PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3291, 11 April 1917, Page 36

PERSONAL ITEMS.

_ A Press Association message from "\Ycl< lington states that at the half-yearly examination for land surveyors, conducted by the Surveyors' Board, two candidates presented themselves, and one, Mr C. J. Dunn (Duncdin), was successful. There died at Christchurch on March 15 a former member of the Daily Times and Witness mechanical staff in the person of Mr W. G. N. Handley. Mr Handley arrived from Melbourne early in 1903," and was engaged by the Daily limes Company, and finished his apprenticeship in its employment. He became a,skilful linotypo operator, and was in the employment of tho company for some years, also seeing service the staffs of the Hawkc's Bay Herald. Timaru Post, and, finally, tho Christchurch Sun. When in Dunedin Mr Ilandley was an enthusiastic rose grower, and was a regular competitor at shows held in this office. He was never robust, and some time after removal to Christrhurch he developed a serious illness, to which ho finally succumbed. He was a prominent member of the Typographical Society, and was held in tho highest respect, not only by his fellow craftsmen, but also by a wide circle of friends. Ho leaves a widow and four small children. The late Mr. Handley was the second son of Air T. B. Handley, editor of tho Thames Star. Mr R. E. Lechncr, postmaster at Reefton, retired from tho service on superannuation on the 31st ult., after a period of over 42 years in tho Post and Telegraph Department. Mr Lochner's retirement was on account of health reasons. The death took place at Reefton on Sunday, Ist inst., of Mr W. Forens, manager of the Reefton branch of tho National Bank. Deceased was 53 years of age. Ho had been more or less in ill-health for some time. Ho leaves a widow and four daughters. Tho death, which is announced by cable, of Mr Edward T. Fricker, editor of tho Australasian, removes -one of the oldest; journalists in the dominions. Born in London in 1858, the son of an architect, and! educated privately in London and Margate, his first employment was in the shipping business. Coming to Dunedin, he entered journalism as a member of tho reporting staff of tho Otago Daily Times, upon which ho speedily made his mark. In addition to tho performance of the ordinary routine of a- reporter's duties Mr Pricker did a good deal of descriptive writing, and made a specialty of dramatic criticism. His work had a marked quality of its own. He possessed a lightness of touch that made his contributions particularly welccmo. Most readable and very highly appreciated was tho work he produced as dramatic critic of this paper. In this special department of journalism ho was "facile princeps" in the dominion. Ho praised generously where praise - was believed by him to bo merited—and his judgment was generally admitted to _be verysound—and his effectively bantering criticism of that which he deemed to be unworthy of commendation, -while it completely served its purpese, left no wounds that did not admit of healing. His clever descriptive pen was perhaps employed to best advantage in tho columns cf cfiis paper in his account of tho Parihafca expedition, which he accompanied in 1881 as special correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, and in his pictures cf the scenes fir ccurfc during tho memorable trial in Canterbury of tho two accused in what was known a a the Hall poisoning trial. In !.882 a tempting opportunity came to Mr Pricker to join the staff of tho Melbourne, Argus, the _ proprietary of which had recognised in him a journalist of great ability, audi, icis i.ug chat paper as parliamentary reporter,, be became, in due course its dramatic critic and or;o of its leader writers. la 1903 he v. r as appointed editor of the Australasian, a position which is v.aw rendered vacant "by his death.

One of the most respected ladies la the community passed to her rest en the Ist last (says the Bluff Press), in the person of Mrs J. R. Bertrand, whose history was wrapped up in the early days of Bluff. She came to that town with her husbanrl id tho year 1874. The deceased lady was tho eldest daughter of Mr E. A. Labatt, of Ramsgate, Kent, England, and a sister of Mr H. Labatt, of Bluff, and of Mr E, A. Labatt. Invercargill. She was married at Westport in 1871 to the late Mr J. R. Bertrand and arrived at Bluff with her husband throe years later, who was in that year appointed ' officer-in-charge cf the Customs at Bluff. The latter gentleman, tools a prominent part in the early Bluff regattas, was a councillor of the borough, and actively engaged in all movements for tho welfare and advancement cf the town. In Mrs Bertrand ho had a worthy helpmate, and while that lady actively associated herself in the formation of such desirable institutions as the Athenaeum, etc.. her main work was in connection with the interests of St. Matthew's Church, in which tor many years she was president of the Ladies' Guild/ A family of five are left to mourn their loss, and in addition she leaves three brothers in the dominion. The Rev. F. Stubbs, F.8.G.5.. an occasional contributor to our own and other Australasian journals, has recently had tho honour of beinjr elected an honorary corresponding member of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. He was elected to the English and American Geographical Societies some years ago. Mr J. Buchan. author of "A History of the War" and of several popular war books, lias been appointed Director of Information under the Prime Minister, and Mr Harry E. Brittain, organiser of the Imperial Press Conference, and author of a few widelyread books of travel, has received tho appointment of Director of Intelligence under Mr Neville Chamberlain, Director-general of National .Service at Home. At Buckingham Palace in February tho' CM G. was bestowed upon Lieutenantcolonel Montagu Cradock (King Edward's [-lor*e) Lieutenant-colonel A. Plugge (New Zealand Infantry), and Major-general A. P. Pcnton- the D.S.O. upon Major John Studholme (New Zealand Mounted Rifles); the Military Cross upon Lieutenant-colonel Tiii"-h Stewart (New Zealand Infantry), and upon Cantain H. B. D. W"iiloox (Sherwood Foresters).