PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3154, 26 August 1914, Page 60

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A Press Association message from Palmerston North states that Mr David Howie, a well-known settler of Pohangina, died yesterday. Ho was a member of the Hospital Board, the Manawatu A. and P. Asssociation, the Pohangina County Council, and the Farmers’ Union. The late Mr William James M Cready, whose death at the age of 53 has just been announced, was a successful sheep farmer, well known in the Kyeburn district. He was not a public man, but was generous to a fault, always willing to help those in want or distress. His genial ways will cause him to be much missed. The death is reported from Palmerston North of Mr David Rowlands, one of the oldest settlers in the Manawatu, aged 71. He arrived in 1864. Mr Rowlands was a successful Romney breeder and a prominent Mason. At last week’s meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board Dr G. Basil Adams (a Press Association message states) was appointed medical tuberculosis officer. Dr Adams holds high diplomas, and has had 10 years’ experience of tuberculosis in all its branches. A very enjoyable luncheon was given at Reefton by Mrs J. A. Montgomerie and Mrs T. Otto Bishop in honour of the depar ture of Q.M.S. Wyville Rutherford to the war (says the Greymouth Star). The object of the luncheon was to present Mr Rutherford, on behalf of the mining students of the Otago University, with a purse of sovereigns. Mr Bishop, in a eulogistic reference to Mr Rutherford’s estimable qualities, mads the presentation. Reference was made to the guest’s good qualities by his fellow students. Messrs M'Pacrden, Royce, Frost, Horne, Mrs Frost, Miss Montgomerie, and Mr Alex. Rutherford were also guests. . At the farewell gathering to the Medical School Ambulance Corps on the 20th inst. opportunity was taken to present an address and a purse of sovereigns to Mr Alfred Jefferson, who recently retired after nearly 40 years’ faithful service as assistant to the late Professor Scott in the anatomical department of the University. The presentation was made by Dr Barnett, on behalf of old graduates of the school, and was feelingly replied to by Mr Jefferson. The address, which is the work of Mr S. S. George, is of handsome mediaeval design, and was uniformly admired. The death is announced of another of New Zealand’s oioncer settlers of 1840, Mr J, J, Taine, who died on the 17th, at Auckland, at, the age of 97 years (says the Wellington Dominion). The deceased was a man with an interesting personality. Of late years .Mr Taine was only an occasional visitor to Wejngton, where his venerable figure was fairly well known, and where, in 1840, ho landed from the New Zealand Company’s ship Adelaide, accompanied by Mrs Taine. who was_ the adopted daughter of Edward Gibbon Wakefield. Mr Taine soon built up a. lucrative business, and in a few years he was able to retire into private life. He was a contemporary of all the men who made names for themselves at the founding of this dominion prior to and subsequent to 1840, and could converse most interestingly on such personalties as Captains Hobson and Fitzroy, our first Governors, the Wakefields, Shortlands, Bishop Selwyn, and many others, while on the Native side he frequently met such redoubtable characters as Rauparaha, Rangihaoata, and other leaders of the Maori race. Mr Taine leaves a numerous family in various parts of the dominion, including Messrs A. and W. Taine, Dunedin. Miss Lizzie Adams, of Dunedin, wee remarkably successful in the elocution section at the Invercargill Competitions, this young lady having won five first prizes, three second prizes, and second in the grand championship . The death of Mr Robert Noble 'Adams, at Hamilton, Auckland, has removed a figure who at one time was very prominent in total abstinence circles in Dunedin, and in other respects was a well-known and respected member of the community. Mr Adams was for a good many years in the employment of the Daily Times Company as publisher of the Times and Witness. In recent years; he was engaged an a home missionary in the North Island. He was a prolific writer on British Israelism, and devoted a good deal of time to the investigation of that theory, or, as he believed, indisputable fact. Mr Adams was a man of kindly nature, always ready to help those who were in distress, and in many ways did good work in this community. By the death of Mr Samuel Smith the Hutt loses its oldest resident (states the Wellington Post). Bom in Cornwall, England, 90 years ago, tho deceased came to New Zealand, a lad of 15. with his parents in the Duke of Roxburgh, and landed on Petone beach on February 10, 1840. In 1847 he went to Otago and joined the mounted police, and often formed one of the gold escort. Two years later he returned to Hutt, but, attracted by the gold rush, went over to Australia in 1852. After a short stay in Australia he returned to the Hutt again, where he resided until his death, being engaged in farming. H© took a very active part in the Maori war. He was present at tho capture of Te Rauparaha, at Porirua, and later was engaged with the enemy at Wanganui, being under fire for several hours. Ho did much pioneer work in connection with the Oddfellows’ Order in New Zealand, and was one of the original founders of the Hand and Heart Lodge, Dunedin, now one of the wealthiest lodges in the dominion. At the Savoy Tea Rooms on Friday afternoon Mr A. J. Sullivan, district manager of the Australian Alliance Assurance Company, who is retiring to take up sheep-farming, was met lay practically a full muster of his fellow fire, marine, and