PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 37

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr Alfred Wm. Dashper was last week admitted by Mr Justice Sim as a solioitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Mr C. A. Raleton, who has held the position of Government auditor-inspector for Otago and Southland for the past nine years, has been transferred to Christchurch. Mrs Christina Hardy has been appointed temporary sol© teaoher at the Waipahi School, and Miss Nellie Mitchell solo teacher at Waipori. * D'aroy H. Moir. an ex-pupil of Mosgiel Sigh School, headed the hat in New Zeaud of the cadets who qualified for admisBJon to the Duntroon Military College. The death of Mortino Sonoguine, a very old identity of the West Coast, took place at the Grey Hospital on Friday. The deceased was 85 years of age. He was well and favourably known in the Orwell Creek and Ahaura district*. The Hon. Colonel Baillie, M.L.C., celebrated his ninety-first birthday at "Wellington on the 22nd. ' Owing to a recent family bereavement the birthday was kept very quietly, only a few older friends visiting him, but many congratulatory telegrams ft-ere received during the day, one being from the Bishop of Nelson conveying greetings from that diocese. A. farewell social was tendered to Mr Sydney Beck and Mrs Beck in the Town Hall, Palmerston, on the eve of their removal to , Dunedin. Mr Beck has nearly completed his third consecutivo year as Mayo- of the borough, besides having ocoupied the position, for a term, in the years befor.j the war. The citizens assembled to the full capacity of the large hall, and entered into the proceedings with every demonstration of attachment to the guests ol the evening. Cr Wheeler presided, and was supported by other members of the Borough Council, Mr Lee, M.P., Mr Mathieson . ic hair man of the Waihemo County Council), Mr Kerr (Mayor "of Waikouaiti), and a representative contingent of invalid soldiers from the sanatorium. An excellent programme of vocal and instrumental musio was provided by local talent, and M. de. Lissao generously contributed three violin itema, which were highly appreciated. Several speakers paid very warm tributes to the personal and social qualities of Mr and Mrs Beck, and to then- great public services during the arduous years in which the position of Mayor of the borough has been occupied by Mr Beck, special mention being made of their untiring labour hi patriotic work and their keen interest in the welfare of all soldiers departing or returning, and in particular of those in the sanatorium. On behalf of the citizens of Palmerston. Or Wheeler expressed profound regret that circumstances necessitated the removal of Mr and Mrs Beck to .Dunedin. He presented to Mr Beck a purse of sovereigns, and to Mrs Beck a silver tea set as a mark of the esteem in which they were held. In acknowledging the presentations, Mr Beck expressed his deep sense of tho confidence so long and eo fully reposed in him by the citizens, and thanked them for the unfailing kindness and promptitude and liberality with which they had supported every public or patriotio movement he had been required to inaugurate. A Press Association cable message from Sydney states that the Rev. James Green has been eleoted president of the Methodist Conference. Mr William John Douglas, of Te , Mahanga, Hawke's Bay, who had been ailing for some time, died on Saturday morning, at the age of 48. On succeeding his father, the late Mr Douglas devoted all his energy to making Te Mahanga an ideal station, besides devoting great attention to the breeding of racing and purebred.stock, for which ho was well known throughout New Zealand. A Wellington Press Association message states that the Hon. Gilbert Carson was elected chairman of the United Press Association for tho ensuing year. Miss Elizabeth M'NeihV has been appointed second assistant at the Clyde School, and Miss W. B. Miller junior assistant at the Mosgiel District High School.Mr. James Clarke, of tho Wyndham postal staff, has been transferred to Oamaru. _ Mr John A. Cook, the local representative of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music, London, informs us that he has received intimation from Wellington that the practical examinations will be conducted by Dr "A. P. Alderson, who is expected to reach Dunedin about Maroh 14. New York newspapers are displaying reports of a war romance in which the parties are Miss Jean Knox, of Woonda, Grange road, Toorak (Melbourne), and Lieutenant Eric Murray, of Mount Crawford (South Australia). _ Miss Knox is a daughter of the late Mr William Knox (who was a member of the Commonwealth House of Representatives) and she recently arrived in America from Australia with the intention of being married. Her fiance at the beginning of the war joined King Edward's Horse in England, and has served in Prance and Ireland. He