PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3385, 29 January 1919, Page 47

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A Press Association cable message from Sydney states that Dame Melba is a passenger by the Niaeara. which left Sydney on the 21st. for Wellington.

A well-known figure in commercial, banking, and political circles passed away at South Yarra, Melbourne, on the 9th inst. in the person of Mr Robert Harper. He was the principal member of the business firm of Robert" Harper and Co., chairman until recently of the Commercial Bank of Australia, and a director of several other companies. He held a seat for some time in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, twice defeating Mr Alfred Deakin at the polls; and when federation was accomplished he was elected a member of the House of Representatives, from which he retired in 1910. Captain Weir, of the New Zealand Staff, is in Dunedin on his way to Invercargill, where he is to take up his duties as group officer, in succession to Major Crowther. Mr Cerard M. O'Malley, son of Mr G. O'Malley, Ranfurly, has passed his final examination in law. In view of the fact that he pnssed a fairly lengthy period on active service as a member of the Fourteenth Reinforcements, and was wounded at the battle of Messines, returning to New Zealand in May last, his is all the more creditable. Pursuing his studies privately, Mr O'Malley took his degrees at the Ofcago Univer&ity He is now in the office of Mr Hoi, barrister and solicitor, Gisborne. Two brothers of Mr O'Malley were a.t the war, one of whom was twice wounded, and is 'now studying for a commission at Oxford University. An Auckland Press Association message reports the death of Mr Thomas Thompson; aged 86 years. The deceased gentleman represented the City of Auckland in the House of Representatives from 1884- to 1899, and watf Minister of Justice and Minister of Defence in the Seddon Ministry in the last threa years of his membership. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1903, but was not reappointed when his term expired seven years later. Mr J. Sinclair-Thomson, formerly manager of the National Bank in Dunedin, is returning to New Zealand by the steamer Oxfordshire. During the war, as a member of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, Mr Sinclair-Thomson did a great deal of valuable work in England. In the passing away of Mr Daniel Lynch (says the Orepuki Advocate) at the age of 80 years, Otautau loses a well-known figure and one of its earliest settlers. It is fully 40 years since the late Mr Lynch made hia homo in Otautau. A blacksmith to trade, for many years he followed hia calling, and has shod many of the best-known horses of the Western district. Of a retiring disposition, he did not take part in any matters outside of his own affairs. As a typical Irishman, he was always fond of a joke, and in hia

younger days 'was a fino strong specimen of manhood. Ho is survived by his widow and several grown-up sons, who have th© sympathy of the community in their bereavement.

