PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 65

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr Thos. C’awthron- celebrated his eightysecond birthday on Wednesday, May 26 (says the Nelson Colonist). A large number of friends called on him and offered congratulations, and he also received many letters and telegrams wishing him many happy returns. Miss Daisy M'Farlane, who is leaving shortly for Samoa to be married to Mr S. J. Smith, late of the Office of Internal Affairs, Wellington, and now of the Administration Office, Apia, who left Wellington with the First Expeditionary Force, was entertained on May 28 by the members of the Seatoun Presbyterian Church, of which she has for some time been organist (says the Dominion). Miss M’Farlane ivas made the recipient of a number of gifts. Mr S. J. Smith is a son of Mr G. H.Smith, of Dunedin, who has three sons on active service—two being in Samoa and'the other at the Dardanelles.

A very pleasant social gathering' was held in St. Mark’s Hall, Green Island, on the 31st ult., the occasion being to honour Miss M. Mills, who is retiring from teaching in the Green Island School, where she has been engaged for a period of 35 years. The Mayor (Mr J. Lindsay) presided, and there wore also on the platform Miss Mills, Mrs Lindsay, Mr Statham, M.P., Mr Taylor (chairman of the School Committee), Mr J. Blair, Mr Irvine, and Mr M'Elrea (a former school teacher in the Green Island School), and Mr W. M‘Donald (head master). Mr Irvine presented Miss Mills with a handsome handbag and a purse of sovereigns. _ Miss Mills ireplied, thanking the donors for their gifts, the_ staff for the help she had always received from them, and the parents for their consideration at all times. A short musical programme was contributed. Three rousing cheers for Miss Mills and the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne” brought the gathering to a close. Mr F. Matthews, of the Lawrence Post Office staff, has received notice of his transfer to the telegraphic gallery at Oamaru. A Gore message states that Mr Ebenezer Mac Gibbon, a resident of the district and a member of the firm of Mac Gibbon and Co., merchants, Gore, for the last 36 years, died on the 4th inst.; aged 61 years. The deceased had been in failing health for some time. Ho was well known throughout the dominion. He leaves a widow, five daughters, and one son, who has volunteered for the front. Dr Howard, medical officer at the Homo for Defectives, Richmond, Nelson, died last month. He took charge of the institution about 12 months ago, and although he had been in failing health for same time past, his end came somewhat suddenly. ; Dr Howard was born at Buckenfield, Cheshire, and before going to Nelson practised his profession in Canterbury and Dunedin. He leaves a widow and one son. By the death of Mr Richard Gallon, which took place at the end of last week, Ravensbourne loses one of its oldest residents. Mr Gallon was born in Birmingham in 1842, and on reaching boyhood he was for 15 years in that city engaged in making steel and malleable castings. Then he spent seven years in Glasgow, with M'Gaffey, Forsyth, Miller, and Co. In addition to experience gained in these two world-wide centres of ironwork, ho spent four years, during two visits, in America, and also two years in London. Ho arrived in Dunedin in September, 1879, under engagement to Messrs Reid and Gray, and later on started business on his own account in Ravensbourne, where he made quite a reputation for himself by his special system of turning out cast malleable stool. At the end of about 12 years ho joined Mr W Wilkinson in business in Dunedin, the firm being now well known as Wilkinson, Gallon, and Co. About five years ago the deceased gentleman retired from business, but some of his sons are still connected with the firm. He was of a most cheery disposition, and a lover of all kinds of snort, follow'ing with the keenest interest the doings of the local football and cricket clubs. He was a fine swimmer, and in the old days, when the Ravensbourne baths w'ore in existence and their swimming carnivals were very popular, was always called upon to give an exhibition of fancy diving. As an exponent of back somersaulting into the water he was especially good. The deceased gentleman leaves a widow and a grown-up family of five sons and five daughters. Two popular members of the PlimmerHall Comedy Company—Mr Vivian Andrew Edwardes and Miss Marjorie Seville Soper—were manned at the registry office on Saturday morning. The witnesses were Mr and Mrs Harry Plimmer (Miss Ena Shanahan). The bridal pair have been members of the company ever since the commoncem- nt of the tour. Mrs .Tames Ritchie, a much-respected red dent of Balclutha (saye the Free Pro--), passed away at her residence. James street,

