PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3349, 22 May 1918, Page 53

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr C. 11. Poole, M.P., of Auckland, is about to leavs fo.- England as a Y.M.C.A. Commissioner. A Thames Press Association telegram reports . the death of Mr Thomas Jackson, aged 79, an old lesident of the Thames, who was associated with the Shotover rush in the early days. Before the regular business of the Otago Education Board was commenced last week Mr A. H. Wilkinson brought forward the following motion:—"That the members of this board, knowing something of Mr D. T. Fleming's ability and worth, express satisfaction at the honour the Government has conferred upon him, and heartily congratulate him on his elevation to the Legislative Council. Knowing Mr Fleming to be a man of wisdom .md sound judgment, we fully believe that his services "in the Legislative Council will be.of considerable benefit to this dominion." Mr Wilkinson said he had been greatly impressed with Mr Fleming's ability as a chairman. He showed wonderful discretion and sound judgment in all matters that came before the board, and he would certainly make a very valuable member of the Legislative Council. Mr Borrie seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Hon. Mr Fleming eaid the honour had come to him as a surprise. He hoped he would be able to live up 'to the responsibility and prove worthy at all times of the respect and confidence of members of the board. A Greymouth Press Association message announces the death of Mr Jacob Theodore Skoglund, an old identity of the West Coast and an ex-Mayor of Greymouth. Dr (Major) J. Connor has been appointed senior house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, in place of Dr Watson, who is going on active service. Mr A. St. George Ryder has been appointed secretary and London manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, in place of the late Mr J. N. Newman, alv Ryder was born in New Zealand, and had several years' business experience in this country, as well as in London, and also in America. Canon Eccles has resigned the charge of Wqodville Parish after nearly 26 years' serykJi The Rev. K. M'Lean, at present at Rotorua, has been appointed in his place, and commences his duties on Ist July. Mr John T. Wells, who died recently in the Auckland Hospital, aged 80 years, resided lately at Silvcrdalo. About a fortnight ago lie entered the hospital. For many years ho was engaged in journalism at Dunedin. The Rev. Clement Houchen, M.C., has arrived in Auckland from France. _ Formerly vicar at Te Kuiti. he left with the original Rifle Brigade, gained the Military Cross for distinguished service on the Somme, and was wounded at Passchendacle, losing an eye. Prior to their removal from Berwick to Mosgiel, Mr and Mrs A. J. Wither and family were waited upon by the residents and presented with tokens of esteem, Mr Wither receiving a set of brushes and a gold pendant, and Mrs Wither a gold chain. Their three children each received suitable gifts. Valedictory speeches were made by Messrs John Shennan, George and J. Hecnan.

At tho meeting of the Otago Education Board on the 16th. Mr W. R. Brugh referred to tho exceptional services rendered by Mr A. Burt, who has recently retired from tho Arthur Street School Committee. Mr Brugh said that when Mr Burt first became a School Committee member one committee ruled over all the schools then in Dunedin. On his motion the board adopted the following resolution: —"That this board places on record its appreciation of the services of Mr A. Burt as a school

committeo member extending over a period of more than 40 years, and that the secretary write conveying the resolution and expressing the hope that ho may still retain his interest in educational matters for many years." The death is recorded of Mr Thomas Redwood, ono of the earliest and bestknown colonists in Marlborough. He was born in Staffordshire, England, and was the third son of the late Mr Henry Redwood, for many years proprietor of Stafford Place Station, in Nelson. Archbishop Redwood, of Wellington, is his brother. The lato Mr Redwood was trained to farming pursuits. > In the seventies he purchased the Burleigh Estate, which ho ran for 23 years. Later ho farmed Woodburnc, near Renwicktown. An accident in 1900 compelled his retirement, and he has since lived at Blenheim. He was a member of the Provincial Council Executive and of the Wairau Licensing Committee, and was for some time secretary of tho Marlborough Racing Club, subsequently owning several winners on the turf.

