ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 17938, 1 February 1917, Page 5

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr J. W. Dove, V. Grand President and H. A. Mcßeath, M.8.M., of the United Ancient Order of Druids, arrived by yesterday’s express. Mr H. R. T. Spanjer, of the Christchurch Press literary staff, has been spending a holiday at Stewart Island, and returns north to-day. A London cablegram reports the death of Mr Henry St. George, the musician, who visited New Zealand as Examiner to Trinity College, aged 51 years. The Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin Star telegraphed yesterday:— The Hon. Dr McNab, Minister of Marine, has been reported to be showing Improvement during the last few days, but yesterday’s bulletin was not quite so favourable.

The members of All Saints vestry, Gladstone, met on Tuesday evening and presented Mr C. J. Ronaldson with a handsome leather suit case in recognition of the valuable work he has done during his eight and a-half years residence in the parish. In making the pre. sentation the Vicar, the Rev. Canon Fynes-Clinton, spoke in glowing terms of Mr Konaldson’s many good qualities, and while congratulating him on well earned promotion, he expressed regret at losing such a valuable church worker. He concluded by wishing Mr Ronaldson, his wife and family every happiness in their new sphere. The Lyttelton Times records the death of Sergeant Samuel Barwell, a Crimean veteran, who was well-known in Southland, having owned a farm at Fairfax and resided for some years in Invercargill. Sergeant Barwell, who was 84 years of age, had a stirring career. He joined the army when he was 16, and his first campaign was in the year* 1851-3, in the Hottentot and Kaffir wars in South Africa. In 1854 he went to the Crimea, where, to use his own words, ho saw enough active service for anyone. His regiment at one period was under fire for four consecutive months, and he was on duty for sixteen to twenty hours daily. He was at the taking of the Alma and at the Battle of Inkerman, Balaclava, and Sebastopol, and delighted to recall exciting incidents of hairbreadth escapes during the campaign. When General Sir lan Hamilton was in Christchurch in 1914 the lat« Sergeant Barwell was one of the veterans inspected by Sir lan, -who conversed with him and was interested in the late sergeant’s reminiscences. The death occurred on Tuesday, at hig house in North Invercargill, of Mr Wm. Anderson, at the age of 75 years, and after an illness that confined him to his residence for about three months. The deceased was bom in the parish of Marylebone, Middlesex, England, on March 6, 1840, and at an early age joined the Army, being a private in the Seventh Royal Fuisiliers, in which he saw- nine years’ service when invalided Home from India. Amongst his most valued possessions was a medal with which h# was piesonted while in India. In 18*4 the late Mr Anderson arrived in New Zealand by the ship Invercargill, and shortly after landing was appointed to the position of teacher in the Limestone Plains School, which he held for some years, when he resigned and became Town Clerk of North Invercargill. Later he received the appointment of Inspector of Nuisances for the North Invercargill, Avenal, Gladstone, and East Invercargill boroughs, but for some time before his death had been living in retirement. The deceased had been a member of the Druids for many years, and for no less than 26 years held the position of secretary, from which he resigned on account of failing health, when a medal and gold albert were presented to him hy the Lodge in recognition of his long and faithful services. The late Mr Anderson also took a prominent part in the establishment of the United Friendly Societies' Dispensary. He leaves a widow and ten of a family—seven sone and three daughters—the only unmarried son being at present in France serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary- Force. He also leaves 36 grandchildren. The British Trade Commissioner (Mr R. W. Dalton) returned from the north on Monday evening (wires the Dunedin Star's Wellington correspondent), and left for the south on the ferry steamer last (Wednesday) evening. He proposes to spend the next few weeks making a comprehensive tour qf the South Island, meeting business men at the various centres, and discussing with them matters relating to Imperial trade. Starting from Christchurch, he will proceed southwards as far as Invercargill, then he will return to Canterbury, cross to the West Coast, and proceed to Nelson via Greymouth, Westport and Blenheim.