PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 45

PERSONAL ITEMS.

At the meeting of the Arrow Medical Committee on the 10th (writes our Queenstown corrspondent) Dr Haslett, at present locum tenons at Middlemarch, was chosen from seven applicants to fill the position of medical practitioner for the Arrow district. Dr Haslett had four years’ service in the late war.

A Press Association message from Wellington says that while walking in the city on the 12th Mr William Tompeitt, aged 63, staggered and fell, and expired almost immediately. For many years Mr Tompsitt was prominently associated with local bodies in the Otaki district. He leaves a widow and two daughters. A Press Association telegram from Nelson reports the death in England of Mr Joseph Henry Cock, managing director of J. li. Cock and Company, Nelson, Wanganui, and New Plymouth, managing director of the Anchor Shipping Foundry Company, one of tho founders of the Nelson School of Music, and a leading citizen of the town for many years. The deceased gave £2OOO to the Returned Soldiers’ Club. He was a generous giver, the worthy objects including assisting promising musical pupils with tuition abroad.

It is not considered probable (says ' a Wellington Press Association message) that the lion. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour and Mines, will be sufficiently recovered in health to take his place in the House when Parliament meets in 10 days’ time. He has been carrying on Ministerial duties while in hospital, but it will be necessary for someone else to take charge of the work when Parliament is in session. At present, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart is taking the work connected with Labour, which Mr Anderson is unable to deal with, and the Hon. W. Nosworthy is handling mines matters. It is expected that this arrangement will be continued until Mr Massey’s return.

The death has taken place at New Plymouth of the Rev. William Cannell, probably the oldest Methodist minister in New Zealand. He was 85, and had retired from the active ministry for the past 21 years. He began his church work at New Plymouth in 1861 with the Rev. John Whitely, who was afterwards murdered by the Maoris. In 1864 he removed to Kaiapoi, being the first Methodist minister appointed there. In 1866 he went to Hokitika. He is survived by a large family, the members of which reside in the North Island. Bishop Cleary, of Auckland, was a passenger for London by the Rimutaka, which loft Wellington on the. 13th. Messrs T. Brook, John Carmichael, and James Fleming have been appointed commissioners to classify pastoral runs in the Southland Land District. A Timaru Press Association telegram says that the death occurred on Monday, 12th inst.. at his home in Timaru of a veteran minister of the New Zealand Preslrytorian Church, the Rev. Thomas Ncave, late of Kurow. Deceased was born in Dundee in 1837. ordained in 1861, and after three years in the parish of Perth ho spent 23 years in Dorsetshire, where he came in contact with many men of note. He was a personal friend of Thomas Hardy, the novelist, and of the late Bishop of Durham. Ho came to New Zealand in 1886,

and was 12£ years at Riverton, and nearly 18 years at Kurow. He took much interest in Liberal politics when at Home, and kept himself abreast of tho problems of the day. llis wife predeceased him, three sons and five daughters remaining. The death occurred on the 13th (says a Timaru Pi ess Association message) of Thos. Alex. Walker, a retired school master, and a native of Brighton, Sussex, who came to New Zealand 45 years ago. After some other appointments as a teacher he was the first master at the Waimataitoi School. Later he was an inspector of special schools. MV Walker relived on superannuation five years ago. and lived in Wellington till last week, when he came to Timaru to spend the remainder of his life. ITe was apparently in good health, but- was taken ill ve-terdav morninir. He. is survived by a widow, but no .liitdven. A press Association message from Nelson states that Mr li. O. Ledger, aged 83 years, a leading Nelson resident, died on the 14th inst. A private cable message says that Sir Joseph and Lady Ward will leave England for Now Zealand early next month (says a Press Association wire from Christchurch).

Colonel E. J. O'Neill, C.M.G., D. 8.0., has resigned the position of A.D.M.S., a

post he has held for the past 12 months. Colonel O’Neill has been compelled to take this step owing to pressure of work in connection with his private practice. The Grafton (N.S.W.) Synod has elected the Rev. J. W. Ashton, of Melbourne, Bishop of Grafton and Armidale, in succession to Bishop Druitt. A Press Association message from Christchurch says that Air James Nathan Abraham, a commission agent, residing at. Burwood, was knocked down by a motor car in the city and died in the hospital on Thursday night. An Auckland Press Association message announces the death of Mr Bartholomew Kent, aged 71 years. He retired last June from the post of manager of the Auckland branch of the Alliance Assurance Company. Deceased was five times president of the Chamber of Commerce, and took a kefen interest in public affairs, sport, and music. Mrs Margaret M'Dougall, who died at Invercargill on the 13th, aged 84 years, was a resident of Dunedin from her arrival here- by the ship Otago in 1873 till a few years ago. Her husband died the day she landed, and with the characteristic energy and reliance of the pioneer she brought up and educated a family of six. A London Press Association cable mes sago announces the death of Sir John Bramston. The deceased, who was in his eighty-ninth year, was Assistant Undersecretary of State for the Colonies from 1876 to 1897. lie was a member of tile Queensland Legislative Council, 1863-69, and of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1871-1873; Attorney-general for Queensland from 1870 to 1873 and Royal Commissioner in Newfoundland in 1898.