accident underwriters, and presented with a pair of suitable field-glasses and a handbag for Mrs Sullivan. Mr W. I. Bolam made tho presentation, and in doing so referred in an appreciative manner to The valuable services Mr Sullivan had rendered to underwriting oyer a great' many years, and to the personal good qualities of their guest, and concluded by wishing him good health and prosperity in his new undertaking. Several others endorsed the remarks and good wishes of the chairman. Mr Sullivan suitably responded. Mr Arthur Vivian Spedding was admitted as a solicitor of tho Supremo Court by Mr Justice Stm on Friday last, prior to his departure with the Expeditionary Force. Miss L. F. Armstrong, secretary to the Dunedin Women’s Patriotic Association, intends to leave shortly for England to volunteer, through the High Commissioner, for service as a nurse. Miss Armstrong is instructor in massage to the University of Otago. Lady Godley has sent Miss Armstrong a letter which will back up her professional credentials. An Auckland telegram states that Arch-

deacon Philip Walsh, latq of Waimate, died on Saturday morning. Ho worked with Bishop Sehvyn in the very early days, and was well known throughout Canterbury. The Rev. J. White, M.A., of St. James’s Presbyterian Church, Waihi. died on Saturday. after a long illness. He was 58 years of age. The members and friends of the Taieri Collie Club assembled in the Druids’ Hall. Mosgiol on the 24-th inst. to present Mr A. Scott, sen., who is leaving North Taieri, with a roller-top desk and a gold medal, both suitably inscribed. Mr Scott is generally recognised as the father of the club, and has always manifested the greatest interest in it. The Rev. Hoani Parata has been appointed vicar of the parochial district of Riverton, in place of the Rev. James Morland, ’who takes up his work at Milton shortly. Mr Parata is at present in England, but is to leave for New Zealand in the course of a few weeks. The vacancies in the Catholic arch-diocese of Wellington, caused by the appointment of three chaplains to the Expeditionary Forces, have now been filled The Rev. Father Quealy, from England, is taking Father M’Menainin’s place at Petone; the Rev. Father O’Farrell, S.M., 8.A., from Grcenmeadows is joining the Faculty of St. Patrick’s College, in place of Father Segrief; while the vacancy caused at Foxton through Father Dore going to the front is being filled by the Rev. Father Cronin. Mr J H. B. Coates, who has held the position of general manager of the National Bank of New Zealand for the past 21 years, has asked to bo allowed to retire, after a very successful service extending over 46 years (says the Auckland Herald). The chairman of directors (Mr Robert Logan), in referring to the matter at the annual meeting of the bank, held in London ‘on July 7, sa ; d that it was with great regret that the directors had accepted the resignation of Mr Coates, but the board would do its best to retain in some form or other his valuable co-operation for the benefit of the bank. This announcement was received with cheers. A cable message from Sydney reports the death (suddenly, after a short illness) of. the Hon. Sir Normand M'Laurin, Chancellor of the University of Sydney since 1896. The deceased gentleman, who served on H.M.S. Challenger on the Australian station, was for some years president of the Sydney Board of Health. Wo recently recorded the death of Mr C. H. M'Culloch; son of the late Mr M'iCulloch, who was for many years resident magistrate at Invercargill. An admirer contributes an appreciation of the deceased to the Rhodesian Herald, a daily paper at Salisbury, Rhodesia, a copy of which has been forwarded to us by an old Dunedin boy, Mr W. C. Macdonald. Godfrey Henry M'Culloch was born and educated at Invercargill. When about 18 years of ago lie was attracted by stories of Rhodesia, and made his way to Beira, journeying on foot from Beira to Salisbury. He was employed by the town authorities. Ho afterwards entered the service of the Government as Native Commissioner and magistrate in various districts. The call of the veldt was ever in his blood, and he made journeys to German East Africa and the northern territories. He was a keen sportsman, and was engaged by the B.S.A. Company to drive away the elephants in a district where they were a menace to farmers. Last September he was engaged in elephant-shooting ■on the edge of the fly country. In accordance with his practice never to leave an animal to a lingering >.th, he pursued a wounded elephant into an area infected with sleeping sickness, and had the misfortune to contract the fell disease. Hu went to England to obtain the latest treatment, but died in London. Of him “An Admirer” writes: —“Although the broad veldt of Rhodesia shall know him no more, to many of us his memory will remain ever green as a model of what a man should be. Unassuming in manner, cheerful in disposition, fearless in danger, and ever ready .to shoulder another’s burdens, of him it can be truly, said his word was his bond —a fact recognised not only by Europeans but also by the natives, from the Limpopo to the shores of Tanganyika.” At the meeting of the Hospital and Chiritabl© Aid Board last week Dr Baigent, senior house surgeon, and Dr H.. Short, junior house surgeon, who have received commissions in the Expeditionary Force, forwarded their resignations. These were accepted with regret, and the board wished both of them God-speed and a safe return. Dr Elizabeth Macdonald was appointed house surgeon till Dr Borrxe’s services were available, and the selection of a substitute for Dr Short was left in the hands of the chairman, Dr Marshall Macdonald, and Mr Myers.