PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3205, 18 August 1915, Page 63

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr Alex. Cummings, who died at his residence, Clifton on Sunday week, at the age of 62 years, was an old identity of Shag Valley, where ho was well known and highly respected. He was in the employ of the Waihemo County Council for many years, and on his retirement through advancing years, lived on his farm at Clifton. Besides Mrs Cummings, who survives him, he leaves a family of one daughter and two sons. The vacancy caused by the retirement on superannuation of Mr S. F. Anderson, vine and wine instructor, orchards, gardens, and apiaries division of the Agricultural Department, has been filled by the appointment of Mr A. H. Mazure, late of the Champsano Vineyards, Forbes, New South Wales. In addition to bis Australian experience, Mr Mazure has had viticukural training in France. He was born in South Australia. Gradually the little circle of French immigrants who arrived in Akaroa under the auspices of the Nanto Bordelaise, is being narrowed, it being further depleted by the death of Claude Joan Baptiste Feveneaux, at Akaroa, on Friday night aged £6 years. The deceased was born on October 29, 1821, in the Commune do Ruffey, Canton do Blettcrcns, France, and, with his parents, was one of the band of emigrants to arrive in Akaroa Harbour in the Comte de Paris in 1840, at the age of 19. He married Madeline Catherine Libeau, also an emigrant on the Comte de Paris, and afterseveral years’ residence, went to the West Coast, thence to Wellington, whence ho made several trips to the Australian gold diggings, on the return from one of which, in 1855, he had the ill-fortune to lose a bag of gold valued at £6OO, which fob from his vest into the water as he was leaving the vessel. Pie returned to Akaroa 10 years ngo„ and in 1897 celebrated his golden wedding. His widow and four children survive to mourn their loss. An old Taieri resident in the person of Mr John Bruce, Momona, passed away last week at the age of 78 years. He was born at Kirkmecklo, Blairgowrie, in 1837, and came to New Zealand in February, 1853, in the Robert- Henderson At the time of the Gabriel’s Gully fush he spent some time as carrier to the diggings. Later on he settled at Brighton, and was for many years a member of the Brighton Road Board. He came to the Taieri in 1890, and settled in Momona, where he resided up to the time of his death. He was a member of the West Taieri Drainage Board for some years. His wife predeceased him by nine months. The late Mr Bruce had a family of nine children —five sons and four daughters,—of whom three sons and three daughters are alive —Mrs James Birtles (Waikouaiti), Mrs Jos. Allan (Ricoarton), Mrs A. Moore (Momona), George Bruce (Maheno), and Messrs Dan and John A. Bruce (Momona). There are 43 grandchildren and two great-grand-children. . The Rev. W. F. Evans, of Waikaka Valley Church, has been extended a call by the newly-formed Waihao Valley Presbyterian Church. A Press Association telegram states that the induction of the Rev. Samuel F. Hunter as minister of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Oamaru, took place on the 12th inst. The, service was conducted by the Rev. Mr Nichol (Moderator) in the presence of a large congregation. The minis-ter-elect is a young man of high attainments and comes with excellent credentials from Ipswich (Queensland). He made a Aery favourable impression. There died at Gore Hospital last week ■an old identity on the Edcndalo Plain, in Mr John Creron. The deceased, who had reached the ago of 76 years, was a native of Rathmelton, County Donegal, Ireland. Ho arrived at Dunedin in 1374 by the sailing ship CarchLorno, commanded by Captain Young. He first worked at Inch Clutha, on the farm of Mr William M ladden, and went to Edendale in 1881, where he joined his brother-in-law, the late John M'Fadden, of Menzics Ferry terrace (who was a brother of Mr Wm. M’Fadden), and in his latter days lived in close proximity to the descendants of that family. Ihc deceased was a eon of the late Mrs Hannah (“Granny”) Creron, who died at the M fi adden residence, Menzies Ferry, in 1897, at the wonderful ago of 104 years The late Mr Creron, who was _ a bachelor, was of ouict. unassuming habits, and bis relatives and old acquaintances will regret his demise. , _ . , , On the 12th inst. the Rev. E. A. Axelsen agent of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, and Mr F. G. Cumming, of the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society, mot Chief ■Detective Herbert at the Magistrate’s Court in order formally to express to him their appreciation of the great assistance he had constantly rendered to them in their work. They presented him with a gold-mounted umbrella, suitably inscribed, ns a token of their indebtedness and gratitude for the cordial and sympathetic way in which he had forwarded their social work. The Chief Detective, iu responding, paid 1 a high tribute to the excellence of the work done for the city by Mr Axelson and Mr Gumming. A Press Association telegram stales that private advice has been received in Wellington of the death, in Nova Scotia, of Mr George F. Smith, who was. for 17 years assistant secretary of the Wellington Harbour Board. Born at New Brunswick in 1850, Mr Smith was a son of Mr William Smith, Deputy Minister of Marine for the

