PERSONAE NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 19, 9 November 1910, Page 6

PERSONAE NOTES.

, Mr. John Daniell O’Connor, of Te lAwamutu, died last week, aged 63. Mr. R. Williams, magistrate at Savaii, Fiji, arrived by the Tofua last week on a two months’ holiday visit to the Dominion. Mrs. Aj son, wife of Mr L. F. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisfheries, died in Wellington on Monday evening, aged [Wellington last week, aged fifty-two years. Mr. G. Moss, late of the Kittawn, has joined the Mararoa as third officer, vice Mr. H. Claydon, who has gone to Dunedin for orders. Mr Ambrose Millar, Consul for the Netherlands, returned by the Tofua yesterday afternoon from a visit to last week from a visit to Tonga and Samoa.

Mrs. Charles J. Holworthy, formerly wife of the late Sir Patrick Buckley, and only daughter of the late Sir William Fitzherbert, died at Wellington on Tuesday week. • Mr A. J. Cox, commercial representative of the Tasmanian Government, arrived in Wellington last week by the Arawa from Hobart. He left by the Corinthic last week for South America, in connection with the Tasmanian export apple trade. Mr G. H. F. Rolleston, British Trade Commissioner, will visit Great Britain on duty in January next. He will be absent from the Dominion about five months. During Mr Rolleston’s absence, the routine of his office will be carried on as usual, Mr O. S. Watkins, of Wellington, acting in an advisory capacity. It is understood that Mr. Priestley’s appointment as one of the geologists of the Antarctic expedition is due to the recommendation of Professor David, of Sydney (says a Christchurch Press Association telegram). He takes tlie place of Allan Thompson. When Mr. Thompson asked to be released, Captain Scott communicated by cable with Prof. David, and also Consulted Sir Joseph Ward, who offered no objection to an Australian taking the place of the New Zealander. Mr. Priestley has been working with Professor David since the return of Shackleton’s expedition, preparing geological results for publication. . Last Thursday was the 94th anniversary of the birthday of Auckland’s ' Grand Old Man,’ Sir John Logan Campbell, . and although the weight of twelve more months have added their quota to Sir John’s gravity of years, and have bowed a little further Jus once erect form, he still remains comparatively hale and cheerful. Seldom passes a day that he cannot 'be found sitting in the little Shortland-street office, receiving callers, having the news of the day read to him, and putting his signature to such business transactions as require his seal. On Thursday the Father of Auckland was the recipient of shoals of telegraphic and other messages of congratulation and good wishes, reminding the old man who sits with his memories in the dingy little office of associations fast dimming into the remoteness of history, that the busy and assertive young present has ever grateful homage for one to whom so much is owing by the people of the city he helped to found. The funeral of the late Mr J. 11. Fox, locomotive engineer, New Zealand Government Railways Department, Auckland district, took place last week, the service at the grave-side being performed by the Rie.v 1 . Canon McMurray, In the cortege, from the residence of his parents, St. Stcphcn’s-avenue, Parnell, to Purewa Cemetery, were over one hundred representatives from all departments of the railway service, including Hr G. E. (Richardson, locomotive engineer and representing Mr A. L. Beattie, chief mechanical engineer, N.Z.R.; Messrs D. T. Mclntosh and W. Bowles, maintenance and traffic branches, respectively. Among the numerous wreaths were some, from (Wellington and the South Island, and from the Locomotive Engineer’s office, offices and workshops, Newmarket, the loco, running and car and waggon staff, from the branches of the Auckland district, including Thames, Paeroa, Rotorua, and Frankton branches. 'Die late Mr Fox was a native of Auckland, being 45 ‘years of age at the time of his death', and servecj first in the Addington workshops, subsequently being district manager at Picton, engineer-in-charge of the Westinghouse brake gear of the Dominion, and for the past two years locomotive engineer at Auckland. Deceased was a general favourite in the ccrvice, and the news of his death came as • great shock to his many friends.

Mr. and Mrs.' R. H..Headdey, of Remuera, with th’eir two daughters and Mr. Lionel Headdey, left on Monday by the Wimmera for Sydney. Mr. H. P. Barry, manager of the Waihi Co.’s plant and mines, who has been on a visit to the Old Country, returned by the R.M.s. Arawa, whieh arrived at Wellington last w’eek Mr. W. J. Kirk, chief of the Postage Stamp Printing Department at the Government Printing Works, lias retired on superannuation after forty years’ service. On Monday he was met by a number of his fellow employees, who made him a presentation as a token of their esteem.

