PERSONAL ITEMS,

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 45

PERSONAL ITEMS,

A Timaru Press Association message reports that Mr Hugh Oswald Murray Christie, aged 43 years, stock inspector, died suddenly in the Fairlie court on the 21st ult. Mr Robert J. G Wynne, editor of the Waikato Times, died suddenly on the 21st (reports a Hamilton Press Association message). He was sitting in his chair, when he pitched forward, and died without warning. Deceased was one of the most well-known men in the province. The death occurred at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika Territory, recently of Mr Sidney Montgomery, aged 36 years. Mr Montgomery was an old Dunedin boy, who wont to South Africa in 1903. He held some important positions in the mining world (says the Natal Advertiser), but will be best remembered for being thrice gold medallist in the Johannesburg Eisteddfod. He was one of the finest elocutionists in the country. Mr Montgomery was extremely popular as a manager of the African Theatres Trust, where he gained many friends. Going to Dar-es-Salaam, he quickly built tin a strong commercial interest, where he was, as usual, popular with everyone he came in contact with. He was a member of the Dar-es-Salaam Chamber of Commerce, and did excellent work for the advancement of the town and the territory in general . Mr C. C. M'Lachlan, the newly-appointed manager of the Mosgiol branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has now assumed control. Mr W. J. .Fuldseth, who has been temporary manager at Mosgiel for several months, will proceed to the Kaiapoi branch to take up similar duties. Mr I). W. Jones, who died at Papakura (Auckland province) last month, was headmaster of tne local school for 18 years. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and an enthusiastic bowler. He is survived by his widow and three sons. The youngest (Mr W. M. Jones) was Rhodes scholar for 1914. served during the war, and is now at Oxford. The second son (Mr E. C. Jones) is science master at Christchurch Technical College, and the eldest (Mr S. C. Janes) is a teacher lrt Northern Wairoa School. Many old West Const frierms will learn with regret of the death a few days ago at Auckland of Mr T. V. Byrne, formerly a well-known barrister at Kumara, Hokitika, and Greymouth. He was at one time mayor of Kumara, and held the position of chairman of the Westland County Council, he being- also a member of the Greymouth Borough Council. Some time ago he entered the service of the Crown Law Department, and later went into a legal partnership at Auckland. Three of his sons were killed'at. the »4". Mr R. Hampton, who has retired after six years’ service from the position of president of tile Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, was presented Ivy members of the society with a gold watch and chain, a substantial monetary testimonial, and also a silver-mounted dressing case for Mrs Hampton. Mr Alexander Meharry, who passed away at Christ Tmrrh recently, was born in Belfast. Ireland, in 1858. Tie came out to New Zealand in 187-1. and for a time followed up gold mining on the West Coast. Later he erected a large sawmilling plant, and engaged in the export of timber, but sold (lie business and joined the Government Lands Deartment. being appointed Chief Crown Lands Ranger for Westland. After 13 years of service in the Government- Lands Department, lie resigned and took over a business in Christchurch, which lie conducted for a few years, and then sold out, taking up 600 acres of land in the Rakaia district. The late Mr Meharry was wed known and respected in racing circles on the West Coast.