sailed from England in the Gunard liner, Andrania, which was torpedoed and sank off the Irish coast a few weeks ago, and with the other survivors returned to England. After countless difficulties and travelling almost round the world the couple were united in marriage last month. A Wellington Press Association message says that tho acceptance of Mr Massey'e resignation as Minister of Lands and the Hon. D. H. Guthrie's appointment to the portfolio were gazetted last week. The death is 'announced of Mr Samuel Fletcher, who was for many years connected with the stock _ business as a. dealer (states a Press Association message from Gore). He was 65 years of age. The Rev. C. J. Bush King, chaplain 4th class, has reported for duty with the 35th Reinforcements. Miss Jessio B. Wilson, of the Dunedin Technical High School, has received intimation that she has passed the M.A. degree with second-class honours in economics. Miss Dorothy Clarke, of Woodhaugh, has been advised that she has passed the final section of the B.Sc. degree, and ha* been awarded the physical science scholarship of the New Zealand University. Mr W. A. Service, firsi assistant at Mornington School, has been informed thaihe has passed his final examination for the B.A. degree. The following have been appointed to the staff of the Technical High School: —Miss Isabella Finlay, assistant teacher sof cookery; Miss C. Smeaton White (Christchurch Girls' High School), teacher of cookery and laundry work ; Miss May Pigott, B.Sc. (Blenheim High School), temporary teacher of science; Miss Elizabeth

H. Owen, commercial teacher; Mrs H. H. Milne, B.A. (Mosgiel District High School), games mistress; and Mies Ellen Hopkinson (St. Cuthbert's, Auckland)., temporary teaoher of cookery. Mr Henry Drees, at present on the, staff of the Otago Boye' High School, has passed the final section of his B.A. degree. Miss Mary Holmes (Wakari), of Otago University, has passed the first section ot the B.A, degree. Port Chalmers lost another pioneer resident by tho death on Friday; afternoon of Mr William Shadforth, of Carey Bay, at the ago of 85 years. Mr Shadforth arrived here m the early sixties. For. some years he was in the pilot service of thk harbour, and afterwards was engaged in the lightering of cargo from the lower to the upper harbour. He spent his life at Port Chalmers, where he was hhrhly respected, and his kindly disposition won for him a wide circle of friends. Mr Shadforth is survived by Mrs Shadforth. 'We regret" to announce the death of another of the fast-diminishing band of pioneers in the person of Mrs Gavin Dickeon, which occurred at Riverton after a few weeks' illness. Mrs Dickson was born at Trottack, Dundee, Sootland, in 1845, being the eldest daughter of the lato Mr Joseph Cable, merchant, Cumberland street, Dunedin, and arrived in New Zealand in the early sixties. After her marriage she lived for a few years in the Oamaru district, and later for a period of seven years at Incholutha. In 1878 Mr Dickson took up a section in the Otama district. _ In 1900 Mr and Mrs Dickson made a trip to the Old Country, and again in 1912. In 1913 they retired from active farming, and took up their residence at Riverton. Mrs Dickson during her long residence in Otama shared with her husband all the joys as well as the hardships of pioneer life, and she was beloved and respected wherever she was because of her helpfulness to those in sickness or trouble, and because of her unwavering kindness of heart to all ■ and sundry, poor or rich. A true Christian in every sense of the word, her memory will live forever. The deceased is survived by her husband, five sons, and six daughters, over 40 grandchildren, and one great grandchild to mourn the loss of an exemplary wife and mother. The large funeral cortege in one way showed the respect in which the deceased was held, and the messages received by the husband and the family showed how wide was the range of her friends. A cable has been received by Base Records from London announcing the award of the Military Cross to Lieutenant Hugh Johnston for gallantry on the field of action. His next-of-kin is his wife, Mrs E. S.» Johnston, Kaka road, Taihape. A Military Medal has also been awarded to H. C. Krogh, a Now Zealander at present serving with the Imperial Forces (King Edward's Horse). As he is not a member of the N.Z.E.F., his next-of-kin is unknown at Base Records. There was a large gathering of the Christchurch Bar on Monday at the Supreme Court, when Mr Justice Herdman took his seat for the firflfc time (states a Christchurch Press Association message). Mr M.. Donr nelly (president of the Canterbury Law Society) and Mr S. G. Raymond (viceE resident) welcomed the new judge, who riefly replied', expressing the hope that the loyal co-operation of the Bar would enable him to do good to the community. It is understood that Mr A. N. Burns, M.A. (president