PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 53

PERSONAL ITEMS.

An Auckland telegram announces the death of Mr W. F. Mulgan, for some years chief engineer of the Blackball Coal Company's fleet. • • Mr A. : W. Cave, well known in sporting circles, and a very old settler in the Wairarapa, died on the, 4th inst. in his eightieth year. Mr H. Cameron, stationmaster at Waimahaka (Southland), has been appointed stationmaster at Rangiora. The Oder of the British Empire has been conferred on Major S. J. Bolton, formerly engaged in the accountants' branoh of the General Post Office, Wellington. He left New Zealand with the 2nd Reinforoemettts, and is still in London engaged on military duties. Mr C. A. Piper has retired from the railway sen ice, with which he has been connected fur nearly 50 years. Prior to his leaving he was presented by the General Manager (Mr R. W. M'Villv), on behalf of the combined heads of branches and their staffs, with a token of esteem and appreciation. A Perth cablegram announces the death of Sir Edward A. Stone, Lieutenant-Gover-nor of Westraha since 1906, at the age of 76. He was called to the bar in Perth in 1865, and, after being clerk to the Legislative Council and Aoting Attorney-general, he was made a puisne judge in 1884, and was Chief Justice of Westralia from lfiOl-06. There passed away at Oamaru on the 3rd, after a short illness, Mr Walter John Bowden Radford- at the age of 60 (says the Oamaru Mail). Mr Radford had for many ' years held the position _ of chief porter on the Oamaru railway station, where he had been a well-known figure to all railway travellers. He leaves four daughters, all in Oamaru, a son in _ the railway service at Wangainui, and a widow to mourn their loss. The late Mr Radford also lost a eon at the front. The Rev. S. H. Peryman, who is leaving the pastorate of the Methodist Church at Port" Chalmers, was tendered a send-off social by his oongregation on the sth inst. Mr Perryman is being transferred to Carterton. He has won high esteem during his four years' stay at Port Chalmers, and deep regret was expressed at his leaving. In addition to his pastoral work, he has taken an active part in connection with the no-lieans© movement. The removal is on account of the impaired health of Mrs Peryman, whoss leaving is also deeply regretted. She is editor of the temperance paper, the White Ribbon. The local ministers participated in the send-off. ; Mr Peryman waspresented with a travelling rug, Mrs Peryman wifa a handbag, Miss Peryman with a mirror, and Miss Bessie with a handbag. The best wishes accompanied the presents. The death is announced of Mr Christopher Basstian, one of the finest of Southland's early residents, aged 69 years. Born at Hobart, Tasmania, in 1851, he arrived at Invercargill in 1870. His first' activities were on his father's station, Dunrobin, and in 1874 he joined the firm of John M'Pherson and Co., merchants, Invercargill. Later in the seventies he launched into business on his own account* becoming lessee of the Invercargill jetty, which at that time was a busy quarter. He was also carrying contractor to the Railway Department. Later, he: joined the Union Steam Ship Company aa manager of the Bluff branch, and was active in the solution of the. 1890 strike at the port. _ A few years latex 4 he went into partnership with Mr A.. A. Gellatly in a stock and station agency business. Mr Basstian took a lively ■interest in all public and served a term in the Borough Council. . # He was also a keen sportsman, being, indeed, a foundation member of the Southland Amateur Athletic Association, Southland Amateur Rowing Association. Invercargill Rowing Club (1875), Invercargijl Gymnasium, etc. Volunteering also claimed his enthusiastic spirit as quartermaster-sergeant in the original Invercargill Artillery, *subsequentlv designated the G _ Battery, and he participated in the formation of the Invercargill Engineeirs' Corps. Deceased's son, Mr B. C. . Basstian, is engineer for the Southland Countv Council. Miss Olive Wilden, late assistant teacher at Walton School, Green Island, has been appointed mistress of the Glenomaru School. Professor James Wilson has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of "Medicine at the Sydney University, in' succession i'o the late Sir Thomas Anderson Stuart (states a ' Sydney Press Association .message). . An .Adelaide oablegram announces the death-of the Hon. Archibald Henry Peake, who had been Prime "Minister of South Australia; since 1917. _ Mr Peake, who was 61 years of aga. arrived in Victoria with his parents in 1862, and three years later the family moved to South Australia. In 1897 he entered Parliament as the representative of the Albert electorate, and at one time was leader of the_ Opposition. He has since filled the positions of Treasurer and At-torney-general, Minister of Education, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Prime Minister. - Sir James Allen has booked his passage for Great Britain by 'the Corinthio, which, is scheduled to leave Wellington on the 28thinst. - -•■- ■ ." Miss Vogel, daughter of the late Sir Julius Vogei, has arrived in New Zealand, and is staying with Lady Johnston at Karori, Wellington. V-,,":.. The name of Mr T. F. Johnston, son of Mr T. F. Johnston, Kahuika, is included in the gazetted list of licensed surveyors. Mr Johnston .successfully completed the authorised surveyorV examination in November last, and is now in private practice in Auckland. A sad death occurred on the > 6th, the victim belnsr Mr John Jack, a faithful employee of the Daily Times and Witness Co. He was a member of the night staff, and occupied the position of stone hand. He was at work, as usual, on Friday night, and died as stated. He had been in the company's service for a period of 15 years, and was most painstaking in the performance of his duties. He was 37 years of age, and leaves a widow and family of three. Prior to his departure from Palmerston for Dunedin, Mr W. J. Bennett, who for some years has occupied the position of first assistant in the Palmerston District High School, was presented by the scholars with several tokens of the esteem in which he was held (writes our correspondent). The Presbyterian choir also made him the recipient of a handsome present. Through Mr Bennett's departure the school loses" a very capable and popular teacher, the town an energetic public-spirited citizen. On her departure from the Maungatiua School Miss Allen was accorded a pleasant send-off by the parents and pupils of the •school. A short programme was rendered by the children, and Mr John Miller (secre-

