ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 20771, 11 May 1929, Page 8

ABOUT PEOPLE

MINISTERIAL. The Minister of Education, who returned to Nelson yesterday afternoon from a visit I of inspection to the West Coast schools, leaves for Wellington this evening, and will address the conferences of primary, secondary and technical schools teachers on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next. Press Association message. Mr J. A. Cushen, Edendale, leaves for Wellington by the first express this morning. Mr W. Broadbent, accompanied by Mrs Broadbent, left to take up his new duties at Auckland by the express to Dunedin yesterday afternoon. Mr and Mrs James Strang returned home by Thursday night’s express after an extended holiday spent touring the North and South Islands. Private advice has been received that Mr J. C. Beaglehplf, M.A., student, and also for a time lecturer at Victoria College, who was awarded a post graduate scholarship in arts, has obtained a doctorate degree at the London University.—Wellington Press Association message. Mr R. B. Tennent, supervisor of the Fields Division for ‘Otago and Southland, Mr J. W. Gorringe, swine husbandry eXpert, Mr J.-G. Cook, wool expert, Mr J. Wallace, certification expert, and F. C. Brown, chief poultry expert, all of the Department of Agriculture, are visiting Southland in connection with the exhibit of the Department at the Winter Show. Mr S. B. Pilcher, formerly in the local and Bluff offices of the U.S.S. Company, Limited, and now assistant manager at Vancouver, is at present on a visit to Invercargill. It is over five years since Mr Pilcher left for Vancouver and he has returned to New Zealand on extended furlough. Mr Pilcher expects to be in Invercargill for about a month. Dr. J. Smith, who for many years travelled as medical officer on board the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamers between England and the Dominion, and who was thus well-known to thousands of New Zealanders, died at Hataitai on Saturday (says the Wellington Past). He was specially noted for his devotion to children on his many voyages. He was a native of Spalding, Lincolnshire, and was 55 years of age, being a schoolmate of the Rev. D. C. Bates, of this city. For many years he was a medical missionary in China until hi.s health broke down. One of Dunedin’s earliest settlers, and one of the few who were born here as far back as 1849, Mr James Barr, died on Wedne.sday night at his residence in Maitland street, says the Otago Daily Times. Mr Barr was the son of Mr and Mrs John Barr, who came to Otago in the Philip Laing. He was born in the little settlement of Little Paisley, which was situated about the site of the present Southern Cemetery. He commenced his business career in the engineering works of Messrs Watson and Gow, and later started a concern of his own which he carried on successfully 'for over 45 years. For a long time his works were situated where the City Corporation tram sheds now stand, and latterly at the corner of the Anderson’s Bay Road and | Princes street. He retired from active connection with the firm 13 years ago. Mr Barr was a keen member of the St. Kilda Bowling Club, and always took a great interest in the activities of the Early Settlers’ Association.

By the death of Mrs Elizabeth Ann Rogers, at Invercargill, on May 3, there was removed another of the early settlers in Southland whose ranks are being rapidly depleted with the passage of time. Mrs Rogers came to New Zealand with her husband, the late Mr Richard _ Rogers, from Ramsgate, Kent, by the sailing vessel William Davis, in 1875. Landing at Bluff, they came to live at Invercargill for a few years before taking up residence at Otautau, in which district they remained for many years finally settling in the I’apatotara district. Mr Rogers pre-deceased her some 14 years ago, and Mrs Rogers, whose death occurred at the advanced age of 95 years, came to live at Invercargill with her daughter, Mrs E. Norman, of Thames street, Invercargill, about four years ago. Mrs Rogers was of a kind and charitable disposition, and ever ready to go to the assistance of neighbours in times of trouble. She leaves a family of one son and three daughters, Mr J. Rogers (Riverton), and Mesdames E. Norman (Invercargill), J. Coughlan (Dunedin), and D. Watson (Puketeriki). She is also survived by 42 grandchildren and 59 great-grandchildren.