PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3542, 31 January 1922, Page 45

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A Christchurch Press Association message announces that private advice has been received there of the death in London on January 22 of Archdeacon Harper, aged 89, eon of the late Bishop Harper and for many years vicar at Timaru. The late Archdeacon Harper was born at Eton : n 1833 and was educated at Oxford, After coming to New Zealand he was appointed to the charge of Waimakariki for seven years. He was then stationed on the West Coast for seven years, and was afterwards stationed at Timaru for over 20 years till he resigned just before _ the Great War broke out, and lived in retirement m England. The Rev. Ray Stewart, pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, Caversham, has been selected from 23 applicants to fill the position as missionary-superintendent at the King George V Seamen’s Institute, Lyttelton, a branch of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society. Mr Sltewart was at ‘.ea for 11 years, in which time he rose from a position before the mast as an ordinary seaman to be an officer of both sailing vessels and steam vessels. In 1909 he was influenced by the evangelistic meetings held by Dr J. Wilbur Chapman to abandon a seafaring life to travel with the ChapmanAlexander mission party throughout their Australasian campaign. Leaving New Zealand in 1911, he took a course of Bible training at the Moody Bible Institute. Chicago, and had eight years’ pastoral and evangelistic experience in America. Returning to this country three years ago, he took up the ministerial charge *of the Baptist Tabernacle, Caversham. where he has acquired the reputation of being an earnest, sane, scriptural preacher. Mr Stewart’s experience of the world ae a seaman and his training in the ministry should fit him for the situation he is to occupy, which involves his dissociation from any particular denomination. A Press Association cablegram from London states that Lady Scott, widow of Captain Scott, the noted Antarctic explorer, who loa,* his life at the South Pole in March, 1912, is engaged to Mr Hilton Young, a member of the House of Commons. Lady Scott is a daughter of the late Canon Lloyd Bruce. The death is announced, at the age of 88 years, of Mr Thomas Murray, an old and respected resident of Pukekawa. He was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, and sailed for Australia, in 1855, landing at Portland Bay, AT'ctoria. He followed farming pursuits till 1861, when he was attracted to New Zealand by the Otago gold rush. Pie was engaged in digging at Gabriel’s Gully, Dunstan Creek, Lawrence, and, later, at the AVest Coast. In 1867, lie went to Auckland, and took up land at Pukekawa, in the Raglan County, where he continued farming operations until recently, when his health broke down. Mr Murray was one of the first settlers at Pukekawa, and he was about the oldest resident in tlie Raglan County. He went through ail the hardships of the early days at a time when the only means of crossing the Waikato River was in a canoe. Miss M Robertson has been approved for the position of secondary assistant by the committee of the Port Chalmers District High School. At. the meeting of the University Senate last week (states an Auckland message) the Haydon Prize for 1921 was awarded to Mr W. AA 7 . Bridgman, of Green Island, Dunedin, the subject of the essay being “The Pacific as the l Naval Storm Centre of the World. ' For this year the subject decided upon is “The Limitation of Armaments in Relation to Imperial Ideals.” Private Walter John Howie, who died recently at the Dunedin Hospital, was one of those to whom service in the Great AVar had meant years of suffering. He left New Zealand with the 3rd Auckland Regiment (about tlie Seventh Reinforcements), and fought in Egypt and France, gaining the Military Medal. He received gunshot wounds in the arm while fighting in France and illness supervening, he had spent the most of the time since his return to New Zealand in hospital or the Montecillo Convalescent Home, where he was very popular. His home was at Palmerston South, where the body was removed for interment. Air F. J. Atouat, formerly a clerk in the Dunedin Land Office, and an ex-member of the Public Service Appeal Board, is practising as a solicitor in Auckland. At the meeting of the Otago Hospital Board on the 26th inst. a letter was received from Dr Eric Vivian resigning his position as assistant medical officer at the Hospital. The resignation was accepted. A Berlin Press Association cablegram announces the death at Leipzig of Arthus Nikisch, the famous orchestral conductor, from influenza. Herr Nikisch, who was thought by many people to be the greatest living conductor, was a Hungarian by birth, and was director of the Royal Opera at Buda Pesth. So extraordinary was his influence over the players that lie had even been accused of mesmerising them. He made frequent appearances in England. Mr F. AV. Mitchell (immediate past president), who presided at the annual meeting of the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’.; Association of Otago last week, made regretful reference to the death of the late president (Mr I>. M'Pherson). Had it not been for his lamented death, said Mr Mitchell, Air M'Pherson would have presided over the meeting, and at a later stage w'ould have been elected a lifemember. At the time of his death Mr M'Pherson was one of their oldest members, and lie had filled with honour every office that it was possible for him to hold. Ho was the only member of a New Zealand association who bad filled the position of president of the United Associations of Australasia. Those who had travelled with him knew how he was honoured by all who met him. lie was one of the staunchest friends a man could have, “an honest man of sterling worth.” A resolution placing on record an acute sense of ihe loss sustained by the association was passed by members standing in silence. Mr William Robertson, who passed away at Palmerston last week at the age of 81, was the first member elected to the Palmerston Borough Council and continued a member for over 59 years. From the time the town was incorporated as a municipality he was almost continuously a representative of the ralcpayers. He also occupied the Mayoral chair and otherwise took a keen interest in the welfare of the borough. He was a member of the Palmerston Road Board before the formation of the Waihemo County Council, he also served on the committees of the school and athenteum, and was one of the original members of the Loyal Palmerston Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F. Mr Robertson was born in Aberdeen in 1841 and came to New Zen-

land in 1864 in the ship Resolute. After four months spent on Messrs Douglas and Alderscn s station at Pomahaka he came to Dunedin and found employment with Mr George Dowse, then carrying on business as a saddler. Four years later he began a saddlery business for himself in Palmerston. Mr Robertson was married in 1867 to a daughter of Mr William Cochrane, of Palmerston, and leaves a widow, five daughters, (Mrs Young, of Wanganui; Mrs Taylor, of Palmerston j Mrs White, of Invercargill; and Misses L. and M. Robertson, of Palmerston), and four sons (Mr W. Robertson Inspector of Lands Wellington ; Mr A. Robertson, Telegraph Depa.rtment, Christchurch; Mr R. Robertson, State Advances Department, Wellington; and Mr J. Robertson, of Palmerston). The deceased was well known throughout Otago and was the oldest agent for the Massey Harris Company in the dominion. Captain H. F. Feakes, R.A.N., flagcaptain on H.M.A.S. Melbourne, was promoted to captain in July, 1921. He served for most of the war in command of H.M.B. Psyche, and as senior naval officer at Rangoon, in which capacity he rendered notable service. Captain Feakes was appointed to H.M.A.S. Melbourne as flag-captain and chief staff officer in November, 1921. It wa» largely due to his able handling of his ship that those on board the schooner Helen B. Sterling were rescued.