PERSONAL ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 3402, 28 May 1919, Page 53

PERSONAL ITEMS

A Press Association message from Wellington states that Major Percy De B. Brandon has been appointed Hansard supervisor.

Matron R. Gilmer, late of the Featherston camp, left by the Willochra in charge of the German female internees.

on the 20th at the residence of his father, Mr Martin M'DonnelL Caversham, at the age Martin M'Donnell, Caversham, at the age of 23 years. He was educated at the Caversham School, and then was employed by Mr Watson, wheelwright, Temuka. Later he removed to Wellington, and joined the Permanent Artillery. On the outbreak of war, when he was 18 years old, he joined up, and left New Zealand with the Main Body. He served throughout the Peninsula campaign, and later was wounded at the battle of the Somme. Being found unfit for further service, he was invalided home about two_ years ago, and since then he has been ailing. A Press Association message from Wellington advises that Mr Alfred Lindsay, a prominent business man for many years, died yesterday. Speaking at a banquet at Reefton last week, Mr J. Colvin, M.P. for Buller, announced his intention of not contesting a seat at the next election. It is thought in political circles that Mr Colvin will be called to the Upper House. Mr T. L. Oswin, who has been connected with the Valuation Department in Invercargill for the past 21 years, and for 15 years has been officer in charge, has been transferred to Dunedin.

Dr William Chisholm .M'Donald, whose death is reported from South Africa, was a Bon of the late Mr Simon M'Donald, of Dunedin. The late Dr M'Donald, an old Dunedin boy, was very highly qualified, having taken his degrees in Edinburgh and London. He went to South Africa with the British Army during the Boer war, and was afterwards appointed surgeon in the Kimberley Hospital, a position previously held by the late Dr Jamieson, afterwards Premier of Cape Colony. At a suitable interval in connection with the annual social of the Dunedin Burns Club last week presentation was made to Mr W. Brown, the retiring president. Mr R. M'Kinky (president) eaid Mr Brown had been a member of the club since Its inception, and his heart and soul were in it. The presentation (a photo enlargement of the executivo officers of the club, with Mr Brown as the central figure) was only a small token, but it was given with the best of spirit, and he hoped it would be accepted in that light. Mr W. B. M'Ewan also referred to Mr Brown's many good qualities and referred to him as the "Grand old man" of the club. Mr Brown, in responding, said he had been connected with the club for a period of 28 or 29 years, and the work had been a pleasure to him. He would ever treasure the presentation. At last week's sitting of the Otago Education Board, the chairman (Mr J. Wallace) intimated that he had nominated Mr E. S. Green as the board's representative at the departmental conference of agricultural instructors, to be held on June 4. The board approved of the chairman's nomination. The death at Dunsdin of Mr W. A. Cox removes one of Southland's best-known early settlers (says our Invercargill correspondent). Arriving in New Zealand 40 years sgo, Mr Cox worked for threo years in the employ of Mr George Matthews, seed.' merchant. About this time he married Miss Cross. Portobello. He later took up dairy farming at the Peninsula, and on the Taleri Plains. During his stay in Otago he was a keen church worker, holding many positions in connection with the Baptist Church and Sunday school. About 17 years ago Mr Cox took up land at Kauana, where lie lived until a few weeks ago, when, owing mainly to bad health, ho retired, and shifted to Dunedin* Ho was prominent in the inauguration and jnalntenance of the Farmerr Union in Southland, besides holding numbers ti other bubllQ position», Mr Cox frtm "Very prowfaenf In patriotio trork, and wai a c6untry

supervisor of labour, etc., for the Efficiency Board. As an expert farmer and breeder, he was known throughout the dominion, especially for his shorthorn cattle and stud sheep. Mrs Cox and a family survive.

