PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 34

PERSONAL ITEMS.

- The appointment is provisionally recognised of Mr G. L. Denniston as ViceConsul for the Netherlands at Dunedin during Uie temporary absence of the ViceConsul. Air G. K. Ritchie. At a meeting of the Awarua Dairy Factory Company it was unanimously decided to nominate Mr J. R. Hamilton for the vacancy on the Dairy Control Board caused by his retirement as the member for the South Island to stand down this year. Riotessor J. Macmillan Brown will attend a conference in Honolulu next month on race questions. lie had intended to visit Niue Island, which is in the boundaries cl this dominion, to continue his researches into the peoples of the Pacific, but found it necessary to abandon that proposal this Sir Thomas Mackenzie wil arrive at Wellington by the Rotorua on May 29. Mr P. W. Donaldson, telegraphist at the Invercargill Telegraph Office, has been appointed to the position of supervisor of the telegraph branch at the Tiinaru Post Office. Writing on April 7, our London correspondent states that the Rev. F. M. Molylieux, Assistant-Bishop-Design ale of Melanesia, will leave England by the Arawa on June 19. llis consecration will take place in Auckland on August 9. It is hoped that Mr Molyneux will take out with him a band of recruits for tne mission. He will begin shortly a series of preaching and speaking engagements on behalf of Melanesia. Miss Bessie Thomson (Dunedin) is in tendon for the purpose of studying drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (writes our London correspondent on April V). On her way to England via America she studied in San Francisco and New York. Until the end of the year Miss Thomson expects to be in London, and then she will tour the Continent. On May 12, 1894 (31 years ago last Tuesday), the Rev. Dr D. M. Stuart passed to his rest, at the age of 75, after a lorn? and Perry, Mr C. A. Wallinger, Miss E. M. Forsyth, Mr and Mrs C. R. St. Clair Woollams. Miss A. Church, and Mrs F. M. Paulson, all of Dunedin. On May 12, 1894 (31 years ago yesterday), the Rev. Dr D. M. StuaTt. passed to his rest, at the age of 75, after n long and severe illness. He arrived in Dunedin, with his wife and three sons, on January 27, lf!60, and was inducted by the Dunedin Presbytery into the pastorate of Knox Church on May 16 of the same year. His name is still revered by many of"the older residents of Clago and of Dunedin in particular. Captain Rodger R. C. Backhouse has been promoted to the rank of rear-admiral in his Majesty’s Fleet consequent on the death of Vice-admiral Sir Michael CulrneSeymour. Rear-admiral Backhouse was flag commander to Admiral Jellicoe in the Iron Duke in 1914-15. commander of the cruiser Conquest in 1915-16, and in 1916-18 wa s flag captain to Vice-admiral Pakenham in the Lion. He is the younger of the two sailor sons of the late Sir Jonathan Backhouse, and his brother Oliver was promoted to rear-admiral last February. Relinquishing the command of the battleship Malaya in °f last year, he has since been studying at the Senior Officers’ Technical College. Mr John Edward Stevenson was on Wednesday admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court before Mr Justice Sdm, on the motion of Mr W. L. Moore. A Press Association message from Otaki states that Mr W. H. Bowden announces that he will probably stand as an Independent Liberal-Labour candidate for the Otaki seat. At a special meeting of the Board of Governors of the Waitaki High Schools, three applications were received for the position of D grade assistant at the Boys’ School, and it was decided to appoint Mr B. B. Blackmore. The Hon. John MacGregor on Wednesday underwent an operation irf a hospital in Wellington, the outcome of which will, it is expected, be satisfactory. Writing on April 1, our London correspondent reports that recent callers at the High Commissioner’s Office (London) included Mr and Mrs Shelmerdine and Miss Shelmerdine (Dunedin), and Dr Augusta Manoy (Invercargill). At itno Christchutch Competitions on Wednesday Miss Anita Winkel was awarded the Elocution Scholarship for competitors of either sex between the ages of 16 and 21 years. Master Ivan Davidson was placed second in boys’ recitation event for competitors between the aces of 9 and 12 years. Mr John Newton. Postmaster at Edendalo during the past nine months, and previously in a similar position at Wyndham for three years, has received notice of his transfer on promotion to take charge of the Post Office at Foxton (says the Wyndham Farmer). Sir Ernest Rutherford, the eminent scientist., who will, in a few months’ time, revisit New Zealand, will go to Australia first to deliver a series of lectures under the auspices of the various universities of the commonwealth. He will be accompanied! by Lady ‘Rutherford, nud k after staving a few months in Australia, will leave for New Zealand on September 25, where both his own parents and those of his wife reside. So far as is known at present. Sir Ernest Rutherford will give throe lectures in Sydney, three in Melbourne, two in Adelaide, and one in Brisbane. Tho death occurred at, Invercargill iecently of Mr George Swain, aged 82 years, of Stewart Island. Mr Swain wn« bom at Capetown and went to Australia at the age of six years. After spending 23 years in Australia, where he was goldmining, ho oame to New Zealand as a young man of 29 years and ongaged in sawmilling. Forty-two years ago he went to Stownrt Island and there the remainder of hia life wa a passed. Whilst at the island he was chiefly engaged aawmilling, owning at