Mr T. A. Archey, who lias been appointed manager of tho State school at Otekaike, will leave Burnham to begin his new duties at tho end of this month. Tho Hon. Colonel Collins, C.M.G., who has boon acting as A.D.M.S. at Headquarters, will leave shortly in charge of the medical staff of a hospital ship. His position on the staff will be filled by Lieutenantcolonel Matthew Holmes. Mr E. A. Shrimpton, M.1.E.E., of Wellington, who has been appointed to succeed Mr J. Orchiston as Chief Telegraph Engineer, has risen from the position of telegraph messenger to his present responsible office. After working steadily up in his branch of tho public service, he was, in 1911, promoted to be engineer for the Wellington district. Mr Shrimpton installed the first central battery telephone system at Timaru in 1910, and since he has been engineer in Wellington ho has supervised all the cable repairing work. He was selected to go to Fiji and instal a telegraph system, and set up telephone exchanges for the Administration there.

Prior to her departure from Middlemarch, Adjutant Baker', matron of "the Salvation Army Girls' Home, was (our correspondent writes) entertained by her local friends. The gathering, "whi«h took the form of a " surprise" party at the home, was presided over by Mr H. L. Gibson, who during the evening presented Adjutant Baker with a leather handbag. Mr Gibson referred in glowing terms to the good work their departing friend had done during her term of residence in Middlemarch, and testified to the respect in which she was held by all. He thought it unfortunate that «o many changes had been made this year in the army staff, and in this connection added that a gift would also be forwarded to Captain Christophersen, who had left that week for Pakatoa. Adjutant Baker, who is under transfer to the Caversham Rescue Home, in her reply thanked her friends for their kindness, and assured them that Middlemarch and the people of Middlemarch would ever have a warm place in her regard. > , Miss Jennings, who has filled the position of second secondary teacher in the Lawrence District High School during- the past six years, has severed her connection with the school (writes our Lawrence correspondent). During her residence in Lawrence, Miss Jennings has taken an active interest in the various organisations in connection with the Anglican Church and patriotic matters, and in every way proved a very helpful citizen. On Wednesday evening she was entertained at a farewell social in Holy Trinity Church Schoolroom, at which all sections of the community were strongly represented, and during the course of the evening she was made the recipient of quite a number of gifts. From the members of the Anglican congregation she received a solid leather trunk; from St. Barnabas Association, a, set of ebony backed brushes and comb ; x from the Junior Bible Class, an ebony-backed mirror; from St. John Ambulance Class, a gold-mounted fountain pen; and from the Ladies' Patriotic Association and staff and pupils of the District High School, gifts of money; to buy' suitable mementoes of her association with the school and district. At the Beginning of next month she takes up her appointment in the Christchurch Technical School.

A London cablegram states that a viscountcy has been conferred on Lord Wimborne, ex-Lord-lieutenant of Ireland.

Dr Kenneth Ross will leave Dunedin shortly on active service on a.hospital ship. i Mr *S. M'Curdy, of Invercargill, has been ! appointed assistant general secretary'of the I Y.M.C.A., Auckland. The Governor-general and the Countess of • Liverpool arc expected to arrive in Auckland and take w their residence at Government House about the end of this month. I Their Excellencies at present are at Rotorua.