The resignation of Miss C. G. Lord, matron of the Pleasant Valley Sanatorium, was accepted last evening by the Hospital and Charitable Aid. Board, with expressions of regret. Our London correspondent reports the return to England from Germany of Captain H. J. F. Mills K.R.R.O. (son of Sir James and Lady Mills). In July, 1917, Captain Mills was posted as "missing," but in the following month news was received that he had been taken prisoner. Quito early inthe war he had the misfortune to be buried in his dug-out by a shell explosion and severely injured. Ho returned to England invalided, and remained there about eight months. Another New Zealand officer released from Germany is Lieutenant G. I. Kirkcaldy, Black Watch (Dunedin), who was missing last May and reported to be a prisoner in the month following. Near the beginning of the war he had a commission in the A.S.C., and after more than two years with that unit ho transferred to the Royal Highlanders in 1917. Lieutenant Kirkcaldy is the son of Mr W. M. Kirkcaldy, ot Dunedin, and was a student at Cambridge when war broke out. A few days ago St. Paul's congregation, Napier, met to bid farewell to Sister Elinor, who has been deaconess in the congregation during the past two years, and is _ leaving to take up an important position in. Dunedin. Mr I. King, Mr R. C. Runciman, and Mr R. L. Patcrson spoke on behalf of the session, the managers, and the congregation. The work done by Sister Elinor had been of the best. The congregation was very sorry to lose Sister Elinor, but was pleased that sho was to continue this work in connection with one of the largest Presbyterian congregations in New Zealand, First Church, Dunedin. The Rev. J. A. Asher, as minister of St. Paul's, spoke in the highest terms of the work done by Sister Elinor, and on behalf of the congregation presented her with a cheque. During the evening songs were contributed, and supper was provided Another of Otago's old identities in the person of -Mr Andrew Davidson passed away on Friday morning, after a few days' illnes3, at the residence of his daughter (Mrs Douglas), 197 Cargill street. Born in West Hill, Crieff, Scotland, 77 years ago, Mr Davidson went to Australia when 17 years of age, and after being there for two years took horses from Australia to India for use in the British army during the Indian Mutiny. He also saw service at the taking of the Peking forts. Mr Davidson then returned to Scotland, and brought to New Zealand his widowed mother, his brother (Mr David Davidson, ot Saddle Hill), and three sisters, arriving in the ship Mataura in 1863. Deceased joined the New Zealand railways in September, 1873, being the first guard on the service to Balclutha and Kaitangata, and was for many years stationmaster at Sawyers' Bay, from which position he retired in 1910. He was highly respected by his fellow workers and all who knew Him, and was for many years an elder in the Port Chalmers Presbyterian Church, and later in the- St. Leonards Church, being a keen worker in all church work. Mr Davidson leaves a widow, three sons, and five daughters. Captain J. R. Kirk, "W.I.R. (Gisborne), was (our London correspondent says, writing on December 3) the guest of the Master of Balliol, Oxford, last week-end, and addressed the Commonwealth Club on "Thoughts on Some Aspects of the Problem of a Better Understanding in Empire, with a Practical Suggestion." The meeting, over which the master presided, was a very large one, and included some New Zealand cadets at present at Oxford. Lieutenantcolonel E. ff. M. Lascelles, Dragoon Guards (formerly of Hawke's Bay), who is acting as secretary of the overseas soldier and sailor scholarships, took part in the discussion':" Captain Kirk was recently elected a Fellow of the Royal Economic Society. He has been laid up with influenza _ and tonsilitis, but has now recovered. He is expecting to sail for New Zealand by the Athenio. Private Thomas A. Finch, of the Auckland Infantry (21st Reinforcements), who was reported as missing on September 30 last, and subsequently reported to be u prisoner of war, was repatriated on December 11, but his name was not included in any list of repatriated soldiers supplied, to us. He was twice wounded during three years of service. His next-of-kin is Mrs Finch, of Kaitangata (his mother). The death is announced in England, at the age of 72, of Dr W. G. Kemp, who was for many years one of the leading medical practitioners in Wellington. Dr Kemp arrived in New Zealand about half a century ago under appointment as medical superintendent of the hospital at Nelson, where he was- married to Miss Charlotte Greenwood, daughter of Dr Greenwood, of Motuelca. After his marriage he took over Dr Boor's practice in Wellington, where he remained until January, 1892, in which year he returned to the Old Country. He has left a widow (resident at Hastings, England) and four sons and three daughters. The sons are: Mr Geoffrey Kemp, district manager for the A.M.P. Society at Invercargill; Dr John Harold Kemp, of Wellington South; Major Frederick William Kemp, M. 0., New Zealand Medical Corps (now in France); and Captain Charles Gordon Kemp, M.D., M. 0., Royal Army Medical Corps, who is also on active service in France. The daughters are Mrs Macpherson (London) and Miss Kemp and Miss Violet Kemp, who are living with their mother. One of the daughters (Sister Elisd Kemp) wa3 killed while on active service on tho western front, and another (Miss Kathleen Kemp) died at Home about nine years ago A Press Association cable message from London "announces that Mr Aston Webb has bean elected President of tho Royal Academy. Mr Percy Brown, who died on the Moana on her voyage from San Francisco, was a planter belonging to the Cook Islands, and was on his way to New Zealand. Deceased, a number of years ago, was a prominent officer of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand at Wellington, Dunedin. and London. On the amalgamation of the Colonial Bank with the Bank of New Zealand, he took up fruit and copra growing at the Cook Islands. He leaves a widow (a daughter of the late Mr C. C. Graham, of Dunedin) and a daughter, Mrs S. J. Goulter, of Merriwee, Olive, Hawke's Bay. Mr D. M. Graham, of Master ton, is a brother-in-law of deceased.

