Personal Notes

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 19, 7 May 1913, Page 7

Personal Notes

i>l f T the cluse of the annual business f I meeting in connection with St. Mark's Church, Wellington, a resolution was carried by the vestry expressing appreciation of the long services rendered to the church by Mr C. H. Chatwin, who has been connected with St. Mark’s for over 30 years, as a churchwarden, vestryman, and in many other offices. Some 25 yearn ago he originated the benevolent fund, which stands to-day, and he also represented St. Mark's on the Synod.

Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Jane, of Mount Albert, left by the steamer Rotorua at Wellington for a holiday trip to England.

Mr. A. R. Atkinson has been reappointed by the Government to a seat on the Victoria College Council, Wellington.

Mr. John Bennie, of Auckland, and formerly of Wanganui, who is well known' in bowling circles, has taken up his residence, in Wellington.

The death is recorded of Mr William Scott Milne, aged 89, who lived at the Taita, Wellington. Deceased was at one time very active in public affairs, and was a member of the old Wellington Provincial Council.

Mr. A. O’Keefe, of the staff of the Dunedin School of Art, has received intimation that his picture “His Home Mail’’ has been accepted by the Royal Cambrian Academy. Miss Newall, of the clerical staff in the Town Clerk's office, Auckland, has been granted six months’ leave of absence, and leaves on a visit to Canada by the Niagara on the 9th instant. Mr T. Ronayne, general manager of the New Zealand railways, is to retain his office until the arrival from England of his successor, Mr Hiley, at present in the employ of the North-eastern Company. Mr John F. Ewen, of Dunedin, has been appointed a director of Sargood, Son, and Ewen, Ltd. The other members of the directorate arc Messrs P. R. Sargood [{Dunedin), D. A. Ewen (Wellington), and Al. Laing (London). Prior to the arrival of the Federal Shire steamer Surrey at Auckland last week a presentation was made by the passengers aboard to Mr. J. R. Robinson, the chief steward of the vessel. The gift was a handsome painting in oils of the steamer, which had been done by one of the passengers. Mr- G. E. Jago, of the New Plymouth branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has been transfered to the Eltham office, where he will fill the position of teller. Mr. J. Glenn, of the Auckland office, and formerlv of Hawera, will succeed Mr. Jago. Mr. F. D. Holdsworth, chief postmaster at Auckland, has left for Rotorua with his wife. Mr. Holdsworth was married on Wednesday to Miss R. Beehan, daughter of the Hon. W. Beehan. The Rev. John Ryan, S.J., latterly of St. Ignatius’ Church, Richmond, Victoria, has been appointed Superior of the Society of Jesus in Australia by the Very Rev. Father General, S.J.

Mr. J. C. Webster, the agent at New Plymouth for the Northern S.S. Company, is retiring, and his position is to he filled by Mr. D. Penaman. who was for some years the company’s agent at Russell.

Mr. William Reginald Cook, headmaster of the Renwick School, and late iof the North-East Valley School, Dunedin, died suddenly last week, as the result of an operation. He had resided in Marl-liorough for thirty-five years.

Mr. T. R- Roydbouse, editor-in-chief of the Sydney “ Sun,” and formerly wellknown in New Zealand journalism, was entertained by a number of Sydney journalists last week, prior to his departure on a six-mouths' trip to England. The adjudicators of the London Academy of Dramatie Art have awarded the scholarship for the current year to [Mr. Frank S. Gardner, who left twelve months ago to continue his studies in England.

Mr. J. G. Huddart, a relative of the founder of the Canadian - Australian steamship service, died in Sydney recently at the age of 05 years. He had been an accountant in the office of the Huddart Parker Co.

Mr. John Craig, of the lithographic branch of the Government Printing Office, hart retired after 30 years' service, hn superannuation. At a recent gathering of employees',"Mr. Koss presented Mr. Craig with a gold chain, on behalf of the

staff. A musical programme wan afterwards given, and Mr. and Mrs. Craig’s health was honoured in the usual wayMr. Craig joined the Department in 1877, and has retired as sub-overseer.

Mr. D. N. Mae Diarmid, an old Otago University and Knox College student, well known in Dunedin, will be leaving Melbourne on May 28th on an extended visit to the Soudan. The Board of management which controls the Soudan United Mission, of which Mr. Mae Diarmid is organising secretary, has directed that he should-visit Africa in order to gain first-hand information as to the best field to be allotted to Australian and New Zealand workers. In Africa _4Mr. Mae Diarmid will meet Dr. R. Trudinger and Mr. J. L. Maxwell, the superintendent of the mission, and with them visit one of the new districts of Norther Nigeria, Gongola or Bornu.

The retirement of Sir Charles Hotham, G.C.8., G.C.V.0., the senior Admiral of the Fleet, on reaching the age limit of 70 years, took place this week (writes our London correspondent under date March 22). The Admiral’s rest is well earned, for he had served the State for no less than 57 years. He entered the navy in 1856, and first saw active service in the New Zealand War, being one of the officers of the party which attacked the rebel redoubt at Rangiriri in 1863. He was wounded in one of the assaults, and his services were specially mentioned, resulting in promotion. He has the New Zealand medal. He was flag captain on the Alexandra at the bombardment of the forts at Alexandria lBB2, and also served during the subsequent operations, receiving the C.B. Four years later he was made A.D.C. to Queen Victoria, and became flag officer in 1888. His chief appointments have been as a Commissioner at the Admiralty in 1888; Commandcr-in-Cnief on the Pacific Station, 1890-3; C'ommander-in-Chief at the Nore, 1897-9; and Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, 1900-3. He was knighted in 1895. and later was made a G.C.B. and a G.C.V.O. Mr. A. Don, missionary' to the Chinese -in New Zealand under the auspices of the Presbyterian ' , Church, has been transferred from Dunedin to Palmerston North.

