PERSONAL ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 47

PERSONAL ITEMS

Mr Gordon S. Crimp has been appointed senior commercial master at New Plymouth Technical College. The Rev. O. S. Pcarn, late of Kaitangata, has been appointed by the president of the Methodist Conference as relieving minister, of the _ Balclutha Methodist Church until the arrival of the Rev. S. J. Werren from the front.

Dr Agnes Bennett, whose war service in the Balkans is known world-wide, is returning to New Zealand as medical officer of the transport Paparoa. Dr Bennett has been convalescing in England after an illness. She will resume practice in Wellington.

Word has been received that Private G. R. Farquhar has been awarded the Croix de Guerre for gallantry and devotion to duty in the field of action. Private Farquhar was born at Napier, and was educated at the Highcliff School. He enlisted in February, 1916, and was rejected. On being drawn in the third ballot,_ however, he was passed as fit, and went into camp with the Twentieth Reinforcements, and sailed from New Zealand early in June, 1917. During the last 18 months of the war ho saw unbroken service. Before enlisting he was engaged in farming pursuits.

At the residence of her son, Mr G. D. ■Cameron, Winton, there passed away on the 10th inst. an early colonist in the person of Mrs Robert Cameron. The deceased lady was born at Redgorton, Perthshire, in 1837, but resided in Rannoch. She received the benefits of a liberal education in Perth, being a partieulaily fine Gaelio scholar. At tho close of the American Civil War sho married Lieutenant Robert Cameron, and they emigrated in tho ship Paria, landing at Bluff in 1864. Mrs Cameron left seven of a family and 17 grandiohildron. Tho eldest of the latter enlisted while still in his teens with the Main Expeditionary Force to Samoa, and later proceeded to France with tho Tenth Reinforcements, and is still on active service. The family are: George D., John H., and Angus M. (all In the railway service), Mrs J. T. Johnson, of Littlebourne, Mrs J. Dumbleton, of Haw he's Bay, and the Misses Alice and Bertha Cameron, of Winton. Her husband predeceased her many years ago. A Press Association message from Christ - church states that Mr Hansen, principal of the Southland Technical High School, was last night unanimously appointed director of tho Christchurch Technical College, in succession to Mr J. H. Howell, who will go to the Wellington Technical College. Owing to tho reorganisation of the Department of Agriculture, Mr ,F. W. Blair, who has been stock inspector at Oamaru for close upon 10 years, has been transferred to Invercargill; and Mr Taylor, "who has been in charge of the Field Division in Oamaru for 10 years, has been appointed Chief Inspector of Stock and Registrar of Brands for North Otago, with headquarters in Oamaru. Inspector Findlay, from the North Island, has been transferred to Kurow, taking Inspector Cantrell's place there as inspector of tho Department of Agriculture, and Inspector Cantrell is under orders to proceed south on transfer. Cr Kilpatrick is the only member of the St. Kilda Borough Council who did not seek re-election. Towards tho close of the oouncil meeting last week Cr Dove paid a very high tribute to his retiring colleague, stating that Cr Kilpatrick had rendered the ratepayers of St. Kilda most valuable service during the past four years. At a later' stago of the' evening the Mayor (Mr A. D. Edgar) also paid a warm tribute of praise to Or Kilpatrick, who, he stated, had given some 26 years' service as a member of various local bodies, an! whoso experience had at all times _ been of tho utmost value to them. Cr Kilpatrick suitably responded.

Bishop Sadlier, of Nelson, is a passenger by the Bemuera, due at Auckland on May

Mr F. G. Ewington, on account of ..failing health, has retired from the position of honorary official visitor to the Auckland Mental Hospital, after 33 years' service. Messrs John Biddle, Colin Macandrew, and H. Benfree are gazetted as trustees under the Peninsula County Libraries Act.

A Press Association message from Auckland records the death, at the age of 74 years, of Mr William J> Speight, diocesan secretary, and M.P. for Auckland East in 1879.

