PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 62

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr Robert Bell, of the Ashburton Guardian, has been elected a member of the Royal Economic Society of Groat Britain. Upon the eve of her departure from the district. Miss Margaret MacLeod was met at the Otokiu Sehoolhouse on Wednesday, 6th hist., by a large number of district residents. Mr A. P. Fleming (chairman of the School Committee) presided, and referred to the good work Miss MacLeod had done in the school during tho last 12 years. In addition to her school work Miss MacLeod took an active interest in the school garden, and after winning several prizes at tho Dunedin Winter Show during the past few years, the continued efforts of her and her pupils were last year successful in taking first prize for the best kept school garden. 'I ho children, under Miss MacLeod, were also highly successful at tho Dunedin Competitions, and had, during the past few years, carried off a number of prizes for essays and drawings. Mr Fleming took occasion to present to Miss Mad,coo. on behalf of her many friends, a very handsome oak writing desk, and expressed the hope that, in her now school at East Taicri, she would continue to enjoy the same successes that had been hors at Otokia. Miss MacLeod suitably responded. Sergeant Ecclcs, who has boon in charge of tiio Clyde police district for some years, has received notice to transfer to Waimato, and Sergeant Bingham, of Invercargill, will proceed to Clyde. A Press Association telegram states that the Christchurch Presbytery decided to nominate the' Rev. Dr J. Kennedy Elliott, of Wellington, as Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly. An Auckland Press Association message states that at tho annual meeting of the Baptist Union the election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr Charles Cathie; vice-president. Rev. John Takle; hon. secretary, Rev. R. S. Gray; treasurer, Mr -W. Larabourne ; financial secretary, Rev. A. North; auditors, Messrs W. A. Kendon and T. E. Whitton. The Clutha Presbytery, at its meeting at Milton on tho 13th, agreed to nominate the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland, of Kaikorai, Dunedin, as Moderator of Assembly for next year. The late Mrs Edward M'Kcwen, whose death occurred recently at her residence in Cumberland street, whore she resided for 52 years, was well known for her charitable disposition. Her husband predeceased her by two and a-half years. She leaves a family of four sous and three daughters. Mr W. J. Sira, son of Mr Justice Sim, left by the Rimutaka last week for Condon, in order to enlist for active service with the Imperial forces. Police Superintendent O’Donovan, of Dunedin, has been appointed to succeed Inspector Ellison, who is retiring (states a Press Association message from Wellington). Inspector Wright, of Hamilton, has been promoted superintendent, and transferred to Dunedin in succession to Superintendent O’Donovan. Mr Arthur Clifton, who has been on tho staff of the Bank of New Zealand at Palmerston for 18 months (says the Times), has been promoted to a position in the bank at Taihapo. Mr A. V. Taylor, from tho Timaru branch of the Bank of New Zealand, will succeed Mr A. T. Clifton at Palmerston. A Wellington message states that the funeral of the late Hon. John Duthio took place at Karon Cemetery on the 16th inst. At tho of the deceased, the ceremony was private, and only a few personal friends, including Sir Francis Bell (Leader of the Legislative Council) and the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, were present. The . Rev. J. M'Caw, of the Hutt, officiated, assisted by the Rev. J. Paterson. After the Waihcmo County meeting, Mr Muir (chairman of the Palmerston and District Patriotic Committee) asked Mr O’Neill (chairman of the county) to make a presentation, on behalf of the citizens and committee, to Mr Wm. M‘Gregor, who acted as secretary and treasurer for the Country Queen Committee. Mr O’Neill, in a few appropriate and happy words, made tho presentation of a gold albert and pendant, with inscription. The gift, he said, was not meant as a reward, but in appreciation of tho cheerful and efficient manner in which Mr M'Gregor had carried out his onerous duties, and he hoped ho would bo long spared to wear tho small memento. The remarks were heartily endorsed by the citizens and members of committee present. Mr M‘Gregor, who was taken by surprise, said ho had undertaken t!se duties to do his little towards raising funds for our wounded soldiers and dependents. Ho would always treasure the memento of their thoughtfulness, and he thanked them very sincerely. Among our illustrations will be found the portrait of Sergeant-major Hunter, a Crimean veteran, who died recently in England, after a somewhat adventurous career. He was the uncle of Mr Bagshaw of the Dunedin Post Office staff, and about a dozen of his near relatives are serving their country in the present war, including Captain Shaw, of the Black Watch. Born at Holomuir, Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1830, he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in 1848. His battery, was sent to the Crimea, and were anchored off the shore and witnessed the charge of the Guards Brigade and the Highland Brigade at the battle of Alma. Sergeant-major Hunter