PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 55

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr E. A. Scarle, at present assistant teacher at the George Street School, has been appointd first assistant at the Tokomairito District High School. Mr Francois Narbey, one of the earliest settlers of Banks Peninsula, died on July 21 (a Press Association message states). Mr Naibey came from France in 1849, anel was 84 years of ago. General regret is felt in athletic and other circles in Christchurch (says the Press) at the death of Mr William F. Simpson, one of the most brilliant, longdistance runners New Zealand has produced. Mr Simpson, who was the late guard of the Mount Somers train, was only 57 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred on Sunday. His career as an athlete was a long and honourable one. Ho was a strict amateur, and looked with scorn upon anything professional in sport. The joy of running was Ids reward, and many a time he would go into Christchurch to compete in an event, and immediately it was over catch the train for his work again. It was about 1897 that he first came into prominence, and he very quickly became a leading member of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club. Ho was at his best in longdistance "events, despite (lie fact that he was hampered with a “ knee,” and was good for anything from one. mile to three miles. In 1901, at Auckland, Simpson established an Australasian record in the throe miles fiat, doing the distance in 14min 49sec. A few years afterwards the doughty Shrubb tried to beat this performance out here, but failed. Some years ago Simpson, along with G. W. Smith, of Auckland, was sent Home to represent Now Zealand, and a fair measure of success rewarded their efforts. At the mooting of the City Council held on July 23, Miss Marguerita Ramsay was selected from the three names submitted to the council by the Library Committee from over 40 applicants for the position of junior assistant of the Public Library, at a salary of £‘4o per annum. Another very early settlor of Oamaru has passed away in the person of Mr John Henderson, who died on the 23rd July, at the age of 82 year:-. Mr Henderson arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Robert Henderson in 1860 and went to the Oamaru district shortly afterwards. In 1867 he bought a farm at Awamoka, where ho continued to live till his death At the Sunday morning service in the Napier Baptist. Church the Rev. .1 K. Archer announced that he had received and accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the Baptist Church. Invercargill, and that he expected to conclude his ministry in Napier a!>ouf the middle of October. At a mooting of the George street School Committee on July 24 it was decided to recommend that Miss Jessie Miteheli. of the Green Island School, be appointed as junior assist ant. There has just died at Hawera (says our Wanganui correspondent) an old colonist in the person of Mr James Williamson, who saw stirring tunes. Deceased arrived in the dominion 62 years ago, 40 of which he spent principally in farming at Kakaramca. At the time of the gold discoveries in Of"go, in company with Messrs W. and T. M‘William and Mr W. Norwood, old Wanganui friends, lie left for the Dunstan diggings, where he gained some experience of prospecting life. At the time of the trouble with the natives on the coast lie was compelled to take his cattle away from Kakaramca to Rangitikei, where his brother resided, deceased barely escaping with his life, and his wharo being razed to the ground by ten natives a few hours, after he had left it. At tide time Mr Williamson joined the Wanganui Cavalry, and was afterwards a member of the Militia at the time of the trouble- with Titokowaru. There lias passed away at her residence. Trent street, Oamaru. another of the old identities, in the person of Mrs John Macdonald. at the ago of 83 years. She was predeceased by her husband by about eight months. The aged couple arrived in Dunedin from Strathpeffer, Scotland, in the early fifties, and took up_ a farm at Wharo Flat, where they remained for over 30

