ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 18745, 3 December 1919, Page 5

ABOUT PEOPLE

A Press Association message says that Sir Joseph Ward will speak at Temuka on Thursday night. The Timaru Presbytery yesterday sustained a call from Geraldine to the Rev. Gilbert, ex-chaplain of the forces, formerly of Maheno.—Press Association. The Greymouth County by-election resulted in Mrs J. Hannan, son of the late M. Hannan, being elected to the seat formerly held by his father.—Press Association. A Melbourne Press Association message says that the Melbourne University will confer the honorary degree of LL.D., upon General Birdwood and General Monash in recognition of their war services. A London Press Association message records the death of Louise, widow of the Hon. Richard Oliver, who was Minister for Public Works in Sir Harry Atkinson’s Cabinet. I x Mr Abel Rowe, advance representative of Mr E. J. Carroll’s' attractions, arrived yesterday to make arrangements for the screening of “The Sentimental Bloke” at the Albion Theatre on Monday.

Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward and Mr Vincent Ward will leave for the north by to-day’s express. Sir Joseph will speak at Temuka to-morrow night. Sir Joseph has not disclosed his programme further. Mr H. Gladstone Hill, who visited Inver-' cargill in connection with the coming visit of the N.S.W. State Orchestra, left for the north by the express yesterday. The Orchestra will arrive here from Timaru by the second express on February 4 and will leave for Dunedin on February 7. Three concerts, two evening and one matinee, will be given in Invercargill. A Press Association message, w'hich did not reach this office, but appeared in the northern newspapers, states that the Government steamer Hinemoa, which arrived at Westport from the West Coast. Sounds on Friday, reported having called at Milford Sound, where she found Mr Donald Sutherland dead. His wife met the steamer. She stated that Mr Sutherland had died of dropsy 30 days previously. She was quite alone, and the body had remained in the house till the Hinemoa’s arrival. The Hinemoa carried three guides from Bluff to clear the Te Anau-Milford track for the opening of the tourist traffic on December 1. They will inter the remains. Mrs Sutherland’s experience was very moving during the period of waiting for the Hinemoa. She refused to leave, Captain Bollons vainly endeavouring to persuade her. The Wyndham Farmer reports the death of Mr Thomas Dowling, a well-known settler. Mr Dowling was out and engaged in his daily routine on Thursday, and on retiring at night did not display any symptoms to cause uneasiness. At 3 o’clock on Friday morning, however, he suddenly was seized with excruciating pain. Dr Baird was summoned, but the sufferer passed away at 10 o’clock the same morning. The deceased was an old resident of New Zealand, in which country he was born, at West Taieri, 62 years ago. His parents, the late Thomas and Frances Dowling, removed from West Taieri to San Francisco when young Thomas was quite a lad. After living in the United States for 13 years, the son, then of adult age, returned to the land of his birth. He, was farming for some time at Henley, then for 10 years at Owaka, from whence he removed to Seaward Downs 13 years ago. In his day he was a crack ploughman, and won match after match for some years all over the Taieri. He was also a splendid athlete, excelling as a vaulter; indeed, he was almost invincible in the South Island with his pole; and at one memorable meeting of Otago Caledonian Society, Dunedin, after clearing TOft lOin and winning from scratch, he agreed to give an exhibition vault, clearing lift—the bar being placed on top of the uprights. Socially, the late Mr Dowling was a man to admire, he being hard working, conscientious, and liberal in all his ways. He is survived by a> sorrowing widow, four daughters (two of whom are married) and four sons (three married), who will receive general sympathy in their sad bereavement, the poignancy of which has been rendered the more acute by tne fact of a daughter of the deceased gentleman having passed away at Riversdale on November 11, on the eve of her marriage. Mrs Geo. Palmer, of Otokia, South Otago, is a sister of the late Mr Dowling.