PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 48

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A cablegram was received on Oct. 26 by tlic Rev. Graham H. Balfour (convenor of the Theological College Committee) from Professor Dickie, saying that the latter had been placed second among the 11 candidates for the chair of systematic theology in Aberdeen University. It is expected that Professor Dickie will return to Dunedin in Pebruary. Mr Edward Moore, of Milton, has accepted _ a position as accountant with the National Mortgage and Agency Company at the Longburn Freezing Works, a few miles from Palmerston North. During his lifelong residence in Milton (says the Bruce Herald) Mr Moore has been actively associated with many local institutions. He was secretary of the Milton Dairy Factory Company, hon. secretary of the Milton Tenms Club, the Bruce Horticultural Society, Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church Choir and Sunday School. At the annual meeting of the Stirling Dairy Factory Company on Saturday, Oct. 50, the chairman of directors (Mr J. C. Anderson) referred to the resignation of Mr V m. Sawcrs, the factory manager, and stated that the directors had taken it upon themselves to recognise Mr Sawcrs’s long and valuable services in some tangible form, and had presented him with an illuminated address (says the Balclutha Free Press). Mr Sawers had b:en manager of the factory for 25 years, dating from the inception of the industry at Stirling 29 years ago. In an interval ho had tried farming for four years. Mr Sawcrs is now living in Dunedin, and his son (Mr Joseph Sawers) is managing the factory. The Oamaru Mail reports the death of Mr James Milmine, farmer at Windsor, at the ago of 78 years. Mr Milmine was born in 1840, at Galloway, Wigtonshiro, Scotland, and served an apprenticeship of five years as a joiner, and two and a-half years to marine engineering, at Lancofiold. In 1863 he arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Mataura. _ After working a year as a joiner in Dunedin, Mr Milmine was employed as joiner and millwright for 10 years by Mr James Allan, of Hope Hill, Taieri. Ho then became a mill-owner, and worked his plant for a year at the Taieri. In 1875 he removed to Elderslie, and was subsequently farming for a good many years at Otiake, besides working his plant throughout North Otago. Mr Milmine bought Lancefield in 1902. While in Scotland Mr Milmine served for five years as a volunteer in the 4th Lanarkshire Rifles, and was present in 1860 at a review by the late Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. After his arrival in Now Zealand lie was for some time a member of the East Taieri Rifles. Mr Milmine was chairman of the Brighton Road Board, in the Taieri district, for some years, and while at Otiake he served on the School Committee for a number of years, and was chairman during part of the time. The deceased leaves four eons and seven daughters. An old mining pioneer who followed the gold from Gabriel’s Gully to Coromandel. Mr John Cameron Fraser, died at tho latter place on October 20, at the age of 80 years (savs the Auckland Star). Deceased was born in Melvich, Scotland, and arrived in Dunedin in 1862. When gold was discovered at Gabriel’s Gully ho sold out his interest at Molyneux, and went to tho field. With some mates ho built and navigated tho first boat that went up the Molyneux River with mining tools and provisions. Mr Fraser was afterwards on the Nevis, Shotovor, and other alluvial flats in Otago, then joined the rush to Hokitika and Grey. Gold was discovered at Thames in 1867, and Mr Fraser reached the field the same year. Later he removed to Coromandel. whore he took part in tho development of such well-known mines at the Tokatoa, Royal Oak in the early days, and more recently the lona, Bunkers Hill, Old Hauraki, and other mines. Mr Fraser varied mining with sawmilling and general engineering. He was one of tho founders and a director of the Coromandel School of Mines. Deceased is survived by two daughters (Mrs A. F. Steedman and Mrs F. P. Burgess), also three sons (Messrs Colin Fraser, of Melbourne and Broken Hill, John Fraser, of Fiji, and Charles Fraser, of Coromandel). The Rev. Ernest Streeto, assistant vicar at St. John’s, Invercargill, has been offered by tho Primate appointment as vicar of Roxburgh, and (says tho Southland News) has accepted tho charge. Tho W-aimate Advertiser states that Mr Scott, of Central Otago, has been appointed manager of Messrs Dalgety and Co.’s Waimato branch. Mr G. H. M. M'Cluro, who has discharged tho duties of Commissioner of Grown Lauds for Southland for tho past four years, was tendered a farewell at Invercargill, by the office staff on Saturday morning, prior to his departure for Wellington. Mr Galbraith, on behalf of the staff, presented Mr M'Clure with a case of cutlery, suitably inscribed, us a token of