years. They were highly esteemed for their kindly hospitality, and upright and Godfearing life. Owing to advancing years they retired from farming, and went to live with | their son William, in Oamaru. They are j survived by four sons —Roderick Macdonald, Ashburton; John Macdonald, Steward i Settlement, Papakaio; William Macdonald, Oamaru ; George Macdonald. Pukerau —and one daughter, Mrs A. Rollins, Waikouaiti. The Mail reports that Mr Alex. Douglas, who lias relinquished the position of Oamaru manager of the Christchurch Meat Company, in order to settle at East Taieri. was made the recipient of a handsome travelling rug, as a small token of the esteem in which lie is held by the employees of the Eveline Works. In making the presentation. Mr Currau spoke eulogietically of the many good qualities of their departing manager, and referred to the pleasant relations that existed between themselves and Mr Douglas, and trusted that the comforts of the rug would at all times remind him of the warm spots ho had left in their hearts. A Press Association message from Dargaville reports the death of Mr Robert Letts Pear, district manager Kaihu section of the Government railways. The death is announced at Wanganui of Mr G. H. Swan (says a Press Association message). Mr Swan was Mayor of Napier for 17 years, anil for a long tunc its representative in Parliament. Ho had been a resident of Wanganui for the last nine years, and was 80 years of age. Messrs Dalgcty and Co. have received advice from their London office that Mr Edward Lionel Fletcher, of the White Star Line, lias joined the board of directors of the company. The New Zealand Times states (hat Mr John R. Burt, Wellington manager for Messrs A. and T. Dint and Co., left for England on Thursday by the Remuera in order to take up the position of manager for the firm in London. He will succeed Mr James Burt, who is returning to New Zealand. Mr Elgin, warehouse manager in Wellington, lias been appointed branch manager. A pleasant function took place (says the Bruce Herald) at the Y.M.C.A. final campaign rally last week, in the form of presentations to Mr ami Mrs Jameson, rs tokens of esteem on their marriage unci in recognition of Mr Jameson's work during die campaign. The national secretary was presented with a Bruce travelling mg, and Mrs Jameson was the recipient of a pair of blankets of local manufacture. A number of changes will be made in the Duncd'n police district consequent on tin; retirement of Constable Rasmussen. Constable Maeßae, of Milton, has been transferred to take charge at Sr. Kiula. Constable Heard has been transferred from Cavorsham to take charge at Milton; and Constable Alinonct, of Port Chalmers, has been transferred to take charge at Caversham. In the course of a short speech delivered before the assembled harrier teams at tiro conclusion of the Interclub Cross-country Championship at. Wingalui on Saturday afternoon, the president of the Otago Centro, N.Z.A.A.A. (Mr E. Roscvear). made feeling reference to (lie death of Mr W. F. Simpson, at once time the New Zealand long-distance champion. A veto of sym- i pathy was passed to the relatives of the deceased, the runners standing uncovered for a few moments. A It Lor conveying the sympathy of local amateur athletes will be forwarded by the president to the relatives. Mr James A. Norrie. who served his cadetship in the Lawrence Magistrate’s Court office, and for the past six years has boon in the Dunedin office, has been unpointed clerk of court at Tatnnarunui, and will leave for the north this week. Colonel Knox, Quartermaster-general of the New Zealand Forces, has been advised by cablegram of the sudden death in London of Ids father, the Right lion. Ralph Henry Knox, P.C.. K.C.8., V.D., later Permanent Under-sccrctarv for War. The

'ate Sir Ralph Knox was born in Jrolancf in April, 1836, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. Ho entered the War Office in 1856. and there became Accountantgeneral in 1832, a position which he occupied for 15 years. He was appointed Permanent Under-secretary of State for War in 1597, and retained that post until 1901. He was a member of the committee winch worked out Lord Cardwell’s scheme of army reform, and was a member of Royal Commissions on Indian Financial Relations (1896), Civil Service Superannuations (1362), and Militia and Volunteers (1908). Ho \vn< chairman of the Civil Service Benc-volc-nf I und and a honorary major of tho South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers. A cablegram from Sydney states that Sit J. 0. Ward is a passenger by tins Niagara, which jailed for Auckland on July 28. A Wellington Press Association telegram states that Mr IV. Nicholson, of tho Welling! on office of the Agricultural Depart* merit, has been appointed town cleric ol Lower Hint from 39 applicants. In, April next tip; Rev. P W. Fairclough, of Trinity Methodist Church, will have completed the five years’ pastorate which is tha limit allowed by the laws of the Methodist Church and it is probable that 1m will accept an invitation ho has received from Ka iapoi. The Dunedin charge bus extended an invitation to the Rev. IV. A. Hay, of M onnt Eden, Auckland. Mr Hay arrived in New Zealand from V\ eat Australia about three years ago.