Mr W. Wyinks, Registrar-general of Lands and Deeds, died here on Wednesday night of heart failure (wires our Wellington correspondent). He was taken suddenly ill, and was conveyed to a private hospital, where ho passed away. The late Mr Wyinks had a long and honourable career in the public service, and his charming manner endeared him to a large circle of friends. He was best known in Dunedin, where as a young man he was a representative Rugby footballer, who played in interprovincial and. I think, in ir Tercolonial matches. He took a keen inte-est in the game. Subsequently he became Deputy Commissioner of Stamps at Christchurch, and a few years ago he was transferred to the important position he held in Wellington. He*was always an able and a most courteous officer. At the conclusion of the monthly meeting of the King Edward Technical College Board of Managers on Thursday aftdrnoon, the chairman (Mr T. Scott) moved that a vote of thanks and regret be accorded the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., and other members of the beard who had held office since its inception, and who were now retiring. Mr J. Wallace, in seconding the motion, regretted that Air Thomson was retiring, but he thought that. Mr Thomson could look with pride on the past. In the early days of the Technical College, Messrs Thomson. Kempthorne, and Dutliie had contributed most liberally, and had not looked to the Government for everything. It was regrettable that Mr Thomson was retiring.— The motion was carried unanimously.—Mr Thomson, in returning thanks, said that he felt it was time he dropped out, as he was absent, a great deal on Parliamentary business, and he could now retire as his work fo>- the Technical College had been done. He had convened a, meeting at the Town Ha!!, which led to the establishment of technical schools in the dominion, and those present at that meeting had carried on for 11 years. He was certain that the work done in the early days was us fine as that carried out to-day. In the early days the salaries of teachers were guaranteed, but now. with free education, the public had lost, the sense of responsibility. JVlr Thomson referred to Mr Marshall, and said that the King Edward Technical College owed a great deal to him. He returned thanks for the compliments paid him, and promised his ready assistance in the future. Bishop Cleary, who has left on a health recruiting trip to the Old Country, was on Sunday, ' 11th inst., presented with an address and a cheque frem the laity of the Auckland diocese. Tho Maoris resident on the Roman Catholic Native Educational Reserve at Awatiika. Northcote. made a presentation to the bishop of an address, wishing him a safe journey, renewed health, and a speedy return. Tho incident is a happy conclusion of a long misunderstanding between these Natives and the church authorities, which has been amicably settled by. the Natives being granted right of occupation of a sufficient portion of the reserve for all their needs, * the use of a house owned by the church on the property, and a number of other concessions. Dr Cleary will pass the winter resting apd recuperating among his relatives in the South of Ireland, and about Easter he will proceed to France and Italy. Ho will then pay hi* ad limine (periodical) visit to Rome, this being part of the purpose of his trip. The. bishop will he ncenm. panied to Europe by the Rev. Father Bradley. , Mr F. K. Reeves, the well-known Y\ eliington journalist, for some 27 years a member' of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, has been appointed for the coming session private secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr T. M. Milford. Tlie death occurred early on Friday morn im* oi Mi Felix M'Fehn, aged 70 years, following a sudden and serious development yesterday afternoon of heart trouble (wires our Cromwell correspondent).. His residence in the dominion extended into a period of about 50 years. As a. miner in the early days, and afterwards as a farmer, he was a popular figure in the Central district, lie leaves a wife and family of 11 of varving ages, but chiefly grown up. On the 9th inst. Mr George Dickson and his wife were socially farewi lied in the Mat-aura Island Hall. Mr Dickson, for the past seven vears, has worthily filled the position of manager of the Island Dairy Factory, an d resigned to take over a more lucrative one with the Edendale Dairy Factory. Some beautiful presents were given to the gue.-ts of the evening, and most compliment at - ; speeches made extolling Mr Dickson’,s manifold success's at shows throughout tho Dominion. It is notified in the Gazette that Messrs A. M’Cormack, J. Dick, J. Dungey, J. (' Edmonstoii and W . Nicholson have been appointed members of the Moevaki Domain Board. Mr L. li. Bullock, of the Christchurch staff of the New Zealand Insurance Company, has been promoted to a position in the, Argentine branch of the company, and will leave for Buenos Aires during the coming month.