PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 47

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The death occurred at her residence, Wellington, on the 18th inst. of Mrs Campbell, wife of Mr G. F. 0. Campbell (Secretary of the Treasury), after a short illness. The deceased lady, who was much respected, was a daughter of Mr Pike, of Dunedin. She leaves a son, Lieut. Alan Campbell, now in Palestine. Another of the early settlers of Otago passed away at her residence, Balclutha. North, on .Friday., 14th inst., in the person of Mrs Alexander Johnston. The deceased, who was 87 yeai"s of age, was quite hale and hearty right up till the time of her death (says the Free Press), and. was only ill for about three hours. Mrs Johnston was born at Crichton, near Edinburgh, in 1830, and came to New Zealand with her husband in the Jura in 1858. After they arrived at Dunedin her husband worked for a whilo for the late Mr A. Anderson. Mr Johnston later purchased a farm at Puerua, and lived there for many years, being among the earliest settlers there. On her husband's death Mrs Johnston sold the farm, and removed to Momona, where she and her family lived for about two years. From there she went to live at Balclutha North, and for the past 11 years had resided there. There were five of a family—two sons and three daughters. News has just reached "Wellington that Captain Stenhouse, R.N., who was connected with the Shackleton expedition, and was very popular while ih New Zealand, was gunnery officer on one of his Majesty's ships which recently sank a big submarine, and has been awarded the D.S.O.

Another of Otago's pioneers passed away at Port Molyneux on the 16th in the person of Mr James Paterson. aged 92 years. Deceased was born in Edinburgh, and at an early age was apprenticed to the bakery trade. After working in the north of Scotland for some time he returned to Edinburgh, where in 1853 ho married Miss Sophia Aitkcnhead. In 1858 the couple left Scotland for New Zealand, with their three children, in the ship Jura. Shortly after reaching Port Chalmers Mr Paterson commenced business as a baker in Walker street. In 1854 ho purchased 200 acres at Port Motyneux. He re-entered business after a few years, when he purchased the store and business of tho Robert Miller at Port Molyneux. He carried on successfully until 1903, when failing health forced him to relinquish it in favour of his son, Mr A. Paterson. Most of the remaining years of his life were spent in his garden at the "Pleasanco." Mr Paterson was confined to his bed for only three weeks prior to his death, and retained all his faculties to tho end- Mrs Paterson predeceased him by 17 years, and his sister, Miss Jessie Paterson, passed away eight weeks einco at the advanced age of 94 years. He is survived by a family of four—Mr William Paterson (seoretary of the Early Settlers' Association, Dunedin). Adam A. Paterson (fltorokeener, Port Molyneux), James Pater-

son (farmer, To Puki, Auckland), and Miss Paterson (the "Pleasance"). Mr Patcrson was for 42 years senior trustee of the Loyal Alexandra Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F. For many years the la to Mr Paterson took a very active part in connection with the Presbyterian Church, School Committee, and the Road Board, until that body was merged into the County Council. The death is announced of Mr Philip Rueh, one of Marlborough's earliest settlers, and for many years associated with the Marlborough Racing Club, both as handicapper and president. Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., who has been at Rotorua recuperating from his recent indisposition, has resumed his magisterial duties in Wellington. The death occurred at Masterton on the 16th, at the age of 84 years, of Mr Edward Green a pioneer settler of the Wairarapa. The. deceased came to the district when it was in its infancy. He was the first hotelkeeper at Eketahuna, and was a conspicuous figure for many years. In his latter days his lines did not fall in pleasant places. He leaves a family of two sons and two daughters. The Wyndham Herald states that the late Mr James Williamson, who was buried in the Mataura cemetery on Wednesday, was born in 1841, sailed from the Clyde at the end of November, 1847, and reached Port Chalmers in March, 1848. His father took up land under the Otago Association system, then newly formed, and secured a town section (where Messrs Brown, Ewings shop and Wain's Hotel now stand), suburban section in the Kaikorai Valley, and a 200ucro farm in North Taieri. As a young man deceased worked on his father's farm, and later took to carting between Dunedin and the Tuapeka diggings. In 1862 he and his brother G-eorgo took up land at Oteramika. In 1866 deceased married the daughter of Mr J. Oughton, Roslyn. The property, known as Mavis Bank, was bought 111 1872, and for 30 years the family lived there, after which they removed to the Western District, where the sons still live. Mrs Williamson died in 1900, and left four sons and two daughters. These all survive. Mr George Williamson is a farmer at Thornbury, William is in France at the front, John is in Invercargill, and Frederick is in Wellington, Mrs W. Urquhart lives in Thornbury, and Mrs W. D. Mitchell is in the Wyndham district. Advice has been received from London that, on account of advancing years and ill-health, Mr Edmund C. Morgan has resigned from the directorate of the National Bank of New Zealand.

