PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 25

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr James Cullen has been appointed engineer to the Christchurch Drainage Board at a salary of £6OO. Mr Cullen, who is a native of Scotland, was engaged professionally on the Glasgow main drainage works from 1897 to 1901. On leaving that service he came to New Zealand, and was with tho Dunedin Drainage Board front 1902 to 19C6. Ho then entered the service of the Christchurch Drainage Board, but returned to the Dunedin Board in 1909 ;u~ assistant engineer, and continued in ti 10 service of t licit bond, until 1917, when lie rejoined the service of the Christchurch Board as assistant engineer. At the last meeting of ihe Mcmona Social and Debating Society. Mr Hugh W. Sprott, who has acted as secretary to the society since its inception and who is leaving the district, was entertained by tho members of the society and presented with a case of silver-mounted pipes, suitably inscribed. Ihe president (Mr Andrew Moore) trade the presentation, and spoke of tho conscientious manner 111 which Mr Sprott had always vvotke-d. not only for the debating society, but for the welfare of the whole community, and ho felt that his departure would he a distinct loss to tho district. Messrs J. Campbell, U. L. Blair, P. Ford, and A. \V. Amos all spoke of the good work which Mr Sprott had done in ihe district, particularly anicng.-t the young people, and wished him every success and happiness in the future. Mr Sprott, in the course of his reply, said he did not think there was any danger of his ever forgetting tile members of the society or the people of Momona, where he had spent so many happy years. A dainty supper was provided by the lady numiheis the society, and 1110 singing of "For lie s a Jolly Good bellow ’’ ‘'terminated a very pleasant evening. Sir John Findlay is (writes our London correspondent on May 131 up and about after .1 rather serious illness. A week -t two ago he contra-ted influenza, which tools a virulent, for n, Iml for 1 day or two ho was in rather a dangerous condition. Mr and Mrs Farquhar Young have been offered the positions of adjudicators at tho Southland musical and elocutionary competitions festival in October next. Mr Charlton Fraser, who has been manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Riverton for some years, has meivctl notice ot his promotion to manager of 'he Jcntuaa branch of the same bank The Chairman of the Otago Harbour Beard (Mr T. Sec!lay) reported at a mealin'* of the board last week that he had congratulated Mr K. \V. Platts, C.M.G.. on behalf of the board, on the honour twin u had been conferred on him by (he King Mr Platts had replied thanking the board for its very kind congratulations and slatmo- that such good vv ishes l rom Ins old confreres were especially gratifying. Mr G. A. U. Tapper has been elected a member of the Board of Governors of the M’Lent 1 Institute and also a trustee ot tlio M’Leaii Trust. Mr Tapper was born 111 Invercargill and was educated at. f nrtslchurch College, of which institution he is now a member of the Board of Governors. He joined (he service of the Bank of N vv Zealand on leaving school and over 4'l years ago was appointed to the Christchurch staff. He rose to the position of sub-mnn-aper and was then for* two years manager of the Timaru branch. For 12 years ne held the position of inspector and is now manager of the bank in Christchurch. Tho death took place 011 the 20th, at fits residence, South t artcrfoii, of Mr Alexander Hughan, a very old resident of the district, and one of the sturdy band or Gabriel's Gully pioneers. Mr iiughan uaa born ill Kircudbright, Scotland, in 1836. and at the time of his death was in his eightyfifth year. When lie was quite an infant his nare-ms moved to Liverpool, England, leaving there for Melbourne, A n toria.. Later again they came to Taieri Beacn, Otago, where they took up the occupation of farming, and so gave Air liughan tiio opportunity to try ins luck, as he oid wittl some success, at tho Gabriel’s Gully gold rush. At about this time he married Mi>» King, of Taieri Plains. After iris marriage he left the South Island, and engaged in the savvmiiling industry at Oliariu, i pper Hutt, and later at Carterton. In 1875 110 disposed of his Carterton business to tho late Mr William Booth (now W. Booth and Co., Ltd ), and was Ultimately engaged in farming and savvmiiling right up to tho time of his retirement from active work, lie retained his full faculties to the last, and suffered only two days illness. lla took a keen and lively interest in local and world-wide affairs, and possessed a vast general knowledge. His disposition was engaging and kindly, and made for him a» very huge circle of friends. He leaves a widow and a family of two sons and 10 daughters. 36 grandchildren, and 20 groat--1 grandchildren.