One of the oldest and most respected residents of Auckland (Mr John Batger) died at his residence, Oaklands, Mount Eden, on iho 16th inst. ; aged 82 years. Ho cam© to New Zealand considerably over half a century ago, and soon after his arrival in Auckland established, with the late Mr Edward Wayte, a bookseller's arid stationer's business in Queen street. Mr Batger was connected with the Anglican Church for a great many years. He joined the congregation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Khyber Pass, in 1866. Some years later he entered the Synod as representative of the St. Sepulchre's parish, and he represented the parish continuously in* the Synod up to the meeting last October. Mr Batger was chairman of the General Trust Board of the church from January, 1892, until March 21. 1918, and during that time he performed very valuable service. After his retirement as chairman of the board, he still remained a member. For some time prior to his appointment to the General Trust Board he was a member of the Standing Committee of the diocese. Mr Batger was a director of the South British Insurance Company (Limited). Our correspondent at Invercargill states that a change in the local managership of the National Mortgage and Agency Company will take place on May 31, the Hon. A. F. Hawke, M.L.C., having tendered his resignation. Mr Hawke joined the service of the company in May, 1878, at Invercargill, being transferred to the Christchurch office as accountant after some time. After two years' service in Canterbury lie was transferred to Dunedin, where he occupied the position of salesman for four and ahalf years. In 1890 he accepted l the position of Invercargill manager—a position that he has filled 'with conspiouous success ever since. Mr Hawke was called to the Legislative Council last year. He has found the pressure on his time to be great, and so his decision has been actuated to a great extent by a desire to further the interests of Southland. Mr Walter E. Taylor will succeed the retiring manager. Mr Taylor has been in the service of the company since 1899, and has occupied the position- of senior auctioneer in the Invercargill office for eight years. Mr J. D. Forbes, of Gore, has been appointed secretary of the Oamaru Returned Soldiers' Association, and will commenoe his duties on Monday. There were 22 applications for the position. Mr Thomas Graham, who passed away at his residence, 29 Grange street. Dunedin, on the 3rd inst. was one of the original engine drivers on the Dunedin-Port Chalmers railway. Pie was born at West Calder, Scotland, and arrived in Dunedin by the ship William Davio on August 7, 1872. His occupation at Home was that of platelayer and engine driver ,and his first work in Dunedin was as fireman to Mr Jack Thomas (who, it is understood, is still living), when they worked the first engine running, to Port Chalmers. This engine was one of the two double-engined Fairlies, with a funnel at e*ach end and the cab in the centre, and were named respectively the Rose and the Josephine. The Rose,, the first engine, was erected by Messrs Easton and M'Gregor's engineering and blacksmithing firm. On the erection of the second engine, about a year hter, Mr Graham was appointed driver. He continued in the railway service until he retired on superannuation about 12 years ago. Old railway men will miss him, for he was an honest, straightforward man, and. held in high esteem by all who knew him. Deceased leaves a widow, four married daughters, and 17 grandchildren. Mrs Wilis, matron of the John M'Glashan College, has been appointed matron of the Boys' Institute, Wellington. The application from Dr Williams for five months' leave of absence to enable him to visit America has been granted by the Hospital Committee of the Hospital Board. Mr J. H. M'Kay, of the Stamp Duties Office, Dunedin, has been transferred to Wellington. In accordance with the suggestions by the honorary medical staff, the Hospital Committee of the Hospital Board has decided to recommend the appointments of Dr W. D. Scannell as first assistant medical officer at a salary of £SOT) per annum, and of Dr G. P. Fitzgerald os second assistant medical officer, at a salary of £4OO per annum. Mr W. G. Liddell, who has managed the local branch of Whitcombe and Tombs for the past few years, has severed his connection with the firm, and will leave shortly for Napier. Mr Basil Whitcombe, assistant manager at Christchurch, has taken charge of the Dunedin house. Private advice has been received in Dunedin of the death in France, killed in action a few days before the signing of the armis-. tice, of Lieutenant-colonel Athelstane Moore. The deceased soldier —an Imperial armyofficer —went from New Zealand in the Main Body as adjutant to the Otago Infantry Battalion, and afterwards became the officer in command of the battalion. He was at the landing at Gallipoli, and was later on invalided to England, where he joined up again with his old regiment. Oh-the 19th inst. the death occurred at Wanganui East of a pioneer settler in the person of Mr James Frazer, a native of Inverness, who came to New Zealand witi his people in the sailing ship Bernicia, arriving at Port Chalmers on the 2nd of December, 1848. Shortly after their arrival the Frazer family took up their residence at Taratu, Kaitangata, where ho lived until 1893. Deceased then went to the North Island, and was engaged in farming at Colyton until 1910. In that year he retired, and went to Wanganui East, where he lived until his death. He was married in 1873 to Mis 9 Frances Mayo, and he leaves one daughter, Mrs Frances Brown, of Den Rhoda, Wanganui East. Mr Frazer was a man of sterling qualities, who was highly respected by all who came in contact with him, and the news of his death will be received with deep regret by a wide circle of friends in both islands. Mr R, Wilson, managing director of the New Keep-it-Dark Mines (Limited), and of several other Reefton mining companies, is at present visiting Dunedin. Mr Philip Gibbs, the famous war correspondent, is likely to visit Australia and New Zealand before the end of the present year. Mr Gibbs is how lecturing in the United States.

*he Right key. Cecil J. Wood,, D.D., late Bishop of Melanesia, hwi fceoovered hi* health sufficiently to travel, and will leave * Bi&opiomurV' this *pei tat England Ho Hal occn appointed raster

of Witnesham, Suffolk, and will act ea assistant biship in the diocese of St. Eclmonsbury and Ipswich,. A correspondent reports the death at Hawoa Flat on the 19th inst. of Mrs M'Lennan, relict of the late Mr Donald M'Lennan, at the age of 89 years. The deceased was a native •of Elgin, Scotland, where her father was a farmer. She received an education above the average, Mr M'Lennan came to New Zealand first to make a home, and his wife and three children followed soon after, arriving in the Warrior Queen, joining her husband at Lagoon Valley, where he held the position of shepherd in charge, an important position in those days. Their nearest neighbours were at Albert Town, six miles distant. Of a kindly disposition, nothing waj too much trouble to Mrs M'Lennan, if »h« could assist a neighbour. Some years afterwards the family established itself on a farm on the Hawea Flat, -whore the first ploughing was done with bullocks. Qi late years Mrs M'Lennan lived with he* \ daughter, Mrs Connolly,, till she died, leaving a largo grown-up family and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who all have the best wishes and sympathy of all their many friends and acquaintances. Major A. B. Paterson ("Ra'njo" Paterson, the 'Australian poet), and Warrant Officer C. 0. Macartney, the well-known; cricketer, returned to Sydney a few days ago from active service. The death is announced of Captain Alexander Simpson, aged 84, the last of the old whaling captains of Scotland, and the only survivor of the search party sent to the Arctic by Lady Franklin in 1856 in ' search of Sir John Franklin.

Major J. B. Hine, M.P. for Taranaki, is returning from active" service by ths Devon, which is duo at Lvttelton about Thursday first.

Mr A.* Tynda.ll, until recently works engineer officer in the Defence Department at Trentham Camp, and now of the Publto Works. Department, Whangarei, has received "notification of his election as an Associate Member of the American Society 1 of Civil Engineers, New York.