on Tuesday afternoon, aged 75 years. She was a native of Aberdeen, and, with her husband and a family of nine—three daughters and six sons —came to Dunedin 25 years ago, and after 17 years’ residence in that city the family removed to Balclutha. The deceased lady had been ailing for a number of years. There were laid to rest on Saturday afternoon, at the Southern Cemetery, the remains of Mrs Catherine Cunningham, one of the dwindling band of those who arrived at Port Chalmers by the John Wickliffe, on April 15, 1848. Sixty-seven years have brought many changes, and when those hardy pioneers landed there were none of the adjuncts of settlement and civilisation. Catherine Mahono was then a lissom lass of 16, and has now, n.s Mrs Cunningham, passed away in her 84th year. Her husband, Mr James Cunningham, who was a fcllowpassongor, predeceased her 30 years ago. Ho was a carpenter, and there, is in possession- of the family a table made by him—the first “real” table made in Otago. The Mahonc familv settled first in Walker street, and afterwards removed to Halfway Bush, where a suburban section was acquired, and is still occupied by descendants. Mr Cunningham acquired a holding in Dower Kaikorai, and afterwards he became first town clerk of the newly-constituted 1 borough of Roslyn. It was while the family was in Walker street that the espousals of Catherine took place, and there sprang from the union the large family of 13, of whom only five now survive. These are: John, now a surveyor, and engaged on a Government survey on the West Coast; Alexander, now a settler in North Auckland; Bella, now Mrs Farquharson, and mother of Robert, the first Rhodes scholar, who specialised in mining, and is now a mining engineer in Western Australia; Jcanio, now the widow of Mr R. Smith, for many years accountant at Messrs A. and T. Burt’s; and Joan, for many years an invalid. Of those who have passed away was James, who died about two months ago, as- manager of the Wairuna Estate, and Maggie, whose tragic death by drovvifflig in the Molynoux River, some eight years ago, will still bo remembered. The late Mrs Cunningham was full of reminiscences of the early days. Among these was that of a feat which she accomplished when, as quite-a young woman, she carried a 501 b bag of flour on her shoulder from Dunedin over the hill to Halfway Bush. In the natural course of events the survivors of that adventurous band are few, and now rapidly becoming fewer. At the last celebration of Anniversary Day, in March, they were duly enumerated," and their number was 33. The Oamaru Mail announces the death, at the age of 81 years, of Mr Henry Richmond. librarian of the Athenaeum for the last 36 years. The late Mr Richmond came out from the Old Country to Australia at the time of the gold fever in 1854. Before leaving the Old Land he went through many of the thrilling scenes of'Hhc Crimea campaign in the supply department. Mr Richmond was brought up to a mercantile life, and arrived in Wellington on November 14, 1857, by the ship John M'Vicar. After a year in Canterbury he travelled overland to Oamaru for the Linclis “rush,” which took place in 1859. On the outbreak of Gabriel’s Gully he was attracted further south, and was for seven years on the Otago goldfields, where Richmond hill bears hie name. lie afterward® returned to Oamaru, and acted as an accountant in various drapery houses till he became librarian of the Athenamm in 1877. Mr Richmond was one of the four oldest members of Court Pride of Oamaru, Ancient Order of Foresters, and acted as secretary for seven years. Ho was married in 1868 to a daughter of Mr Edward Allcock, of Leamington. Some three years ago he gave up his active duties as librarian;; but was still employed by the Athenaeum -as general supervisor and adviser, and in those capacities continued to the last jo fulfil his duties, being present with valuable counsel at all meetings.