dominion. On leaving school he joined tho training ship Britannia, and rose in the Royal Navy to tho rank of lieutenant. Retiring from the navy in 1878, he oamc out to New Zealand with a view to farming, and for six years was engaged in surveying, sheep-farming, and wheatgrowing in the Canterbury district. In 1835 he obtained employment as draughtsman in tV Public Works and Marino Departments in Wellington, undertaking special work, including a marine survey of tho Kaioana Harbour and a chart showing tho lighthouses of New Zealand. Mr Smith joined the Wellington Harbour Board on June 1, 18S0, as assistant secretary, and continued as such until 1907, when ho voluntarily retired. During Mr William Ferguson's absence in Europe Mr Smith acted as secretary. Subsequently ho went to Canada to carry on apple farming. One of the earliest settlers in tho Otokia district passed away on tho 6th in the person of Mrs Hannan. The deceased lady was born 86 ye are ago in Co. Mayo, Ireland, and arrived in New Zealand in 1874. She settled with her husband (who predeceased her 26 years ago) in Otokia. There is only one survivor of the family—-Miet? Hannan, who lives at Otokia. Mr William C. MacGregor, who was recently appointed Crown Prosecutor, has now had conferred unon him the distinction of K.O. A Press Association message from Auckland states that Mr William Coleman, a well-known solicitor of Auckland, died on. Sunday. He was brother-in-law of the Hon. A. M. Myers. The approaching departure of Miss Griffin from Dunedin was the occasion for a farewell social tendered to her by the girl members* of the Y.W.C.A. in the club rooms, Moray place, on Saturday evening. A Saratoga trunk and a suit case were presented to her as evidence of tho affection and regard in which Miss Griffin has been held by all her girl friends during the three years that she has acted as general secretary of the association. A programme interspersed with music and recitations was brought to a close by supper and the singing of “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” A Press Association message from Wellington states that Captain George C. Hart, for many years Assistant Marine Superintendent for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company at Wellington, and retired six years ago, died on the 16th; -aged 74 years. A large number of residents met at Otokia on Friday evening for the purpose of giving a farewell social to Mr and Mrs H. IP. Wilson, who have eold their farm and removed to Green Island. Mr A. P. Fleming, on behalf of the residents, presented to Mr Wilson a case of silver-mounted pipes and to Mrs Wilson a Mosgiel rug. He referred to the many good qualities possessed by the recipients, who, he said, were always to the fore in promoting the welfare of the district. Mr Wilson suitably responded. Mr Onnsby Gore Adams (youngest son of Mr C. TV. Adams, formerly Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands in Otago and Marlborough) has returned to New Zealand from Bolivia, where he is in charge of a large mining property, in which much English capital is invested. Ho is suffering from malarial fever, and (says our Wellington correspondent) has come back to his native country to recuperate. One of Opotiki’s old identities passed away on August 3 in the person of Mr Samuel Elliott. The late Mr . Elliott was born in Hampshire, England, in tne year 1836, and joined tho royal navy at a very early ago. He came tio Australia at the close of the fifties, and was on the Victorian goldfields for some years. He subsequently came across to tho Otago goldfields, and after a short spell on those fields he entered into business in lightering at the Bluff and in running small vessels between tho Bluff and Port Chalmers. In 1863 he went back to Victoria for tho purpose of getting nitirriccl, find shortly after his return to the Bluff with his .bride he abandoned seafaring and joined tho Provincial Police Force, being stationed at the Bluff. In 1855 he res’gned from tho police and went to Wellington, where bo work d on some of the largo reclamation and wharf construction contracts of those days. In 1857 he joined the Telegraph Department, and was stationed at Cheviot Station in charge of line-construction parties throughout Canterbury province. In 1871 ho was placed in charge of Kokuranga Telegraph Station. Marlborough, and in 1874 was 'ordered to Opotikh Bay of Plenty, to open the telegraph office there. He arrived at Onotiki on June 30. 1374, ■with his family, and resided there continuously until his death. In 1898 Mr Elliott retired from the Public Service after 31 years’ continuous service in tec Telegraph Department, 24 of which wero spent at Opotiki. The remaining years _oi ms life were spent on his farm at Onotilu During his period of bodily activity Mr E'liott was a well-known figure in the social Hfoof the district. Of him it may he truly said that he lived respected and died regretted by all wbo knew him. Ho is survived by his widow, seven sons and four daughters, and a large number of grandchildren.