PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 47

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A Press Association cable message from Sydney announces the death of Mr Forsyth, general manager for Messrs Earns, Philp, and Co.

Dr Truby King, who has been invited by tho Marlborough School of Mothercraft to conduct a campaign in connection with the saving of child life in Great Britain, has taken his departure for England. Tho Sun states that Mr W. S. Pratt, grain salesman in Christchurch for tho National Mortgage and Agency Company, whoso services have been lent by his company to the Government in connection with tho wheat purchase scheme, has had a very wido experience in tho grain business, having been in tho employ of 'tho National Mortgage and Agency Company for slightly over 20 years. Mr Pratt has occupied somo highly responsible positions for his firm, to whom tho taking up of his new duties will mean a very considerable sacrifice. At tho request of the Minister, Mr G. R. Ritchie, the general manager of .the company, agreed 'to let Mr Pratt go to tho Government. Mr Pratt will occupy the position of Assistant, Controller. . Major J. Macintosh Bell, of the Canadian Highlanders, formerly chief of the geological survey in New Zealand, was wounded in France, and, after recovering in England, was appointed for special service in Russia, where he was early in November. Official advice has been received that John Nevin Walsh, second son of Mr and Mrs E. Walsh, Hanover street, after completing a course of training at Balliol College, Oxford, England, has, obtained his commission, and is returning on duty to tho dominion at an early date. Lieutenant Walsh left New Zealand with the 3rd. Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Prior to enlisting he was attached to the clerical staff of the Otago Harbour Board. Lieutenant Walsh is one of four brothers on active service. One of them, Trooper E. W. Walsh, Main Body, was killed, and the others are Corporal L. Walsh (Thirty-first Reinforcements), and Private B. J. Walsh (Thirty-fifth Reinforcements).

Mr A. Erskine, who has completed 40 years' servico in the Post and Telegraph Department, is retiring on superannuation (reports tho Katipo). Mr Erskine has a record unique in the service, and it could probably be said of almost any service. For practically tho whole of the 40 years he has walked in from his home at Wakapuaka and out again, and during that time has covered something over 100,000 miles on foot. Word has been received in Dunedin that Captain Eaxdley Fenwick, N.Z.M.C., who has for some time been on-the staff of No. 1 General Hospital, Brockenhurst, has secured the degree of M.R.C.P. This is the highest degree obtainable in medicine, and it must be a sourco of gratification to_Dr Fenwick that ho passed the examination., as his studies were much broken owing to tho heavy work entailed on him at Brockenhurst. Captain Eardley Fenwick is the second son of Mr George Fenwick, managing director of the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company. His eldest son (Captain George Fenwick, N.Z.M.C), who was on active service in Palestine, is now in charge of the Ophthalmio Department of the Walton-on-Thames Hospital.

Mr Donald M'Alister, a well-known member of the Alhambra Football Club over a decade ago, is at present in Dunedin on his periodical holiday visit from the East. Mr M'Alister, who is accompanied by his wife, has held the, position for several years with the Shanghai Municipal Council. The Hokitika Guardian states that it is understood that Lieutenant T. E. Y. Scddon, M.P., on active servico in France, has been promoted to 'the rank of captain. Mrs Bishop, wife of Mr H. W. Bishop, senior magistrate in Christchurch, died last week

Mr James Boon, a well-known chemist, died suddenly at a Sunday school picnic on the Ist (states a Nelson telegram). According to advice received from the front, Flight-lieutenant George Hood, son of Mr F. Hood, of Upper Plain, Masterton, fell a distance of 2000 ft and sustained such injuries as necessitated the amputation of one of his legs. The Rev. Oliver Dean, who has lately retired from the position of vicar of St. Andrew's, Port Ahuriri, Napier—a position he held for 25 years, was met by his parishioners last week and presented with a cheque for £IOO as a token of 'their appreciation of'his services.

