PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 59

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Primate has intimated to us that he has received official notice of the consecration of tho Rev. Hon. Benjamin John Plunkot as Bishop of Tuara. The new bishop is brother to Lord Plunkot, lato Governor of the dominion. The Methodist Central Mission officials have extended to the Rev. W. Slade an unofficial and informal, but unanimous, invitation to continue as mission, superintendent for another year. This invitation is subject to confirmation by the September quarterly meeting. An Auckland Press Association telegram states that Dr Eleanor Balter has been appointed fifth resident medical officer at tne Auckland Hospital. The question of appointing a woman doctor to the position created a rather heated discusssion, but the appointment was carried by seven votes to tour. Mr D. Stewart, Mayor of Balclutha, left on tho 15th on a holiday to the South Sea Islands. Ho was met on Monday, 14th inst., by a number of his friends and presented with a nice travelling rug as a token of their esteem and good wishes. Mr Stewart will leave Wellington by the Tahiti on Friday, in company with Professor Marshal! and 1)/ M'Kellar, of Dunedin, and jirobably Mr D. M. Findlay, now of Wellington, and at one time partner with Mr Stewart at Balclutha. The party will spend 10 days at Papeete, and Mr Stewart intends returning direct to New Zealand by the first steamer from San Francisco, his holiday extending over about a month. Local artists and connoisseurs will bo interested to learn that Miss Francos Hodgkins, who has won a position of prominence in England and France as a water colour artist, arrived in Dunedin on tho 15th from Australia by the WUlochra. Miss Hodgkins is a daughter of the late Mr W. M. Hodgkins, for many years president of the Otago Art Society. She studied at tho Dunedin School of Art under Mr D. 11. Hutton, and her skill as a water colour artist waa well known when she left Dunedin to enlarge her experience by a pilgrimage to the art centres of Europe. Miss Hodgkins resided for a number of years in Paris, where she became the first lady teacher on the staff of the Acad runic Collarossi. Commencing with a membership of over 60 pupils, she eventually started an acadamy of her own, which soon became one of the largest private schools in tho Latin Quarticr. By dint of her enthusiasm and talent, her work gained speedy recognition, and she won for herself a prominent place among the exponents of modern French art. Although Miss Hodgkins’s work is not so well known in England as on tho Continent, she has exhibited at the New English Art Club, tho “International,” and the Royal Institute, in London, and at the Royal Scottish Academy, at Edinburgh, her work being favourably criticised in each place. Miss Hodgkins is taking a year’s holiday for the purpose of visiting her relations, and also to give exhibitions of her work in Australia and New Zealand. The products of her brush had many admirers in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, where exhibitions were given. In Sydney over 11,000 people visited the display of her work within two weeks, and two of her pictures were secured for the art galleries at Sydney and Adelaide. Miss Hodgkins hopes to give an exhibition locally. She has brought to Dunedin with her 30 specimens of her water colour work, comprising studies of peasant life in Brittany, Normandy, and Holland, and figures, chiefly studies of children. The work is fresh, having been reserved expressly for tho purpose of being shown in Dunedin. A pioneer settler of Otago in the person of Mrs Margaret J. H. Crawford passed away somewhat suddenly at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr Charles A. Cameron, Victoria street, Masterton. The deceased lady, who was relict of the late Mr James Crawford, of Dunedin, was born at Rothesay, Scotland, and came to Otago in the very early days. Her husband predeceased her 12 years ago, and four years later she went to reside in Masterton with her daughter. She leaves three sons and one daughter. Tho death of Mrs G. W. Minter, recorded in our columns this week, is the severance of another link in the chain of old residents of this city who connected tho present with the past. "Mrs Minter was first married to Mr W. D. Murison, who succeeded Sir Julius Vogel in the editorship of the Otago Daily Times and was editor until 1877. She was a