of the New Zealand Educational Institute), at present head master at the Lower Hutt District High School, has been appointed a temporary inspector under the. Eduoation Department to assist in the Wellington Education District. Mr Burns, who is a brother of Mr A, M. Burns, sub-editor of the Christchurch Press, received his primary education at Riverton. Mr W. N. Dempsey, who has been head master at the Eketahuna District High (School for the past 17 years, s and who will shortly retire on superannuation, has been appointed to succeed Mr Burns at Lower Hutt. Mr John M. Allan at present head master of the Allanton School, has been appointed head master of the Tokoiti (Milton district) School Miss Elizabeth R. Barrett has been appointed sole teacher at Taliakopa; Miss Johann Macßae, first assistant af Seacliff; Miss Mabel Murison, second assistant at Seacliff; Miss Dorothy Appleby, first assistant at Hyde; Miss Martha Macdonald, first assistant' at Otekaike; Miss Tui R. Sim, second assistant Clyde; Miss Alexandrina Macßae, third assistant Waikouaiti. Mr Samuel Fletcher, one of the bestknown residents of Gore, passed away on Friday morning. Mr Fletcher was born in .County -Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1852, and emigrated to New Zealand when a young man. After a short spell on the goldfields, he worked at Moa Flat Station for five years. Leaving Moa Flat, the late Mr Fletcher followed storekeeping at Mandeville. In the early eighties he removed to Gore, where he started a butchery. Relinquishing this, he commenced stock dealing on his own-account, at first in a small way, but later working up to important operations. _ Mr Fletcher took up the Retreat Station in the Hokonui Hills, which he retained to his death. Besides this estate the deceased held farming properties at Croydon and at Charlton. The late Mr Fletcher is survived by a widow, three sons. Messrs William (returned soldier), John, and Robert, and one daughter (Mrs J. Davies), all of Gore. Tokoiti Hall, Milton, was crowded on Friday night -when a valedictory social was tendered to Mr and Mrs J. B. Grant, on the eve of their departure for Dunedin, where Mr Grant has secured an appointment as first assistant at the North-East Valley School. Mr P. Porter (chairman cf the School Committee) presided, and | speeches were delivered highly eulogising Mr Grant's work as head master during the j past Hi years, also Mr and Mrs Grant's active part taken in the social welfare of the district, and their keen interest in patriotic movements. On behalf of the School Committee and residents of Tokoiti and Milton Mrs Grant was presented with a I three-tier silver cake "dish and silverj mounted tea strainer. Mr Grant was proI sontod with a travelling rug and travelling bag. The latter recipient responded. A . short musical programme contributed to thr> j enjoyment of the social function, which was ! brought to a conclusion with a dance. Prior j te his departure, Mr Grant was presented w'th a Bible from his fellow-elders of we i Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church, and also i entertained by the Tennis Club at an after- ! noon rea. and presented with a silvi-r-I mounted pocket book. The death of Mr Wm. Scobie. senior,- of i Eastern Bush. Southland, at. the age o! ; 81 years. :'s announced. Mr Scobie wan I borr in Scotland, and was married on June 5, 1862, in Paisley, to Miss Gilmou'r; ard

sailed soon afterwards for Duned'n. After living for a short time in Dunedin, Mr and Mrs Scobie went to five at Merry Creek, Popotunoa, near Clinton, -where Mr Scobie was agricultural .manager. They ■were amongst the first settlers to take up land at Wairuna. They sold out their holding there, and went to Eastern Bush, Waiau district, Southland, where they resided for 28 years. Mr and Mrs Scobie were well known in the Waiau district, being settled on a large farm. as. well as in business -as accommodation house and storekeepers. Mr Soobio was as keen a farmer ks he was a business man. Whilst he did mixed farming he specialised in Bheep. Mt Scobie also took a keen interest in public affairs. His house at Eastern Bush was a centre of influenoe in the whole of the W a i&u. When a publio meeting was held it was held at Eastern Bush, and the moving spirit in the meeting was Mr Scobie. If a road or a bridge or public work was under discussion Mr Scobie had a great deal to do with the decision arrived at. About 12 years ago he went to Invercargill to live. Mrs Scobie predeceased him six years ago. Mr has left behind him four of a family, all settlers in the Waiau—namely, Mrs Donald M'Laren, Mrs Malcolm Mount. Mr Wm. Scobie, jun., and Mr John Scobie. 0 Mr J. H. W. Uru, who was recently elected as representative in Parliament of the Southern Maoris, has returned to Auckland. Mr TJru will probably arrange his affairs so as to take up residence in Wellington or Christchurch.