at Mosgiel, Queenstown. and Waimate, being transferred from Waimate to Dunedin 17 years ago. Two years later he was transferred to tho North Dunedin branch of the force, and there he has remained ever since. During the long term of 44 years Sergeant Gilbert has been connected with the Police Force he has never been hurt, nor has ho ever had to r>*LV a fi.no for any breach of regulations. Ho is well and favourably known by tho people of Dunedin, who have thoroughly appreciated his conscientiousness and his hich sense of duty Good wishes will be expressed for his future, health and happiness by all who know him. His successor in charge of the North Dunedin station is Sergeant M'Keefry. Miss Violet Elder, of tho Milton School, has been appointed second instructress of the Rangiora High School. j The Hon. H. G. Ell (says our Wellington correspondent) was the only member of the. Cabinet in Wellington on Easter Monday. The Prime Minister, who spent tho week end at the Weraroa Experimental Farm, went on Monday morning to Tara- ; nnki, accompanied by tho Hons. G. W. Russell and G. Laurenson. Mr Peter Butel. ono of tho oldest residents of the Arrow district, died on Easter Monday, Fays our Arrowtown correspondent. Ho had been in failing health for some years. For many years he carried on the business of the Arrow Flour Mills, but latterly had lived in retirement. He was highly respected and esteemed. I He leaves a widow but no familv.