The Right Rev. Cecil Wilson, D V D., sometime Bishop of Melanesia, has been elected Bishop of Bunbury, Western Australia, : n succession to Dr Goldsmith, who left_ for England a few weeks ago. Bishop Wilson U a son-in-law of Bishop Julius, of Christchurch.

The ministers of Mosgiel, assembled in meeting on Friday, passed a unanimous vote of appreciation of the Rev. W. A. Hamblott, who is to leave for Gore at an early date. Pleasant relations had always existed between Mr Hamblctt and the other members, and regret was expressed at the severance Hearty congratulations were offered at his new appointment, and best wishes for his future success were- expressed. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that Dr H. P. Murray Aynsley a very well-known medioal man there some years ago, died on the 21st; aged 57 vears. A fow months ago he returned from- Scotland, where he had been practising many years. Cnaplam W. Ready, who has been on a hospital ship, has returned Dunedin. Mr Ready, when he arrived m London, received the sad news of his youngest son's death (Gunner Gordon Ready), who was reported first missing, and now is reported believed killed in action. Chaplain. Ready had th. 3 pleasure of bringing home with him in the ship his second son (Gunner Wilfred Ready), who has seen three years' service, and who had to be operated upon in the trenches in France. This lad engaged in the first brush the New had with the Turks up the Suez Canal,_ prior to th>? Gallipoll engagement. Lieutenant Harold Ready, the eldest son, is expecting to take his departure for the scene of battle any day. Mr Ready has four nephews fighting in France. Three of them are in the Canadian Scottish. One has been wounded twice, and is back in the fighting line again. Mr Ready has kindly consented to preach in Trinity Church tomorrow evening - .

Detective Cameron has been promoted to the rank of detective-sergeant: A Press Association message from Waimate states that Mr George Pitcaithly, 8.A., who has been head master of Waimate District High School for the past 22 years, has decided to accept the inspectorship of the Auckland education district. He will take up his new position on November 1.

Mr W. B. Scandrett, whose death occurred at Irlvercargill on Sunday, was born in England, near London, and at the age of 18 years he came out to New Zealand, arriving at Dunedin in 1858. Four years later ho settled -in Inveroargall, where he made his home permanently, and where he became a very well-known figure. During his 49 years' residence in that town, ho gave a full share of his time to the duties of citizenship and served for a number of terms as both a mayor and councillor. Mr Scandrett, who died in his seventy-eighth year, was a director of several public companies, a memiber of committee of a number of local institutions, and a Fellow of the Institute of Accountants of New Zealand.

The death of Mr John Aitken, which occurred at his son's residence, Kana street, Mataura, last week, removes one of the oldest identities of Southland. Born at Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland; in 1855 deceased came out to the dominion at the age of three years, with his parents, in the ship Three Bolls, landing at Dxmedin in 1858. The family sailed in 1859 for Invercargill, arriving on New Year's Day. Deceased served his apprenticeship at the saddlery trado with the late Mr Colin Brown in Tay street, Invercargill, and subsequently started business on his own account at Invercargill. Bater he went to Gore to manage the saddlery department of Messrs Brewer and Trembath. Some years later the late Mr Aitken went into partnership with Mr John Broad (now of Oamaru), which was dissolved some years later, and tho business was carried on by Mr Broad, deceased, returning to Invercargill, restarting business there. Mr Aitken removed to Mataura in 1907, and joined his son. Deceased was married in Julv, 1879, to a Miss Within gton. of Birmingham, who predeceased him 34 years ago. One son (Private James Aitken) was killed in action in September last year on the Somme, and another (Mr John Aitken, Mataura) and one daughter (Mrs G. Lines, Georgetown, Invercargill) survive.