daughter of the lato Mr and Mrs Thomas Cargill, her father being a son of the late Captain Cargill, the founder aad first Superintendent of the Otago settlement. The deceased lady’s eldest son is Captain Murison, who is in tho shipping service of the Burma Oil Company, and the other surviving son is Mr Frank Murison, railway engineer, who is in charge of the Auckland district. Her surviving daughters by her first marriage are Mrs J. A. Sutton, of Waitangi Station, and Mrs Blacke, widow of Mr Blacke, who for some years had charge of the liank of Australasia at Gore, and subsequently at Waverley. The other daughter is Miss Minter, of Dunedin. Mrs Minter was a woman of a cheerful disposition, and her death will bo regretted by a very large circle of friends. A very old identity of St. Batharw in the person of Mr Michael Fahey passed away it his residence in South Dunedin on Saturday 12th inst., at the age of 77. The deceased arrived alrout half a century ago, and engaged in mining pursuits. Ho was one of a party of diggers who brought in from the Dunstan Creek what is known as the Blue Duck water race, for a sluicing claim in St. B a thane —a claim now portion of the United Mountain and Enterprise Company's workings. Prior to ids retirement to Dunedin a few years ago Mr Fahey had given up mining, and woe occupied in farming. He was highly esteemed for his honesty of principle and straightforwardness. Tho remains wore conveyed from Dunedin and laid in the St. Bath airs Roman Catholic Cemetery. The funeral was very largely attended. The Rev. Father ()*Dea officiated at the grave. Tin? deceased leaves behind him two daughters and a son. It is announced that Mr Pierce C. Freeth. formerly managing editor of the New Zealand Times, and lessee and editor of the Manawatu Daily Times, has been appointed editor of the Christchurch Star. Last week’s Gazette contains a * list of teachers holding certificates of licenses under “The Education Act. 1908,” and also particulars of promotions made during the year ended Juno 30. Among the teachers promoted was Mr W. G. Blackio, head master of -the Arrowtown School, whose certificate has been raised to Al—tho highest status obtainable. It may he mentioned that there are 5576 teachers in the dominion,

and of that number only 76 hold the certificate recently conferred on Mr Blackie. Mr Blackio is an old Eavensbourne School boy, and served hie term as a pupil teacher at that school. He took the degrees of M.A. and B.Sc. at the Otago University. A meeting of the ladies of the Otokia Presbyterian Church was held in the manse on Wednesday. The gathering took the form of a “Kitchen tea,” and was arranged for the purpose of saying good-bye to Miss Shore, who is shortly to be married, aijd also to make her a presentation. The Rev. D. M'Coll, who made the presentation, spoke in high tei-ms of Miss Shore, who has acted for two years as organist to the morning congregation. He also referred to her social qualities, and to the esteem In which she is held in the district. Mr Shore, who was present, suitable replied on behalf of his daughter. The presentation coit eisted of a large oaken tray, silver mounte, and suitably inscribed; also a silver cakC> basket. Another of the old pioneers of Dunedin Mr Archibald Clark, died last week at the; residence of his daughter, Mrs F. Legg, Leith street, Dunedin, at the age of 85 years. The late Mr Clark was born at Portobello, Edinburgh, in 1828, and learned the trade of glass blowing in his early years. Ho then married, and in 1858 came to New Zealand in the ship) Three Bells, with his wife and four children. Pie took up farm work with Mr Donald Reid on the Taieri for the first two years, and when th® gold rush broke out at Gabriel’s Gully ha formed one of Mr Donald Reid’s party of 10 to go to the diggings on condition that they returned to continue the duties to bo carried out on the farm. This they did after being very successful at the diggings. Mr Clark afterwards went to Blucskin and took ud farming on Double Hill. He retired 20 years ago on the death of his wife, and lived with the members of his family, who number 15, eight sons and seven, daughters. There are 79 grandchildren, and--32 great grandchildren. The remains were interred in the Waitati cemetery. Mr James Bee, M.A., M.Sc., has been, appointed by the Council of Scots College, Sydney, to succeed the Rev. A. Ashworth Aspinall, M.A., as principal. Mr Bee, who studied for his degrees in