On Saturday, 29th ult. (states the Christchurch Press) four more students at the Canterbury Aviation School secured their tickets. The successful students were: Messrs E. H. J. Miller, H. D. Christie, J. W. Davie, and S. C. Bennington (Geraldfne). Corporal Cecil J. Scott, of the Australian Light Horse Brigade, who has been awarded the Military Medal, was born at Dunedin 25 years ago, and educated at the Feilding District High School. He was for some time attached to the post office in Feilding. He left with the 20th Battalian Australian Infantry Forces. At latest advices ho was well and doing duty at the front. Information has been received that Lieutenant A. D. Boyle, of H.M.S. New Zealand, has been awarded the Croix de Guerre. A Press Association message from Invercargill states that Captain Lovett, harbourmaster at the Bluff, died on Thursday. Two local dancers —Miss Winnie and Master Edward Robinson—were very successful at the Temuka and Timaru sports on Boxing Day and: New Year's Day, securing between them ono special, six first, six second, and one third prizes out of 14 entries for Highland dancing. Captain William Adrian Vincent Bethc-11, of the 2nd Lifeguards, has (a cablegram in tho Australian papers says) secured a divorce from his wife, only daughter of Lord Glenconncr, on the ground of her misconduct with Staff Major the Hon. Lionel Tennyson (eldest eon of Lord Tennyson, a former Governor-General of Australia), against whom costs were awarded. Captain Bethell has only just returned from tho front. His wife admitted having stayed at Brighton with the co-respondent. Major Tennyson is 28 years of age, has served in Europe with tho Rifle Brigade, and has been wounded three times. The late MjPfi James Elder Brown, whose death occurred at her residence a't Milton last month, was an old resident of Tokomairiro district, where she had resided for over 60 years. Sho was born in 1840 in tho parish of Far, Sutherlandshiro, and came to Otago in the Jura. Four years later she married Mr Brown in Melbourne. Her late husband was tho first Mayor of Milton, to which position ho was elected in 1856. He arrived here on January 8, 1849, taking up residence at Anderson Bay until 1857. During that period

Mr Brown's father and two sons consiructod the first thrashing machine used in Otago, which thrashed tho second crop of wheat grown in Otago at Grunt's Braes. The thrashing machine was drawn by two bulls, and a working model was exhibited at the 1889-90 exhibition. The deceased lady's future husband took up land in Tokomairjro in 1856, under tho new land regulations, whereby land could be taken up at 10s per acre. Ho took an ac'tivo interest in the welfare of Milton and district in its pioneer clays, and was ably assisted by his wifo. -Her husband predeceased her 17 years ago.