various times mills at Kaipipi and Ryan’s Creek. As an old goldminer, he had a natural bent for prospecting and was ono of the party who discovered tin at Pegasus whilst on the outlook for gold. Having spent so many years on Stewart Island, Mr Swain of necessity was ono of the old identities there and was a man who was held in every respect. lie leaves a wife, a son arid a daughter. Mr lan Jack left Dunedin last week for Christchurch, where he has joined tho legal staff of the Public Trust Office. Dr Bruco Roy, who has been medical officer for the Runanga Medical Association for the past four years, has resigned in order to commence practice near Dunedin (says a West Coast paper*. Included in the candidates who successfully sat at the March examinations in Edinburgh for the degree of F.R.C.S. were the Stratford practitioners, Dr W. P. P. Gordon and his wife, I)r Doris Gordon. Both were successful, and they establish a unique record in that it is tho first time in the history of Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons that husband and wife sat the examination together. A further record is that Dr Doris Gordon is the first woman in Australia or New Zealand to obtain this degree. She specialised in “Advanced Midwifery,” and in the aggregate of marks tied with Dr Averill, of Auckland, for second place in the lists out of 62 candidates. I>r Doris Gordon is now visiting the leading obstetrical hospitals in Europe, and is at present investigating maternal welfare work in Vienna. Both Dr W. P. P. Gordon and Dr Doris Gordon are graduates of Otago University. Dr Doris Gordon matriculated from the Tapanui District High School in 1910; graduated M. 8., Ch. 8., Otago, in 1915; gained her D.P.H. Degree with Honours at Dunedin in 1917, and, with her husband, has been practising in Stratford since 1918 News has been received by this week’s English mail that Mr R. E. Matheson, of Dunedin, has gained his pilot's commission in the Royal Air Force. He has been posted to Netherevon (Wilts, England). At the meeting of the Otago Hospital Board on Friday the chairman (Mr W. E. S. Knight) and Messrs A. F. Quelcli and J. W. gcurr were appointed delegates to attend a conference of the Hospital Boards’ Association at Auckland on May 27. It was decided that the three delegates should eubmit remits at the next meeting of the board on Thursday. Mr John Nicholson Smith has been admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court by Mr Justice Sim. At the Christchurch competitions Miss Anita Winkel won the ladies’ recitation event. Mr A. J. Lungley was placed first in the sacred solo (baritone) section and Miss Griffiths gained third place in the Dickens character sketch section. A Press Association message from Wellington states that Mr H. Nelson Firth, of Kelburn, though he has reached the advanced age of over 80. will leave by the Athenic on a holiday visit to England. Mr Firth arrived at Auckland 70 years ago by the sailing ship Glengownie after a voyage of six months. The following members of Parliament who have been visiting Wellington m connection with the Prime Minister’s funeral returned to Dunedin on Saturday by the 4 18 p.m. express:—The Hon. C. E. Statharn (Speakor of the House of Representatives), the Hon. G. M Thomson, M.L.C., the Hon. R. Scott, M.L.C., Mr T K. Sidey, M.P., and Mr J. M‘C. Dickson, M.P. The Hon. D. T. Fleming, M.L.C., also returned and on to Balclutha, and the Hon. A. F. Hawke, M.L.C.. who was one of the party, went on to Invercargill, as aho did Mr J. C. Thomson, MP., and Mr P. A. de la Perrelle, M.P.