PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 45

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A Press Association message from Opotiki announces tne death of iVir James Connor, a veteran of the Crimean and Maori wars, aged 83 years. Born in Ireland, he enlisted With the Imperial Army at an early age, and served in tlio Crimean war, participating in the battles of Aima, Balaclava, and Inkerman. He then proceeded to India with his regiment, and assisted in restoring order following the Mutiny, his service in India lasting several years. He came to ISew Zealand in 1£64 and served in the Maori war, participating in the attack on the Gate Pa, Tauranga. After obtaining his discharge he went to Opotiki in 1866, and participated in the stirring incidents of that district. He then settled on a section of land, which he farmed till the date of his death. The Waikouaiti Athenauim subscribers met on the Ist inst. in the club room to bid farewell to the local police officer, Sergeant Hodgson, who has recently been promoted and has been notified of his removal to Christchurch. Mr Neil Stewart (chairman) presided, and on behalf of the male subscribers presented Sergeant Hodgson with a case of pipes as a parting gilt from his Waikouaiti friends, and wished him success in his new sphere.. Sergeant Hodgson, in his reply,'expressed regret that he was about to leave the district, where he had made many friends during the last six years, and heartily thanked the 'subscribers for the present they had given him. Mr George Crowhurst, who died at Kaitangata on the Ist inst., was born at Rye, Sussex, England, in 1825. Before coming to New Zealand he engaged in farming and market gardening. He landed at Port Chalmers in 1858, and engaged in hotel-keeping, being proprietor of the old Union Hotel in Stafford street, Dunedin. At the time of the Gabriel's Gully rush, Mr Crowhurst left his wife to attend to the hotel, while he joined the rush. As the large crowds arrived at Dunedin way to the diggings, the increase of business at his hotel compelled Mr Crowhurst to return to his home. He also tried his luok at Dunstan and Weatherstones, with varying success. Retiring from his hotel in 1863. he engaged once more in farming and market gardening pursuits, and from his place at Woodhaugh he sent many successful exhibits to agricultural and horticultural shows. He was a successful exhibitor of horses. Upon the death of his wife 12 years ago Mr Crowhurst went to reside with his daughter, Mrs E. Hill, Kaitangata, and there he remained until, in his ninety-third year, his health failed. The deceased gentleman is survived by his daughter, nine grand-children, and 10 great-grand-children. An exchange states that the Rev. N. A. Friberg, vicar of Picton, has resigned in order to accept a living in the diocese of Dunedin. Miss Frances B. Lysnar (Gisborne), the Grst woman in New Zealand to be made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, has returned to Now Zealand after an absence of three years. Lady Anderson, wife of &iv Robert Anderson, chairman of the Defence Expenditure Commission, -is visiting relatives in Dunedin.

Australian papers report the death of Mr William. Pitt, who was formerly a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. Mr Pitt was an architect by profession, and specialised in theatre design and construction. He designed the Wellington Opera House and other theatres in New Zealand, in addition to several,- of the best known places of entertainment in Australia. The death is recorded at Johannesburg of Mr W. J. MacLaughlin, who will be remembered in Dunedin as having been for many years connected with the local postal service and as having been prominently associated with athletics «nd with the amateur musical and dramatic stage. He was one of the founders of the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club, of which he was the first captain, and he was closely identified with the fortunes of the Alhambra Football Club, of which he was the captain in its palmiest days. He left the postal service in New Zealand to join the dramatic profession, and, proceeding to South Africa as a member of the London Gaiety Company in 1906, he settled in thatcountry, where he was known in theatrical circles as Mr Keith _ Macklin. In recent years he took up mining, but, having contracted miners' phthisis, was obliged 1o relinquish this occupation, and at the closv of the campaign in German West Africa, in which he served in Botha's Scouts, sth Mounted Brigade, he secured a farm in the Zoutpansberg _ district, where he resided until indisposition caused him to remove to Johannesburg a few weeks before bis deatb.. A Press Association cable message from Sydney announces the death of Mr Thomas Temperlcy, the well-known New South Wales journalist. He was the founder of the Independent Press Association of Australia, and one of the New Soufli Wales delegates the Imperial Press Conference in London in 'the summer of 1909. A Press Association cable message from New York announces the death of Senator Fairbanks, w! ) was chairman of the Indiana Republican State Convention in 1892, 1838, and 1914, and of the Republican National Conventions at St. Louis in 18S6, and at Philadelphia in 1905. He was VicePresident of the United States when Mr Roosevelt was President. Melbourne papers state that Lord Forrest intends to visit England as soon as the war conditions permit. He docs not propose to resign his Federal 'seat. News of Madame Melba was received by Mr John Lemmon.?, of Melbourne, a few days ago. The great singer cables that she is returning within a few weeks to Australia. Mr St. Ledger, her accompanist, is remaining in the States. ' At the annual meeting of the parishioners of the Anglican Church, Winton, Mr H. R. Wilson (people's warden) referred to the congregation's high appreciation of the Rev. Cypria-i Webb's seven years' ministry amongst them and. on behalf of the parishioners, presented the vicar with a substantial cheque, expressing the hope that he would long be spared _ to attend to the spiritual needs of the Winton parish. An old and valued employee of tho Christchurch Pre3S Company (Ltd.) has passed away in the person of Mr William M. Allardyce who for over 40 years had worked in the bookbinding department of the company. The late Mr Allardyce, who was in his fifty-fifth year, joined the service of the Press Company in 1877 as a junior in the binding department, with which he had been connected ever since, rising to the position of he-ad of the department. He was a son of the late Captain Allardyce, who was well known as harbourmaster at Greymouth for many years. The late Mr vvrus a keen and roosb dist n-

