PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 49

PERSONAL ITEMS.

At a meeting of the committee of the Dunedin City Mission held on the sth (Mr P. L. (.'lark presiding), the members present passed a. resolution of deepest sympathy with Mr Duncan Wright in connection with the death of his wife on November 17. Mr Joseph Sawers, manager of the Stirling Dairy Factory, has received an appointment as Government grader at the port of Patea, and leaves to take up his newduties in about a month's time. The Free Press states that Mr Wm. Sawcrs, father of the present manager, and for a considerable period manager of the factory previously, will take his son's place until the end of the season. The late Mrs Hitchon, who died at Milton recently, was a native of Beeston, near Nottingham. England, where she was born in 1831, and was one of the genuine Otago pioneers. She was married in 1857 at the parish church, Mansfield. Woodhousc, Nottingham. Shortly after fheir marriage Mr and Mrs Hitchon sailed for Victoria, where Mr Hitchon prospected on the goldfields. Jn common with thousands of other miners he came to New Zealand shortly after the Gabriel's Gully rush, and settled on the

"poor maii'a field" at Adams Flat, Glenore district. Mrs Hitchon followed her husbarid in 1863. and thoy took \ip their abodr> at Adams Flat. Mrs Hitchon's husband predeceased her by 24 years. She continued her residence at Adams Flat until about 11 years ago, when, owing to some of her family having removed to Milton, she took up her residence there. The Bruce Herald records that there were seven children born of the marriage. The surviving members of the family are: Thomas, Manly, and William (all resident at Milton), and two daughters—Mrs W. A. Murray (Dunedin) and Mr; F. Beckingsale (Palmerston). The Rev. I. Sarginson, of the Timaru Congregational Church, has received a call to the pastorate of the Congregational Church at St. Clair. Mr Sarginson has decided to accept the invitation, and will close his ministry nt Timaru on the 31st inst.

The Rev. Mr Loiidell, of Orepuki, has received word from the Defence Department asking him to accept a chaplaincy in the Twenty-first Reinforcements, leaving next year. Ho intends (says the Western Star) to resign his charge at the end of this month and proceed to camp. Mr Ernest Drake, the promising young tenor singer of this city, has received great encouragement from two distinguished musicians. Miss Ivatherine Goodson, the celebrated pianist, on hearing Mr Drake sing, was so much impressed with his voice that she mentioned the fact in a letter to Madame Melba, with the result that Mr Drake had an invitation to meet the great singer. Mr Drake sang, and Madame Melba expressed herself as greatly pleased, and remarked that he might attain to be a frontrank singer. Madame Melba recommended him to continue studying operatic solos, and generously spent half an hour in a practical illustration of her own methods. A Press Association cable message from London announces that Gladstone V> T ard has recovered from the injuries sustained in a recent motor ear accident, and has resumed his military duties. Miss Mary Ethel Craig has been appointed postmistress at the Waitahuna new post oflice, which will lie opened to transact business to-day. Master Daniel Lynch is appointed telegraph messenger in the same oflice. A Pres 3 Association cable message from London states that Sir Joseph Ward has telegraphed to Rear-admiral Ilalsey, formerly in command of 11.M.5. New Zealand, congratulating him on his promotion to the Board of Admiralty. A Press Association cable message from London states that Mrs and Miss Massey have been received by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Mrs Mary Tregen.r (mother of Mr Edward Trcgear. 1.5.0., of Wellington) died in Auckland on Sunday, aged 92. The de-

ceased lady was tho widow of tho late Mr William James Tregear, R.N., a captain in the P. and O. Company's service, who died on his ship in the Indian Ocean in August, 1859. She arrived in Auckland in 1863, and remained thero until her death. The surviving members of the family are Mr Edward Tregear, Miss Tregear (who is now superannuated after many years' service in tho Education Department), and Mrs H. 0. Morrison, widow of tho late Major Morrison, of the New Zealand Permanent Artillery. Since her husband's death, 57 years ago, there has been no deatn among any of her children or numerous grand children and great grandchildren. Advice has been received from London that Mr A. K. Anderson, M.A., of the Otago Boys' High School, has been elected a Fellow of tho Royal Historical Society.

A Tress Association cable messago states that the Edinburgh University has offered to confer a degreo upon Mr Massey.