i The death occurred recently in New i Zealand of Mrs Victor Grayson, wife of • Private Victor Grayson, at one time a ! member of the House of Commons. Mrs ! Grayson spent several months in Christj church last year. She leaves a little | daughter. Mrs Fred. Frye (Dunedjn), who took the I principal character in Miss Lucy Cowan's i comedietta which obtained first prize at the ! Christchurch Competitions, has received the I highest commendation for her character ! study. j The Rev. J. I. Clarke, who -has been ! called to the Presbyterian Church at WaiI mate, was accorded a farewell at Wyndham ; on Tuesday .night. Addresses eulogistic of Mr Clarke's abilities as a, preacher and a j citizen were delivered by the Revs. J. j Pringlo and H. J. L. Goldthorpe,- and • several members of the congregation also : spoke. A wallet containing £3O was presented to Mr Clarke,- a gold wristlet watch to Mrs Clarke, and fountain pens to Masters . Knox''and Douglas Clarke. i Miss Florence O. Hill has been appointed j mistress at the Naseby School. _ I Brigadier Wouters, the Belgian lecturer, ' on urgent medical advice, has entered a private hospital for a week. His engagements for this week are cancelled. The Waipori correspondent of the Tuapeka Times writes. —" Another of the band of pioneer miners, in the person of Robert Evans, passed away on Sunday, the 12th inst. The deceased for some time had been I in indifferent health, but could not be induced to leave the district. Ho was a '' native of Dundee, Scotland, and in his youth took up the occupation of fishing, from that to vessels trading in the Baltic, and later came to Victoria, where he took up gold mining, with varying success, at Bendigo, Ballarat, Inglewood, Mitta Mitta, and other districts. Finally he came to New Zealand, when the Dunstan rush attracted his attention. there he came to Waipori in the early sixties, and had been a resident here ever since/ He did a lot of

prospecting, and usually lived in rough, isolated plaoes, but during the- last 12 years he iived in a "hut close to the township

At the Y.M.C.A. board meeting on the 20th the offico of president, rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr John Ross after many years' service, was filled by the election of Mr &. K. Wilkinson, who has, for over five years, been vice-president, Mr E. A. Sureties, probation and visiting officer for Otago and Southland. has been transferred to Auckland. His duties here will be taken over by Mr W. Fullerton, from the department at Wellington. At a special meeting of the Albany Street School Committee, held on tho 20th, Mr William Kennedy George, a returned soldier, was recommended to the position of fourth assistant (temporary). The announcement that the Rev. George Heighway has accepted a unanimous call to the pastorate of tho Palmerston North Congregational Church will be received with genuine regret by tho many who know something of his worth. To his congregation at King Street Congregational Church the Rev. Mr Heighway is known for his rare sympathy in time of trouble; for his untiring zeal in all matters affecting tho welfare of his church and people as well as for the evidence of deep thought and careful preparation in all his addresses, and their intimate relationship to tho need and thought of the day. When ha. came to the King ' Street Congregational' Church 21 years ago tho congregation faced a. heavy debt of long standing. He relinquishes the charge with tho church. free of debt and the membership roll well sustained. A special meeting of tho congregation will be held to consider the resignation, but the pastor's decision is irrevocable. In the religious and social activities of the city the Rev. Mr Heighway is recognised as one of the most indefatigable workers. For the excellent service rendered by the United Christian Council, both under its present title and the prior one of Council of Churches, he is largely responsible—a fact that is less well known than it might be because of the reverend gentleman's faculty.. for working .unostentatiously behind tho scenes. His departure will be a loss to the city. Another of our old identities in the person of Mrs John Sinclair passed away on the 9th inst. at the residence of her daughter, Mrs Hastings, Main South road, Oamaru. The deceased lady, with her parents, Mr and Mrs John Christie, arrived at Port Chalmers in the ship Pladda in the early sixties, travelling in a bullook wagon to Popotunoa, near Clinton, where the family settled for a time. Several years after her arrival in New Zealand she married Mr John Sinclair, who was stockrider on Mr Maitland's station, now known as Bcerg's station, Hillend. For some years they lived there until they bought a farhi at Mount Stuart, where they resided for < over 30 years, and where they reared a family of nine sons and seven daughters. Deceased was known far and wide for her kindly hospitality. Later on the family moved to Balclutha, and thence to Oamaru in search of health. About seven years ago Mr and Mrs Sinclair were living alone, their family being nearly all married. It was at this time that deceased was afflicted with a paralytic stroke., from which she never recovered, and became a helpless, invalid. For some time the aged couplo have lived with their daughter.