the esteem in which he is held by members of the staff. The Presbytery of Clutha, at a special meeting- at Milton last week, licensed Mr Edmund Halford, a student, as a probationer of the Church. Mr Halford had just finished his course at the Theological College, Dunedin. Mr Jas. Bovin, manager of the Bank of Now Zealand, Thames, and formerly manager of the Queenstown branch, has received notice of his transfer to Greymouth. Mr _ George Musgrove, the well-known theatrical manager, now resident in Sydney, is reported to bo seriously i!L Mrs Harold, who lias taken up Plunket nursing work at Westport, will be best remembered by Dunedin people as Sister Alice, who was connected with the Central Mission for several years, and was afterwards matron of the Karitano Home. Bister Alice went to Gisborne from Dunedin, and there she married Mr Harold, of the police service, who has recently been accepted for active service at the front. Mr James Horn, storekeeper of Bannock, burn, informa us that he lias received epressions of sympathy from all parts of Otago from friends who have concluded from a death notice, published by us a few days ago, that lie has suffered a serious domestic loss. His friends will be pleased to learn that the conclusion is not warranted, being due to a misapprehension consequent upon the similarity between the names of himself and of another Bannockburn resident, who has unfortunately been bereaved. A pleasing function took place in the Dunstan Hotel, at Clyde, on the 25th ult., when Sergeant Eccies, who is on transfer to Waimate, was entertained by a large gathering of friends. Mr W. R. M'Kcan, who occupied the chair, in presenting Sergeant Ecelee with a handsome cheque for Mrs Eccies, referred to the high esteem in which the Sergeant was held, both as a public officer and private citizen. Messrs J. (Smart and R. Mitchell, J.P.’s, congratulated Sergeant Eccies on the friendly relations ho had always maintained with the bench. Messrs 11. Stevens, A. H. Poole, G. Burrows, and W. Holloway also spoke of the guest’s many good qualities. Sergeant Eccies suitably replied, and hoped that in his new' district ho would make as many warm-hearted friends as he had made in Clyde. Cheers were given for Mrs Eccies, and “He’s a jolly good fellow” and “Auld Lang Syne” were sung. A few friends and supporters of Mrs Gordon during the recent Otago Queen Carnival met on the 29th ult. and presented her with a gold wristlet watch as a token of their esteem. On the 28th ult., at the Bortohello School, Miss Smith, who is leaving to take up an appointment elsewhere, was presented with a gold bangle and toilet requisites by Mr D. D. Seaton, the chairman of the School Committee, on behalf of the pupils and friends of the Portobollo School. Mr Seaton spoke in complimentary terms of Miss Smith’s work, the remarks being endorsed by Mr J. M'Cartney. Mr R. Fergus, who replied on behalf of Mies Smith, thanked the contributors for their valuable presents, and assured them that the recipient would always treasure them as mementos of the five happy years eho had spent at Portobollo. The late Mr James Mabcn, who passed away on the 27th ult., in Dunedin, ut the age of 74 years, was a- pioneer of , Otago, and Southland. Ho was born in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, in 1841, and came to New Zealand in the sixties. After working for some time on the Tokomairiro Plains, ho settled near Wyndham on a purchase he made of about 1000 acres, winch ho called “Sunnyside.” In 1872 he bought Waikawa Station, which ho successfully carried on until 1875. He then purchased Benmore Station, but the depredation of the rabbits and tho arrival of very dull times of the eighties hit the late Mr Maben very hard, and he lost, all his savings. A few years afterwards ho acquired a run situated at Lake Wan aka, where his ability and grit brought him new success. He had the misfortune, through an accident, to break his leg, which had to be amputated. Nevertheless, ho lost none of his vigour, and finally ho sold the station and repurchased Ins original holding “Sunnyside,” which he. recently sold. Mr Maben (says the Southland News) was a man of restless vigour, of remarkable business capacity in his own line, and possessed enterprise of a rare type. Tho deceased leaves a sister (Mrs Mitchell, of Northern!), a brother, who is a resident of Christchurch, and was a well-known surveyor n New. Zealand some years ago, and another brother, who is in Scotland. The Bluff Press records the death of Mrs Robert Scollay, wife of Captain Scollay, tho well-known Stewart Island pioneer, at tho ao-e of 73 years. The end came suddenly on the 25th ult., after two days’ illness. Mrs Scollay was born at Plymouth (England) in 1843, and was a daughter of Colonel Cornelius Reed, of the British Army. She came to Australia in 1859, as a girl or 1/. On the voyage out she became acquainted with Captain Scollay, who was an officer on the emigrant vessel, and they, married in Melbourne. Captain Scollay arrived m Mw Zealand in the Queen of Perth (Captain dare) in 1862, with Mrs Scollay and their vouno- familv, and erected tho first sawmill at Stewart Island. After seeing the work completed, Captain Scollay resided for a couple of vears in Invercargill, where he ran a number of lighters from the Mokomoko and Lower Pool, where the Home vessels used to lay, to Invercargill township. Ho returned to Stewart Island to supervise tho work of tho sawmill, and he also received a free Government grant of 20 acres of land, and purchased another 20 acres adjoining, -\s a seaman, he could not settle down to agricultural life oh his block of land, and so ho varied it by building schooners and engaging in the coastal trade of Otago. During all these years Mrs Scollay lived a verv retired life at Stewart Island. The loss of two sons and a son-in-law by drowning ‘created a sadness in a kindly disposition that was no doubt largely responsible for her quiet and unostentatious life. Her husband, cVht children, and many grandchildren (one of whom is with the Expeditionary Force) survive her. p Wellington Press Association message states that Miss Brock, late of the Postal Department, was presented _by the Post-master-general on the Ist. with an Imperial Service" Medal in recognition of her meritorious services as an officer in the department Sir Joseph Ward commented on tho fact that this was the first time that this honour had been conferred on a ladv in the New Zealand public service. Miss Brock first joined the service in Christchurch in 1875. She had served 33 years