Dr Fan's, District Health Officer for Otago and Southland, was notified last week of his transference to Wellington for which place he will-probably leave in about a fortnight. The fine work of Dr Faris during the epidemio will not be readily forgotten by the public, who will be sorry to learn of his departure. Mr C. F. Alexander (tramways manager), who left by the express on "the 24th on his way to the Old Country, was presented by the corporation official staff with a handsome gold watch, suitably inscribed The presentation was made in the Council Chamber by Mr G. A. Dewin (town clerk). The Mayor spoke at some length, eulogising the recipient's sincerity and sterling character as a man, and his business ability and worth as a tramway manager. Speeches were also made by Mr Henderson (the electrical engineer) and Mr Henderson (the city treasurer). Mr Alexander responded. Mr Hercules Davidson, of Wellington, and until a few years ago chief accountant to the New Zealand Bailway Department, died in Christchurch on Good Friday. Though of a quiet, retiring disposition, Mr Davidson possessed qualities which earned for him the regard of all with whom he came in contact. He was a brilliant accountant, and the monumental work ho did as chief accountant for the railways is regarded as a standai-d in the servico with which ho was connected for over 40 years. The deceased was 65 years of age. The was ill for only four hours. The cause of death was heart failure. The Bev. M. A. Bugby Pratt, who_ has been appointed to the pastorate of Trinity Church, Dunedin, was tendered a farewell and presentations at the .Hastings Methodist Church on Monday, 14th inst. The Mayor (Mr H. lan Simson) presided, and there was a largo congregation. The Mayor said the removal of the Bev. Bugby- Pratt was a great loss to the town, especially at the present time, when they could do with strong men, and in Mr Pratt they had a very strong man. His loss would be severely felt by not only the members of his congregation and his church, but also by the citizens of Hastings, to all of whom ho had proved himself a friend. No man could have a higher place in the esteem ox the people than Mr Pratt had. Eulogistio aa&reases were also given by Revs.

Richards, P. Ramsay, Pastor. Edridge, Mr J. G. Ellis, Mr C. Newton, Mr F. E. Batley, and Mrs Wilson. Mr Newton pre* eented the Rev. Rugby Pratt, on behalf or" the congregation, with a purse of sovereigns, and Mr F. E. Barley, on behalf of the Prohibition League, with a handsome writing cabinet in oak. The Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt, in reply, thanked all for their kind expressions of appreciation of his services and good work and for the presentations. Mr Walter Smaill, who has been for several years on the staff of the Alexandra branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has received notice of transfer to the Balclutha branch.

Rifleman Jack Doody, formerly of the Napier Daily Telegraph staff, has been chosen to travel through France, Belgium. Palestine, and Gallipoh for the purpose c| taking photographs of the graves of fallen soldiers. He is now attached to the Grave Gazetting Battalion, and is not expected home this year.

Mr R. T. Sadd (Otag_o) and Mr T. Brooka (Southland) left Dunedin for Wellington on Satuiday to attend a conference of Grown Land Commissioners, wio principal purposs of the conference being to secure uniformity of practice in administering the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act. Mr' J. M'Lachlan, fields' inspector at Gore, has been transferred to the Owaka district, his headquarters being at Owaka. Miss S. J. O. Alexander has been appointed sole teacher at the' Chatto Creek School, and Miss E. F. Fraser fourth assistant at the Anderson's Bay School. Mr J. R. Munro, post office cadet, Kaftangata, has been transferred to the Christchurch telegraph office, his place at Kaitangata being taken by Mr M'Clure (returned from acive service). Private Arthur E. Greenslade, who has been returned unopposed as Mayor o£ Northeote, the marine suburb of Auckland, is still in khaki at Trentham Military Camp, but it is widcrstood he will receive his discharge fro: the New Zealand Expedi* tionsry Forces in time to allow of his being installed as Mayor on the statutory date. Professor J._ Macmillan Brown will leave Christchurch in June for his annual visit to the Pacific Island, to continue his ethnological and anthropological studies. This year he has selected the Tokelau Archipelago, north-east of Samoa, as the subject of investigation. _ A Press Association message from HokI« tika announces the death of Mrs Phoebe Gunn, a well-known South Westland accom-modation-house keeper, aged 64 years. As was reported by cablo at the time. Second Lieutenant Alexander Campbell Craig, R.A.F., of Auckland, was killed while climbing on Ben Nevis, tho highest mountain in Scotland, on February 9. With a brother officer Lieutenant Craig was (our London correspondent states) climbing the lower shoulder of the mountain, which was in a highly dangerous state owing to the ice and snow. When they had reached * height of about 1000 ft Lieutenant Craig lost his footing while attempting to negotiate 4' snow slide and fell down the slope. He was dead when found by his companion, who returned to Fort William and reported the matter to tho authorities. The body was recovered and taken to Belford Hospital. Lieutenant Craig was educated at Auckland Grammar School, and qualified at Kohi» marama Flying School before going to England last year. Ho did his cadet training at Hastings.