Mr P. R. Stewart, formerly of the National Bank staff in Dunedin, and latterly manager at Hokitika, has received notice of transfer to Hamilton. A cablegram from Sydney announces the death of the Hon. John Garland, who was called to the Legislative Council in 1908. He was Solicitor-general in the Wade and Holman Ministries. The late Mr Garland, who was an M.A. of Aberdeen University, and who also took the degree of LL.B. (with first class honours) at Edinburgh, was 58 years of age. The death is announced at Carterton of Mr J. T. M. Hornsby (wires our Wellington correspondent). The late Air Hornsby, who was born in Tasmania, came to New Zealand in 1875, and became a journalist. In this profession ho had a varied experience in Otago, Christchurch, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, and Wairarapa. In 1899 he stood against Mr (now Sir) W. C. Buchanan for the Wairarapa seat, and was elected. He ivas defeated in 1902, but won again in 1905. He was again defeated at the 1908 election, and was once more elected in 1914. At the last election he was defeated by Mr A. D. M'Leod. Mr Hornsby was a member of the Liberal Party. Though he was a good speaker, he never quite made his mark in Parliament, and during his last session it was seen that he was in failing health. For a long time past he had been seriously ill. A Sydney cablegram states that the Rev. Mr Howard has been elected president of the Alethodist Conference. Professor Ramsay, the newly-appointed professor of English at Otago University, accompanied by Mrs Ramsay and children, arrived in Dunedin bv the second express train on the 23rd. Professor Ramsay came from Perth. A Wellington Press Association wire states that at the annual conference of the Master Printers’ Association the election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr J. Gamble; vice-president. Mr T. Jones; council—Messrs N. ATRobie, W. C. Cargill, A. A. Willis, 11. Coull, A. J. Benzie, T. Somerville, and S. N. Brown. The death took place at Arrowtown suddenly on Wednesday, 23rd ult. (telegraphs our Queenstown correspondent) of Mr Thomas Johnston, aged 49 years, the eldest son of Mrs Johnston, of the Central Hotel. Arrowtown. The deeeased was in his usual he.aHh the night before. At an inquest held before Mr D. F. Sutherland (coroner) the medical evidence disclosed weakness of the heart, and a verdict was returned in accordance with th ; s testimony. The deceased, who was married, and leaves a wife and four young children, spent the greater part of his life in the district, where he did shepherding in his earlier years, and then engaged in the carrying trade. .For the last two ycNs he carried the mails between ArrowtowX and Cromwell. The deceased was a memhv of the Borough Council and a church officer in St. Paul’s. Arrowtown. Mr George Alark. one of New Zealand's pioneers, died at Wellington Hospital on the 21st, aged 79 years. Deceased followed the gold rush to Hokitika in 1868. Later he assumed the management of the Golden Point mine, Queen Charlotte Sound, and on this venture proving a failure he settled in Blenheim, where ho was widely known and respected. In 1866 he married a cousin of the late Chief Justice Madden and Sir Frank Madden, Victoria. His wife predeceirfesd him by two years. Mr Maurice O’Connor, a well-known contractor, died here on Thursday (wires our Wellington correspondent) Deceased was born in Tipperary, and after gold digging at Ballarat and Bendigo joined the new rush to Gabriel’s Gully (Otago). He afterwards lived in Westland. He was a loyal and generous adherent of the Roman Catholic Church St. Mary of the Angels, in Baulcott street, has on occasions benefited by his generosity. He leaves a widow and family, consisting of Messrs P. I. O'Connor (of Palmerston North, jeweller), J. O’Connor (farmer, Levin), Airs M. Bourk.e (Napier), Mrs G. APEvedv (Wellington), Mrs Cvril Collins (Wellington), and Sister Mary Baptiste (of the Sisters of Mercy, Christchurch). At the meeting of the Clutha County Council on Friday Air J. IT. Lewis, of Invercargill. was appointed county engineer. There were five applicants. The Public Service Commissioner has appointed Mr Arthur Fair, LL.B., barrister and solicitor, of Wellington, to the vacant position of Crown solicitor Wellington. Mi- Fair is a native of Charleston (West Coast), and served in the New Zealand Forces from 1914 -till 1919. Many residents of Otago will learn with regret of the death of the Ven. Archdeacon Robinson, at Bournemouth, England, on November 26 last. The deceased clergyman, who was Archdeacon of Dunedin and vicar of St. Paul’s for several years, had long retired from active spiritual work, but his health had boon generally satisfactory and his death occurred rather unexpectedly. There passed away on Friday morning one of the oldest and most respected residents of the district m the person of Mr James M'Gimpsey (writes our Kurow correspondent). Besides taking a practical interest in everything that concerned the welfare of the district. Mr M'Gimpsey represented the Kurow Presbyterian parish in Oamaru Presbytery almost continuously for the last 20 years. He took up farming pursuits in years ago. He will be greatly missed in the. district. A pleasing incident was witnessed by the lar<re number of friends who assembled at ,].,r Railway Station on Saturday morning to bid good-b.ve to the lion. W. Downio Stewart on his departure for Wellington, when Miss Geerin, on behalf of the women of Mornington, presented him with a floral tribute of roses and heather, with long white streamers inscribed: ‘‘To the Hon. V . Downio Stewart, with the congratulations of the women of Mornington.” Aliss Stewart was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.