PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 47

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A Press Association message states that the Wanganui Presbytery lias sustained a call from St. Andrew's Church, Wanganui. to the Rev. David Campbell, Riversdalc. Lieutenant-colonel A. B. Charters, officer commanding the Otago Battalion, was received at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, November \, and had conferred upon him by his Majesty the King the order of O.M.G. Colonel Charters has been twice mentioned in despatches by General Hamilton and General Maxwell respectively, and received great commendation for his services as base commandant in Egypt. He is the eldest son of Mr W. W. Charters, and a brother of Captain T. M. Charters, of the Ist Canterbury Regiment. His Excellency the Governor directs it to bo notified that he litis been instructed by his Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies to recognise the appointment of Mr William Eraser Edmond as Honorary Norwegian Vice-Consul at Dunedin.

Miss Margaret, M'ivor, who iias been assistant teacher at the Patearoa School for tho last seven years, was met by the scholars and some of the parents and members of the school committee last week, when she was presented by Miss Nellie O'Neill, on behalf of the scholars, with a very handsome silver toilet set. An inscription on one of tho articles set forth the esteem in which she has been held by the pupils. On behalf of the Sunday school scholars. Miss Pita Blakely presented Miss M'Jvor with a beauti-fully-bound, large-sized edition of Sankey and Moody's hymns as a slight recognition of her many years' work in tho school as teacher. Miss Keys, who has been in temporary charge of the day school for some months, was presented with a set of ebonybacked hair brashes. After the holidays Miss M'ivor will take solo charge of the Gimmerburn School. Mr Cecil Maitland, accountant at the Wellington branch of tho National Bank of New Zealand, has been appointed acting manager at Timaru. A Press Association message from Hokitika states that John M'Rao dropped dead on the s.s. Defender while stowing timber in the hold. Ho was 45 years of age. His mother and brother reside at Lyttelton.

The death is reported from Gisborne of Mr George Grant, a well-known civil engineer, as the result of a fall from his horse. He arrived in Otago in 1871 and was for some years engaged on railway work in Otago for the Government. Dr L. 11. Gould, who has been house surgeon at the Napier Hospital for the past year, has received advice from the Directorgeneral of Medical Services to report himself on January 3 for duty with the Exocd'tionarv Force.

A pleasant ceremony was enacted on the balcony of the soldiers' ward of the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday, 23rd ult.. the occasion being the presentation of a Christmas gift to Mrs J. K. Macfie, in recognition of the services she has so willingly rendered to the soldier patients of the Hospital. Trooper S. Smart, a patient of eight months, voiced the appreciation of all. and handed to Mrs Macfie a suede writing tablet, suitably engraved. Mrs Macfie responded, and stated that her work for the soldiers was not only a. pleasure but a dutv which she felt incumbent upon her to perform. Mr J. H. Carrad. clerk of the Oamaru Magistrate's Court, has received notice of his transfer to Inyoreargill. Mr W. O. Wallace, second clerk in the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch. has been appointed to Oamaru. Although it means promotion. Mr Carrad has asked to bo allowed to decline the appointment. Mr G. M'Ghie, head of tho mail room staff at the Oamaru Post Office (says the M::il). has received notice of his transfer to Dunedin, where he will be in charge of the parcels department. Tho Very Rev. Dean Holley. of Wang.i-

imi. has born appointed Provincial of the Society of Mary in the dominion, in place of Dean Smyth'e. who died in September. Chaplain-Captain Mullinoux. ■who has acted as Anglican ehoplain in the Now Zealand training ea.mps for the past four months, has resigned from this work, and will proceed to the front as a field secretary of the Y.M.C'.A. Chaplain Mullincux came in Nnv Zealand some nine months ago. having worked his passage on the Moana. and enlisted iiere with the Medical Corps in order to get to the front, where he was desirous of resuming his former work as a Navy chaplain. In deference to the request of a number of Church of England cl r<rv and laymen, lie agreed to assist with the chaplain's work in the camps, but he has now resigned his appointment, and will work in (he war-front under the Y.M.C.A banner. One of the ear!:--! settlors of the Waikoikoi district. Mr John Spark, parsed away at the residence of his sister, Mrs Alex. Reid. on Christmas Day. Mr Spark had been in failing health for about two years. so that the end was not altogether unexpected by his friends. Deceased was born In Kincardinshire, on the east coast of Scotland in June. 1834, and followed the occupa-

tioi of a ploughman in his native shire till 1863, when ho resolved on trying his fortunes in New Zealand. So, taking passago in tho sailing ship Nelson, he arrived at Port Chalmers. Being anxious to get on, Mr Spark very soon found employment with tho lato Mr Lindsay, of Boi'konshaw, Milton, and later with Messrs Gcrrard, Jas. Shcddan, and Jas. Franco in tho same locality. After this ho struck out for himself, _ and acquired a farm from tho Provincial Government on Murray's Flat, near Waitahuna. Hero ho was joined by his brother-in-law, tho lato Mr Alexander Reid, who also obtained a farm closo by, and thus Mr Spark carried on in partnership till tho opening of tho settlement in this district about tho year 1876, when ho acquired a larger holding whero ho continued farming till 1906, when ho sold out and took a trip homo. Ho never married. After returning ho mado his homo at his sister's residence at Waikoikoi. Being of a retiring disposition Mr Spark took little part in public affairs. Ho was a staunch supporter of tho Presbyterian Church, and for a number of years served on tho committee. Tho funeral took place at Waikoikoi on Wednesday, tho Rev. Mr Hill conducting the burial services at tho house ami graveside.