guisbed footballer. He was <l - no of the founders of the Sydenham Club, and was for many years its vice-president, occupying the presidential chair on the death of Captain Meiklcham. lie was also the club's representative on the Canterbury Rugby football Union, of which Jio was one of the selectors on many occasions. Mr Allardyce took an active part in the movement which resulted in the erection of the Sydenham Football Club rooms. Xroin 1 86 to 1889 he represented the province of Canterbury in mfcerprovincial Rugby. He was married, and leaves a widow, two sons, and two daughters. Both of his boys are soldiers; one has returned wounded from the front, and the.other is still in France. Ono of the oldest pioneer settlers of Mount Cargiil, Mr John Kemp, away on the 4th, and was buried on Friday in the VVaitati Cemetery. Mr Keni'p was born at Sandwich, Kent, 83 years ago. On arrival in the colony he was attracted by the gold rush at the Dunstan diggings, but eventually he took up land in the Blueekin district, where he resided alrnost up to the time of his death. He encountered many of the hardships which fell to the lot of the pioneers. He was predeceased by his wife somo 12 month's ago, and leaves three sons and four daughters, together with a number of grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, to mourn their loss. Mrs Vlietstra, who has been teacher at Arthurton for the past 20 months, and is now retiring, was met by the children on the eve of her departure from the district and presented with an upholstered chair and silver dish and spoon, as a token of the esteem in which she is held by her former pupils. Mr John Williams, B.Sc, London, has been appointed senior science master at the Otago Boys' High School. Mr Williams is at present senior science master and viceprincipal at the Technical College. Dunedin, where ho has been teaching for the past two years. Before coming to Dunedin ho was first assistant and senior science master at the Southland Boys' High School for eight and a-half years. Mr Williams taught science for a number of years in various schools in England before coming to New Zealand.

Mr T. C. M. Rallinshaw, who for many years has managed the fancy goods department of Sargood, Son, and Ewcn, Dunedin, prior to which he occupied a similar position in their Christchurch house, has resigned from the company's service. As an evidence of their goodwill, his fellowemployees at the Dunedin and Invereargiil houses took the opportunity of presenting Mr Rallinshaw with a sideboard and two easy chairs. Mr and Mrs William Fuller, 29 King Edward street, celebrated their golden wedding on May 28. They were married at Mountfield Church, Essex. _ They have reared 17 children, nine being girls, and of the eight boys six have rendered service for the Empire. One of them, fighting with the famous 29th Division, was killed at the Dardanelles. There are 37 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Many relatives and friends called to congratulate Mr and Mrs Fuller, and amongst the telegrams was one from Mrs Fuller's step-mother, who came to New Zealand in 1857. Miss Strachan is temporarily editing the Westport News, in , the absence of her brother, Mr S..Strachan. An old colonist, Mrs I. W. Lambly, died at Orurir 1 last, month at the ago of 83. She arrived in Auckland with her parents, the Rev. C. B. and Mrs Dunn, in the ship Whirlwind in 1859. A Press Association cable message from London states that Sir George Alexander left a fortune of £90,672. A Press Association message states that Mr T. W. Foster has been re-elected chairman of the South Island Dairy Association directorate. Two of the sons of the Rev. P. J. and Mrs Murdoch, of Melbourne, ore lieutenants in the Australian Imperial Force, and both have been awarded, the Military Cross. A third son is Mr Keith Murdoch, the wellknown representative in London of the Melbourne Herald.