Another pioneer of the Auckland province has passed away in the person of Mrs. Jane Sutcliffe, who has died at the age of 90 years, of which interval nearly 66 yeais were lived in and around Auck land, where she arrived with her husband by the Clifton on New Year’s Day, 1845. For many years she and her husband lived first at Whitford Park, Turanga, and then at East Tamaki, and before being widowed, about 29 years ago, Mrs. Sutcliffe went to the Thames. Of late years she had resided with her daughter, Mrs. Ahier, of Carlton Gore-road, and enjoyed good health to within a few months ago. Seven of her nine children survive her, while she also leaves 41 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The death of Mrs. Robert Haszard, sister of Mr. H. D. Morpeth, Town Clerk of Waihi, occurred last week, at her residence, Haszard-street, after a lingering illness. The deceased lady was a pioneer of the province of Auckland, having with her husband arrived fiftyone years ago in the ship Prince Edward, from Prince Edward Island, Canada, the vessel being principally owned by her father and husband, and she experienced many of the vicissitudes incidental to early colonisation. She is survived by her husband, four sons, and two daughters. The sons arc Messrs. H. D. M. Haszard (chief draughtsman of Survey Office, Christchurch), Norman Haszard (Government surveyor, Malay States), Fen Haszard (surveyor, Waihi), and Reginald Haszard (engaged in mining in Chili). The daughters are Mrs. Patten and Miss Haszard, and there are also numerous grandchildren. Deceased was greatly esteemed for her many virtues and kindly disposition (wires our Waihi correspondent). Mr. Alfred Millar, who served his time with Messrs. Massey Bros., of Auckland, has just been granted his second-class engineer’s certificate by the London Board of Trade. , „ . • »

Among the passengers who left Wellington for London last week by the Corinthic were the Rev. W. S. Lucas, Dr. S. A. Lucas, Mrs. ‘ Lucas and family, of Nelson; Mrs. M. and Miss M. Waldegrave, of Wellington; and Mr. J. 11. Glyn, of Auckland. i .- ->i- ' At a concert given by pupils of Hamilton East School last week, Mr Stevens (headmaster) was presented with an address signed by the ehairman, committee, teachers and representatives of the children, and a gold watch, in recognition of his 28 years’ administration of the school. ’ ’ • '

Mr. Alfred Hill, who has been acting as deputy-conductor of the Grand Opera Company, which is to disband shortly, has decided to take up his residence in Sydney, and follow the practice of his profession. The Dulwich Hill Operatic and Musical Society has arranged to produce Mr. Hill’s opera “The Moorish Maid” in December, ami the rehearsals are to be under his personal supervision. " . . ‘ . Pastor R. H. Farland, of the Baptist Church, Cambridge, was tendered a valedictory social the other evening. He shortly leaves for Lincoln, to whieh place he has received a unanimous call. The following resolution was unanimously agreed to: “That'this meeting places .on record the high appreciation of Pastor Farland's services during his short stay here, and wishes him Godrspeed and success in his new sphere of labour.”

On November 2nd a very pleasant family gathering took place at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Sansom, Waterview, Avondale, it being the occasion of me celebration of their golden wedding. The worthy couple can. justly claim to be numbered among the pioneers of Auckland. Mr. Sansom left England- with his parents when quite a child, and sailed for Sydney on the ship Queen Victoria, arriving there after a six months’ passage, in 1840. After a short stay there, they came on to Auckland in 1841. Alter leaving school he was apprenticed to the printing trade with Mr. J. Williams, of

the “ New Zealander,” Shortland-street. Afterwards he was on the staff of the “ Southern Cross,” and finally decided to enter into partnership with Mr. J. Richardson, and start another newspaper, the “Auckland Examiner,” and for many years was connected with the trade. His life-partner came out to Melbourne in the ship Gipsy Bride, when quite a young girl, but decided to come on to Auckland, arriving here a little later by the Invincible. After their marriage they built their present home, and have : lived there ever since, where all their family have been born and reared. They were the happy recipients of many presents from the family, accompanied by kind remarks, also congratulations by tetter and wire from friends. After a few hours spent in a* social way, the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” brought a very enjoyable evening to a clbse.