Mr. George Lipsey, of Lipsey Park, Te Aroha, aged 67 years, died last week. Deceased was the pioneer settler of Te Aroha, and owned considerable property. Lieutenant-Colonel Fisher, who has been filling the position of Chief Secretary to the Salvation Army in New Zealand during the past year, has received instructions to proceed to London to take up a position on the headquarters in connection with the Army emigration scheme. Colonel Fisher will be leaving Wellington for the South on' Monday next en route to Melbourne.

There passed away on- April 26, at 'her daughter’s residence, Mrs T. Peek, sen., of Ellerslie, an old resident of Auckland, aged 95, Mrs George Burton Smith, who arrived in Auckland in 1841, from Bay of Islands, was married to the late Air J. B. Smith, accountant, January, 1842, at the residence of the Rev. Churton, St. George’s Bay. Her family ■of eight have all predeceased her, with the exception -of her eldest daughter. There are 22 grandchildren, and 41 greatgrandchildren.

A very pleasant ceremony took place at the Newmarket Workshops last week, when the employees gathered to farewell Air G. E. Richmond, senior locomotive engineer for the Auckland section, who has been promoted to a position which will make it necessary for him to go to Wellington. Mr AlcCarthy, the workshops manager, in making a presentation on behalf of the 300 employees interested, said that -he had not in his experience nnet an officer who was so considerate of the men’s interests. The presentations nnade were a solid oak sideboard and a solid oak dining-room table. Mr Richmond thanked the employees, and expressed regret that his new duties would take him to another railwav section.

Much regret will be felt in Auckland by the many friends of Air Arthur T. Firth, at the announcement that he has just died in New York. A cablegram containing the sad news was received in Auckland last Friday. Deceased, who was only 37 years of age, was exceptionally gifted, and at the time of his death was in New York in connection with the affairs of the Voltite Company, formed in Auckland to exploit voltite, one of de-

ceased’s inventions. Deceased, who was a very clever research chemist, was at one time in the employ of the Colonial Sugar Company at Fiji and in Australia, and later be was stationed on Ocean Island, a lonely spot in the Pacific, where a phosphate company was carrying on operations, and he was also in South Africa for a couple of years. Air Firth returned to his native town some years ago, and before he perfected his invention he was in business as a mining engineer and assayer. He was a son of the late Air J. C. Firth, one of Auckland’s most prominent citizens, and besides a number of other relatives has three brothers in Auckland —Air W. T. Firth, Air E. C. Firth, and Air P. C. Firth. Air Felix McGuire, formerly ALP. for Egimont, wjis presented last Weflneeday with an illuminated address from the citizens of Hawera and settlers, in recognition of his public services. He is about to settle in Auckland. An old and respected Taranaki settler, in the person of Air Benjamin Urry, passed away peacefully at his residence, Hine Street, New Plymouth, lately, in his 77th year. He leaves a widow and grown-up family of eight—four sons and four daughters. There are also 26 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Air T. Boyd, who has been manager of the Pahiatua branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company for over seven years past, lias received notice of his transfer to the management of the company’s business at Rakaia (Canterbury). The death is recorded of Air Francis Alurray, a well-known Woodville settler, at the age of 41 years. The deceased was a member of several societies and institutions in Woodville. The death is announced of Air Francis Tubman, a well-known settler in the Clutha district. He came to New Zealand in 1864. Air Richard Keene, of Wellington, is on a visit of inspection to his properties at the Bay of PleAty and North of Auckland (Parenga Station). In September next Air Keene intends to leave for Europe. He will put in the northern winter in and about the Riviera, and early in the new year will visit England. On his return to New Zealand he has an idea of erecting a new home-for himself at Alason’s Gardens, Taita. which has been his property for several years. The Feilding High School was the scene of a valedictory function on the occasion of the last day of Mr' .1. C. Hill’s headmastership, which position he has filled for twenty-three years. The Rev. G. Budd made reference to Air Hill’s long service to the school, and wished'him happiness in his retirement. On behalf of the scholars, Air Budd presented to Air Hill a silver spirit kettle, and on behalf of the teachers a pair of silver candlesticks. Dr. Peter 'McNab. who is an old Grammar School boy, returns to Auckland as surgeon of the new R.ALs. Niagara Air. W. Callender, general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, is at present on the way to Sydney. An Imperial officer, Alajor Temperley, has arrived to take over the duties of General Staff Officer for the military district of Wellington. Sir James Alills. managing director of the Union S.S. Company, is expected to come to Auckland by the Niagara next Friday. During the annual conference of the New Zealand Alliance next month a

memorial will be unveiled to the late Mr. T. E. Taylor.

Captain Morrison, of Napier, is to take the position of Areh Group Officer in I almerston North in place of Captain Robertson, who has been transferred to Timaru. Air. Horace 11. Hunt, organist of Terrace Congregational Church, Wellington, leaves by the Indrabarah for England and the Continent, to acquire further musical experience. He has been presented with a handsome travelling bag and a smoker’s outfit by his friends in Wellington. The Rev. Father Holbrook, of St. Patiick s, Auckland, was at Constantinople on the z-Uth of Marell. A postcard sent by him to a friend in Auckland states: - “Most, enjoyable trip so far—scarce! v a word about any war to be had here—everything perfectly quiet.”