A Press Association cable messago from Sydney reports that Alderman Meagher has been re-elected Lord Mayor of the City. The medical officer of the steamer Palermo, which was torpedoed last week off the coast of Spain, was Dr J. A. M'Kinnon, of Christchurch. Dr M'Kinnon was in Christchurch a couple of months ago on holiday leave, and he rejoined tho Palermo at an Australian port. A well-known resident of tho Taien iiassed away on Friday morning in tho person of Mr Andrew Frow at tho ago of 18 years. The deceased was born at Kilsythe, Scotland, and arrived in New Zealand as a young man about 55 yerrs ago. Ho followed cattle-dealinnr for a number of years, and, upon retiring from business, settled in Mosgicl, where he resided until his death. He leaves a widow and grown-up family of five daughters and three sons. The youngest son, David, made the supremo sacrifice in. France on September 15, and tho eldest son, Andrew, is now in camp with the Twenty-second Reinforcements.

Mr Richard Norman writes: I have just received a telegram apprising mo of the death last Sunday morning of my old friend Mr Donald M'Lennan, of Hawea Flat; The late Mr M'Lennan came from Elginshire to Morven Hills Station in 1863, and a couple of years afterwards Mrs M'Lennan and the three eldest children came out in the Warrior Queen and joined him. For some years Mr M'Lennan filled the position of married shepherd in charge of the Hawea section of the Morven Hills Station. With the subdivision of the runs some years afterwards Mr M'Lennan became one of the first live farmers on the Hawea Flat, a few years after Messrs Drake Brothers started, and has resided there even since. The farm is now in the possession of his youngest sons, Donald and James, with whom he lived. The late Mr M'Lennan possessed a large fund of humour, and some literary ability, and his Gaelic songs were a feature at social gatherings. About a couple of years ago he broke his leg, and his health never recovered, and ho often required some medical attention, so that the end was not unexpected. He expired peacefully last Sunday morning, his age being over 80 years. The late Mr M'Lennan leaves a widow and grown-up family (all married), and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The sons are J. D., Auripo, David. Taieri Mouth, and Donald and James, Mrs Muir and Mrs Connolly, Haw-ea, and Mrs Wm. Smith, Saddle Hill are the daughters. Mrs Faulks, of Carisbrook, is his sister. His brother Murdoch died at. Garston a few months back. Another brother, Kenneth, lived in Mosgiol for some years. A Press Association cable mes=ngo from London states that Mr Mas.scy will, on the 20th inst., have conferred upon him the honorary freedom of the Livery Clothworkers' Company. A Press Association message from Perth (W.A.) states that through the swamping of a motor launch at Albany, Sergeantmajor Duncan Cameron, of New Zealand, was drowned. Cameron was formerly steward to the Governor of New Zealand.

Dr Drennan, professor of clinical pathology at the Otago University, with Mrs Drennan and their two children, arrived in Dunedin by the first express from the north on Monday. At the time of bis appointment in 1914 Df Drennan was lecturer of practical pathology at the Edinburgh University, and first assistant to the professor of pathology. He also held several important pathological appointments in the hospitals in Edinburgh. It will be remembered that Dr Drennan was granted leave to go on active service, and until recently he was stationed in one of the military hospitals at Alexandria.

A Press Association cable message from London states that Lord Curzon is engaged to marry Grace, eldest daughter of Mr Monroe Hands, formerly American Minister in Brazil. The first Lady Curzon was a daughter of the late L. Z. Loiter, an American capitalist. Another old identity of Wellington has passed away' in the person of Mr Frederick George Petheriek. in his eighty-fourth year (says the New Zealand Times). The late Mr Petheriek arrived in Wellington on January 22, 1840, by the ship Aurora. After an adventurous career Mr Petheriek was attracted by the Australian gold rush, and took part in the gold digging operations at Bendigo and BalLirjit during '"the early 'fifties. He later cam? to New Zealand and went to the cold diggings on the West Coast. - Ho then went to Wellington, settling down to various occupations. The deceased gentleman left a widow and five children—two daughters (Mrs R. W. Avery and IMrs A. -T. Genry) and three sons _ (Messrs F. W. Petheriek." A. James Petheriek, and Thomas A. Petheriek).