the University of Otago, commenced his career as a teacher in Dunedin, and subsequently became mathematical and science master in the Wellington Boys’ College, where he also had charge of the sports of the college. For the past six years he has been head master of tile Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Melbourne. He will bo, remembered by footballers in Dunedin in the eighties as » successful centre three-quarter back, with a genius for potting goals, and as a representative player. Mrs Harrison, widow of the late Mr W. H. Harrison, a former representative of Greymouth and Hokitika, died at Christchurch on Friday (says a Press Association message) at the ago of 72. The Rev. E. L. Woodhouse, for the past three years vicar of St. Mark’s. Balclutha, has accepted the office of vicar of St. Mary’s, Morninglon, and will leave Btalclutha about the end of next month. The death is announced at Christchurch of Mr Thomas Garrard, of Aikman’s road, St. Albans, in his sixty-ninth year. Mr Garrard was born in Harwich, England, in 1843. He arrived in Nelson in 1865 by th© ship Annie Dymes, and remained in that town for eight years. He then removed to Wellington, and 12 years later wcint to Christchurch, arriving there in 1883. Ho was engaged on the staff of Messrs Dalgety and Co. until 1897, when ho commenced business as an accountant and commission agent. Mr Garrard was the general secretary of the Jubilee Industrial Exhibition of 1900, and for many years was secretary of the Canterbury Industrial /Association and to the Cathedral Completion Fund. Ho was the secretary of the Christchurch Musical Union for a long term. Mr C. M'Eachen, chief clerk on the NeU son section of the New Zealand Railways for many years, and who has been appointed stationmaster at Clinton, was entertained at a smoke concert on Saturday week at Nelson. Between 60 and 70 railvvaymen. and representatives of the busin.yr. community were present. Mr G. Stewart presided. The fine spirit of camaraderie existing among all ranks of the railway service was shown in a striking manner, and the spontaneous tributes paid to Mr M’Eacheu were at once a tribute to the departing officer’s popularity and his worth as a Government servant. Numerous toasts were honoured. That of Mr M'Eachen was proposed by the stationmaster Mr T. Edwards), who said that from the first week he had recognised Mr M'Eaohen’s ability, and had steadfastly recommended him for promotion and had not had the slightest hesitation in taking upon himself the responsibility of recommending him for the important position ho had now obtained. Numerous gentlemen having spoken to th© toast, those including the chairman and Mr Atmore, M.P., Mr Edwards presented Mr M'Eachen with an oak and silver tea tray, three-tier cake stand, silver cream jug and sugar basin, and case of cako forks. The oak tray bore the following inscription :—“ O. J. M’Eachon, from railway employees. Nelson section, on his promotion to Clinton, 19.7.13.” In replying Mr M'Euchen said he was extremely sorry to say good-bye, but he recognised that, he could not progress any further in Nelson, and as his transfer meant promotion, ho felt he was only doing the right thing in leaving. On behalf of his wife and himself lie thanked them very sincerely for their handsome presentations, which would always serve to remind him of the many happy days he had spent in Nelson. The death occurred at Bluff on the 21st (a Press Association message states) of Mr Walter Henderson, sen., at the age of 91 years. Mr Henderson was an old resident of Southland. Mr John Cagney, an old resident of the Oamaru district, has just passed away at the age of 74 years. Mr Cagney was Ixirn in Ireland, and came to Otago nearly half a century ago, settling at Oamaru. Ho was for eight years a member of the Borough Council, and generally took an active part in public affairs. A pleasing ceremony took place on Friday at Manaroo Farm, North Taieri, the residence of Mr and Mrs P. Huggins, the occasion being the celebration of their golden wedding. The Rev. J. M'Donald was tho officiating minister. The aged bride and bridegroom were surrounded by their 11 children and various grandchildren. Tho celebrations were continued in the evening, when at least- 80 couples took jiart. Dancing, etc., was kept up till the small hours of the morning to excellent music rendered h\ tho Huggins (their grandsons! orchestra. The whole function was a most enjoyable one.