ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 21194, 22 September 1930, Page 6

ABOUT PEOPLE

Mr R. J. Cumming left by Saturday morning's express for Christchurch. Mr’ H. Guthrie, Rotary governor for New Zealand, left Dunedin for the north, on Saturday. The Rev. Dr. H. J. O’Neill, Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, was a visitor to Invercargill during the week-end. The appointment of Mr Harry- Roy Ansford as deputy registrar of birth, deaths and marriages at Orepuki is gazetted. Mr L. A. Paish, his Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, accompanied by Mrs Paish, will arrive in Dunedin to-day.

The appointment of Mr Alexander James MacLaine as returning officer for the Board of the Waihopai Rabbit District is gazetted.

Mr T. Burt is at present on a visit to Wellington, attending a conference of departmental managers of Messrs A. and T. Burt, Ltd. Messrs W. J. Nelson and A. G. Homer travelled to Christchurch on Saturday to attend a meeting of the South Island Brass Bands Association.

The appointment of Lieutenant (on probation) A. S. Atkins to the 2nd C Battalion Southland Regiment, is confirmed according to a notice in the latest issue of the gazette.-

Messrs W. Le Gal, A. Walmsley and W. Ruffell, of Dunedin, who took part in the Civic Band concert last evening, return to Dunedin by car to-day.

Mr W. Robison, president of the Southland Rugby Union, travelled to Dunedin on Saturday to attend the Otago Rugby Union’s jubilee celebrations.

There passed away at Timaru on September 12 an old identity of Invercargill, Mrs J. B. Greig. She, as Miss Elizabeth Waymouth, daughter of Mr Bryant Waymouth of Melbourne, Victoria, came to Invercargill in 1876 and followed her profession of music and art until 1596 when she married Mr James Brown Greig. Mrs Greig was an artist of note having exhibited many pictures and possessing a soprano voice of unusual quality. She sang in St. John’s choir for many years.

At the monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board last week, the appointment was confirmed to the headmastership of the Kensington School of Mr James Lenihan, who during the past four years has been headmaster of the East Gore School. Mr Lenihan has been prominently connected with the Eastern Southland Rugby Sub-Union as an executive member, and has also been a prominent official in the Gore Competitions Society. It is understood that Mr Lenihan will commence duties at his new school on November 1.

Mr and Mrs Thomas Houston, of Lower Shotover, were tendered a complimentary social and dance in the Lower Shotover schoolhouse last Friday evening by the residents of the surrounding districts. Mr and Mrs Houston have spent all their married life at Shotover, and they have decided to retire from farming and take up residence in Queenstown, leaving their son, Mr T. M. Houston, to carry on the old home. The gathering was presided over by Mr P. Reid. After a programme of musical and elocutionary items had been gone through, a number of speeches were made by prominent farmers and others who had been associated with the Houston family for many years. Reference was made to the excellent settlers Mr and Mrs Houston had proved and to the yeoman service rendered by Mr Houston to the School Committee, the Lake County A. and P. Society, and the church. At all entertainments and socials held at Lower Shotover they had both given valued assistance, and their departure would be felt very keenly. Mr Houston’s ability as a farmer and his great industry were also stressed, the younger generation being exhorted to emulate his fine example. In token of the respect and esteem in which the guests of the evening were held they were each presented with a rest-u-well chair upholstered in nioquette. Mr Houston made an appreciative reply.

The toll on the fast diminishing band of early settlers of late has been a heavy one. On Tuesday Mrs Janet Burn passed away in her 83rd year at her home in Avenal, where, although not in the best of health of late, she had been about of late and following her usual household work until a few minutes before her death. In the early ’sixties the ship Arima set out for New Zealand with Mr and Mrs Robert Young and family, of Airdrie, Scotland, included in her passenger list. On arrival Mr Young took up a 200-acrc farm at what is now Mabel Bush. Some years later Miss Janet Young left the home and went, to Queenstown, where she married Mr John Thomas Burn, a carpenter, whose services were in great demand in the early mining rushes. While at Queenstown, Mr Burn suffered sunstroke, and when the family came to live in Invercargill he went to Dunedin for medical attention, but died there. In Invercargill the Burn fandly first lived in a house on a section in Dee street where St. Paul’s Church now stands, and later removed to Avenal, where they have resided for many years. Mrs Burn was a kindly-natured Christian woman, and endeared herself to all. She took up the nursing profession, and in later years carried on a successful establishment in Fox street, Avenal, but failing health called a halt. Many beautiful wreaths, letters, and telegrams sent bore testimony to the worth of the deceased. The remains were interred in the Eastern Cemetery on Friday morning, the services at the house and grave being conducted by the Rev. J. A. Lush, there being present many friends to pay a last tribute. The remaining members of the family are: Mr William Burn (Clyde), Mrs John Friend (Avenal), Mr Robert E. and Mr John Burn (Auckland), and Miss Catherine Burn (Avenal).