At Miller's Flat on Friday t farewell social was tendered to the Rev. Ernest and Mrs Streete. who will Bhortly proceed to local hill was crowded. Mr Rowans referred to tho esteem In which their guest wa-fsheld and the jrood work ho hid performed in tho district. Mr Topham

presented the Rev. Mr Streeto with a pure* of sovereigns. Tho recipient responded. Supper was dispensed and a varied musical programme was submitted.

Lieutenant-colonel T. Mill, C.M.G., ha« proceeded to Wellington to take up tho position of officer commanding Trentham Hospital, whioh is to be tho largest military hospital in New Zealand, comprising 1000 beds.

Homo papers report the death of Mr Cecil Chesterton in a military hospital at Boulogne, after a severe illness consequent upon exposure in the trench. Mr Chesterton, who was 39 years old, was editor ol tho New Witness when he joined tho army in 1916 He was a brother of Mr G. EL, Chesterton.

Mr G. A. Lee, G.E., late of tho Dunedin and Bluff Harbour Boards, and at present engineer to the Napier Harbour Board, ha* resigned that position in order to enter tho service of Mr J. Blair Mason, M. Inst, C.H Mr Leo, who is the eldest son of tho late Mr Hobert Lee, will bo remembered as a former popular and able assistant engineer of the Otago Harbour Board under Mr Blair Mason. He will take up his residence in New Plymouth, where Mr Blaif Mason has harbour and hydraulic works in hand involving an expenditure of a very large sum. At a meeting of the Albany Street School Committee on the 27th, it was decided to recommend that Miss Lily Sullivan be appointed to the position of fifth assistant. Miss Sullivan is at present sixth assistant in the High Street School. Mr J. Ball, editor of the Wanganui Chronicle, and Mr F. J. Whitlock of Wanganui, are spending a holiday in Dunedin

Miss J. R. Nelson, of the Tokomairiro District High School; was on the 27th recommended by the Mornmgton School Committeo as successor to Miss King, "who recently retired. Mrs Burrell, of the' Shamrock Hotel, DuaAfter the Port Chalmers Council had concluded'its business on the 27th the members were entertained by the Mayor (Mr J. Tait), the guest of honour being Mr Fail, who has ' just celebrated his eightysixth birthday. Mr Fail has been a Councillor for many years, during which time ha has served on all the committees, represented every ward in the borough, and generally carried out his duties so faithfully that his seat at the table is. alwaya a certainty for him at election times. The occasion was therefore one for reminiscence and congratulation, and a pleasant social hour passed all too quickly. When the time came for the health of the guest to be proposed, the Mayor did so in a happy speech, and his remarks were cordially supported by all present. Cr Fail expressed hfij thanks for the Mayor's kindness and th* pleasure that the gathering had given to him. Before the ordinary business was taken a 4 the St. Kilda Council on the 27th the Mayor (Mr A. D. Edgar) presented the Royal Humane Societv's certificate to Mr John Cameron for the courage displayed him in attempting to rescue Mr Walter Brown from drowning- a.t Oamaru on January 1, 1918. In making the presentation, the Mayor e-aid that it was a to hand to Mr Cameron this certificate. Without waiting to count the probable cost, Mr Cameron had gamely responded to a cry for help, and after several attempts had succeeded in bringing the body to land. He congratulated Mr Cameron on his bravery, and added that he would on a future occa-. sion present him with a gold medal, as & further recognition of his act. A number of the councillors having spoken, Mr Cameron suitably responded.