tary of the school committee) presented. Miss Allen with a. handsome gold brooch 1 | and a picture as a token of the esteem .fa which she was held by the people of the district. Miss Allen suitably acknowledged the gifts. In the evening the young people j favoured her with a social and dance. Miss Allen' has been appointed to en assistantship j> in the Forbury School, Dunedin. ■ -:■ Mr W. Laing, a director of the New Zealand Shipping Company (Ltd.) and of the : ; i New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Ltd.), arrived at Auckland oh Friday, 2nd hist., by the Makura, from &yd-< | ney. Mr Laing, who is accompanied iby Mrs Laing, spent a little time in Australia. ,;, He fatends to remain in Auckland for about a week, and he will then visit the other _ J centres of the dominion. ' ". !"§, Senior Detective D Cameron, who has -a* been stationed at Dunedin for ■ the past \ four years and a-half, and who has now, been transferred to Wanganui, was met by : V the members of the detective branch of th» local Police Force h-st week, and presented 1 with an eiderdown quilt. # a A Press Association message from Christchurch announces the death of Mr Charley ffl Allison, an ex-Mayor and for many years || a prominent citizen of that town. The lato Ifj Mr Allison stood for Parliament on several occasions. ;ii A presentation was made on Wedriesday night to Mr S. Dunkley, who has severed his connection with the firm of Spencer •. i and Dunkley, to take up social work, fa rll connection with the Children's. Rest Hom# j The presentation was anado by Mr J. H. .[■', Spencer, managing director, and took the •';; form of two Morris chairs. In making' | the presentation Mr Spencer referred to v ■ Mr Dunkley's retirement after 19 years association with the firm, and expressed M the general regret of the members of the ; ■ firm, though they all appreciated the im- : | portance of the new sphere which Mr i Dunkley had entered. A Press Association message from Christ- M church announces the death, at the age of 67 years, of Mrs Stead, widow of Mr G. G." \n Stead, long prominently connected wiHi ■•■.'s. publio enterprise in Canterbury, and who played a conspicuous part in racing matters. ; '■ At Waikouaiti and Hampden very en- ~ thusiastio farewell socials have been ten- ; dered to the Methodist minister (the' Ren V W. B. Pickering) and Mrs Pickering^;-who i; ore leaving to take up duties at Reefton, A unanimous invitation was accorded the; * pastor to remain for a further period, but , conferenoo decreed his removal. Numerous ' presentations showed the high esteem fa which the -minister and his wife were held M by the various congregations to which he ■; has ministered during the past four years. ;; At Hampden, in making the Mr spoke highly of the work'of the outgoing minister. At Waikouaiti Mr ; Townsend. handed the minister a handsome silver hot-water jug, and a member of the church, on behalf of Mrs Pickering's boys' j class, made a parting gift. A.number'of speakers testified to- the excellence of thf work done by Both.