Mr John Garo, a notable figuro in Tuapeka pioneer mining circles during tho last 64 years, died suddenly at tho residence of his son-in-law, Mr John Tippett, Waipori, on Wednesday, aged 79 years. Deceased arrived from Australia shortly after tho Gabriel's Gully rush, and devoted! himself to mining pursuits In the Wotherstone goldfiold, whero he impressed those round him as a skilful and resourceful miner. Ho removed some 35 years ago to tho Waipori district to assist in sinking the old "Victory" shaft, then managed the Nuggetty Gully reef, and after some time spent in various alluvial mining ventures, opened up and worked the Bella reef, of which he was ono of the original discoverers. Latterly he spent a. semi-retired life with his family of six sons and ono daughter. With the exception of tho only eligible one, Samuel Garo. now in France, his sons have followed gold mining. Mr Garo has been an invalid for tho past eight years. His wife predeceased him by 26 years. The death of Mr Kenneth Morrison removes one of the best-known yachtsmen in tho harbour from our midst. Tho late' Mr Morrison was, a very popular and keen sport, and was more particularly known to yachtsmen of the old school. Ho arrived hero from Tasmania during the Dunstan rush, and at that time could hardly speak anything .but his native Gaelic. Ho and another boating man in Mr Fred Paterson took tho second whaleboat from Dunedin to the Molyneux. Mr Morrison was one of the original members of the Loyal Roxburgh Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., and acted as M.C. at the opening ceremony. Later on he was employed by tho late Mr G. S. Sltreet, of the old firm of Messrs Gillies, Street, and Hislop, and sailed Mr Street's yacht Venus to Auckland, and) while in Auckland ho sailed Mr Street's Maritai. Subsequently ho returned to Dunedin, and was in the employ of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen, for many years. During this period he was associated with a number of yachts in the Dunedin Harbour, notably the Dream and another boat also named the Muritai. He took a keen and active interest in the Otago Yacht Club, andl officiated on various occasions as starter and timekeeper to yacht races. On tho 4th Mr James Miller, who has so long and so ably filled tho position of clerk of the court, completed his duties here. After the rising of the court Mr Miller was met by the leading social workers of tho city in the magistrates' room, Mr H. A. Young, S.M.; presiding. The Rev. E. A. Axelsen, on behalf of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, thanked Mr Miller for all the assistance he had given during tho years they had been working together. There had never been an officer of the court so closely associated with the social workers for so many years. They had ceased to look upon him as an official and come to regard him as a fellow worker.- They wished him Godspeed and every success. Mrs Jackson, president of St. Vincent Do Paul Society, the Rev V. G. B. King, of tho Church of England Social Stervice, and Mr F. G. Cumming, of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society, spoke in similar strain of the long continued andl most valuable service Mr Miller had rendered them in their work. Mr Young handed to Mr Miller an umbrella as a token of esteem and appreciation from the social service workers. MiMiller, in responding, said that during the past 13 years he had watched the social service system of this city, which was now the envy of the magistrates in other parts of the dominion, perfected under the wise supervision of its organisers. Captain George Crawshaw, for mariy years traffic superintendent of tho Union Steam Ship Company in Sydney, died at Mosman last month. He had been closely identified with tho steamers of the Union Company's line since 1878, and during his career successfully commanded most of the "red" funnel fleet, being regarded as one of the most capable officers in the service. For many years ho was in tho South Sea Island trade, and later commanded the steamers in the intercolonial (trade. In 1905 he took up the position of traffic superintendent for tho company in Sydney, and remained in that position until 1914 when he retired. Ho rendered valuable service to the Commonwealth Navy Department, and was selected to take tho steamer Aorangi home to England on behalf of the navy. For tho last three years ho acted as pilot for the Union Company's steamers in Sydney. The late Captain Crawshaw was 63 years of age. He leaves a widow and three daughters It was stated in error in tho notice of the death of Mr James Fowler, of Gore, that he was twice married. Deceased was only onco married, and leaves two sons (one on active service) and one daughter. A Press Association cable messago from Sydney reports that Mr Bean (Australian war correspondent) cables a tribute to Mr Noel Ross, who, ho says, after joining the Times staff, roso with unexampled swiftness to the verv forefront of his profession. Only tho inner-circles of London journalism knew how brilliant was his success. Tho Times allowed him a freedom which might bo envied by the oldest members of the staff. Within a year ho counted Mr Kipling, Lord Milner, and Mr Balfour among his" friends. Tho Empire, by his death, loses one of its most brilliant journalists. Tho Clutha Presbyery, at is meeting at Milton on Friday, agreed to a resolution of sympathy with Mr Robert M'Caw, of Waitahuna. and Mr D. Martin, of Beaumont, in their recent loss of bravo sons; also, with tho Rev. J. S. Roid, of Dunsandel, and with his wife, in the death _of their eldest son Edric, killed in action somewhere in Franco.

A link with earlier education in New Zealand has been severed by the death of Mr Ponsonby J. R. Peacockc (says the Auckland Star). After" coming to Nov.' Zealand many years ago with his father (the late Hon. S. P. Peacooke), ho served in tho Maori war as captain of the 2nd Waikato Regiment. Mr Peacocko was also for many years an inspector of school?, and later an inspector of Roman Catholic schools. Ho married a daughter of tho late Captain Irvine. Ho leaves a widow, a son, and a daughter.