always insisted that tho Highlanders were the first to break tho Russian line. The battery landed to assist in tho siege of Sebastopol and the Sergeant-major helped to mount the first two guns directed against tho fortress. He served throughout the whole siege and had many exciting adventures. On tho day of the battle of Inkerman he assisted in dragging two 18-poundcrs up a steep hill to oppose the Russians and they soon got in effective work. Those working tiie guns were mentioned in orders for efficient service, and Sergeant-major Hunter, who had a narrow escape, a shot ploughing through his shako, received on leaving tho army an addition of tea per clay for his share in the work. Ho had quite a number of other surprising ecapos from injury by Russian shells. Ho left fhe army after serving 21 years and 282 days. His discharge referred to his character as exemplary, and mentioned at the request of Field-marshall Lord Raglan, that he had rendered essential service with two 18-pounclors at the battle of Inkerman, Wounded in left knee before Sebastopol, March 15, 1855, he retained all his faculties and his fine military bearing to the last despite his advanced ago. The death took place on August 1. at Eastbank, Lenzie, Scotland, of Mr William Jolly, emeritus inspector of Schools for Scotland, brother of Mr D. A. Jolly, formerly of Cromwell, but now of Mussel-

burgh, and a fellow pupil of the late Professor Black, at the Edinburgh Normal School. From a lengthy notice of Mr Jolly in the Glasgow Herald, wo learn that he was 75 years of ago, having been born at _ Arbroath in 185 S". After passing the exit examination of the Normal School, he received an appointment as teacher, rising m the profession ho had adopted till ho became English master at Dr Bryce’s Collegiate Institution. He was appo.nted inspector of schools in 1869, and after a brief experience of the Edinburgh district, ho was transferred to Inverness, where he spent 14 years, eventually becoming inspector of the populous district of Govan and the county of Dumbarton. He had a distinguished career as an educationalist, and did notable work as a litterateur, scientist, and archaeologist. His journeying enabled him to become familiar with the highlands and he contributed many interesting and ablo papers to various societies of which ho was a member on tho many scientific, archaeological and social problems which the highlands present. Ho wrote a good deal concerning the geology of many parts of Scotland. He was much liked in Inverness, and on leaving was presented with a service of plate and a purse with 100 sovereigns. Probably his most important educational work was the editing and publishing of a largo volume entitled “Educational Principles anti Pract:ccs as Developed by George Combe.” His biography of “John Duncan, Scotch Weaver and Botanist,” and his sketches of the lives of a number of earnest friends gained him many readers and numerous friends. After his retirement he published a long poem on “The Battle of Bothwell Bridge,’* and “The Trial and Execution of Sir William Wallace.” One of Mr Jolly’s daughters is tho wife of Mr Robert Duncan, formerly M.P. for Govan. Miss M. Kempton, of the Invercargill office of tho Labour Department, has been transferred to the Wanganui office'. Mr G. B. Burns, clerk of the Lake County Council, has been appointed town clerk at Queenstown. Tho Rev. A. H. Wheeldon, who was for some time in charge of the Arrow Presbyterian parish, was recently appointed to the Gisborne charge. Mr A. J. Barnard, who has for several voars been teller of the Ashburton branch of the Union Bank of Australia (says the Guardian), has been transferred to tho Invercargill branch of the bank. The Timaru Herald reports the death of Mr Arthur Segar, who joined the Harbour Board staff there in 1882, and remained in that employment until 1913, when ho came south to work a dredge on the Molyneux River. He had been in ill health for some time. The deceased was a well-known member of tho Orange Institution. He wna alsofor many years one of the load mg canarv and pigeon fanciers in the South Island, where, at different shows, he secured numerous prizes with his birds. Mr Sogar was ouo of the oldest members of tho Timaru Roultry. Pigeon, and Canary Society. He is survived by his wife and a large family. There died at Oamaru on the 15th inst. an esteemed resdont of the town, Mr Nicholas Marsh, at the age of 73 years._ The deceased came out to the dominion in the ship Eagle Speed, upwards of 50 years ago (says the North Otago Times'! Leri hy fanatical Titikowa.ru, the Taranaki Maoris had risen in revolt, and. as there was an urgent call for recruits. Mr Marsh enlisted, joining the famous Forest Rangers, led by Major von Tempsky. When peace came tho young soldier entered tho police force, which was then under the supervision of Mr Brannignn, and received an appointment to the Onotiki station. Subsequently ho served at different stations in the Auckland province. Later ho was removed to Pembroke, where he spent 12 MiMarsh’s last appointment prior to his retirement on superannuation was to the Oamaru station, where, during his 10 years’ service, ho was extremely popular with all classes of the community. Deceased leaves a widow and grown-un family of four sons and two daughters. The youngest son is at present in training at Trcntham.