Mr George H. Wilson, of the firm, of Messrs Wilson and Canham, ha*» been appointed to the directorate of the New Zealand Insurance Company to fill the vacnj*ey caused by the death of Mr L. J. Bagnall. The death occurred at Eltham on the 4th of Mr Edward M'Menamin, one of New Zealand's early pioneers, at the age of 83 years. The deceased met with an accident on Saturday evening, the shock from which undoubtedly hastened the end. He was born in Ireland, and as a young man emigrated to Melbourne, where he was married. Shortly afterwards he _ went to Auckland, where, after a short sojourn, he joined in the gold rush to the Thames. His name was also associated with -tho=;o who took an active part in quelling the Native disturbance' at Parihaka, about the year 1683. He had resided in New Zealand about 54 years, Ift of which he spent in Eltham. Deceased leaves a widow and six daughters, of whom one (Mrs H. N. Elvger) lives at Dimedin. It was stated at a meeting of the managers of the Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh tliat Miss Helen Martin Murray, formerly of that city, had left a bequest, estimated at £60,000, to found a home near Edinburgh for wounded and invalided soldiers and sailors. When the home is not necessary for such a purpose it is t<s be used as a convalescent home in connection with the infirmary. _ The donor, we understand, was first cousin to the. late Mr Robert Martin of Roslyn. Mr Enoch Tonks, a very early settler, diied at Wellington recently. He arrived at Wellington when three years of age. with his parents, in 1842. Wellington being at that time a fishing village. His father undertook brick-making, and the business is still carried on. As tho subject of tip's notice grew up. the adventurous spirit then so rif© led to his trying his fortune at gr.?d-d : gging in Collintrwood. Returning to Wellington, he and his wife came to Otaso* and resided for some time in the North East Valley, afterwards removing to Central Otago at the time of tho Dunstan rush. The family then removed to Tuapeka, where Mr Tonks hadi an internet in a coal mine and conducted a carrying business. After eight years in Lawrence a shift was made to Dunodin. and in 1875 the family returned to Wellington, where they have resided ever Emee. Both Mr and Mrs Tonks took a prominent part in nhilanthropic movements. The latter predeceased her husband about six years asro. There are five sons and five r 7 .nughters st'll livimr: 37 grandchildren, and 20 Greatgrandchildren. Five of the grandsons are now serving their country at tho. front. A Press Association, mess-vrc fmm Nelson states that Mr Charles Yates Fell die/1 suddenlv on Sunday morning, aged 74 years. He was formerly Crown Prosecutor,

also held tho office of Mayor, and was chairman of tho College of Governors. He occupied a leading place in Nelson for half a century. Mr Fell was born at Nelson, and educated there and at King's College, Loudon. He entered Lincoln's Inn, graduated B.A. in 1877, and was admitted to the Inner Temple, returned to New Zealand, and became partner of Mr A. S. Atkinson in 1880. Mr W. T. Goodwin, local orchard instructor, has passed the military medical examination, and will proceed to camp at an early date. Surgeon-colonel W. H. Parkes and Surgeon-major R. H. Hogg arc among the recipients of the British Empire Order. The former is a well-known Auckland medico, and is a brother-in-law of the late Dr Savage, who succumbed to fever while on active service in Egypt some two yearn ago. Surgeon-major Hogg received part of education at tho Otago Boys' High School, and completed his medical studies in Edinburgh. He has been in practice in Invercargill for close on 20 years, and has been attached to a New Zealand hospital in London since shortly after the outbreak of war. Mr Soaton Porter, whoso death occurred at Balclutha on Sunday morning, at the age of 79 years, arrived in New Zealand with his wife and family of four young children in 1871, landing at Port Chalmers from the rfiip Agnes Muir. He spent all his colonial life in South Otago, where h» " was much respected. His wife and a family of eight sons and daughters survive him.