Personal Notes

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 24, 11 June 1913, Page 5

Personal Notes

CROSSLEY, Anglican Bishop I B Auckland, accompanied by Mrs. (Ay Crossley, left for Sydney by the Maheno last week. The Bishop is suffering from serious nervous prostration, and he was ordered away for a complete rest by his medical adviser. Mr. George Snow, who arrived in New Zealand seventy-two years ago, in tire yery early days of the Nelson settlement, died at Wanganui, last week, aged gl. Mr. Snow, who was nine years old when he landed with his parents at Nelson, lived there for a number of years, but for the last twenty years had been A resident of Upper Hutt. He was on a visit to Wanganui at the time of his death. He leaves two daughters and four sons, one of whom (Mr. C. H. Snow) resides in Wellington. Mrs. Snow predeceased her husband and died in Wanganui three months ago. The death occurred at Nelson last Week of Mrs. W. J. Glasgow, a very old resident, aged 82 years. An old identity, in the person of Mr. Archibald Kelly, who has led a retired life for the last seven years since giving tip the seafaring life, died at Wellington last week. Deceased was one of the first presidents of the Australasian Institute of Marine Engineers, and has been in idle Dominion over 50 years. Born in the Island of Bute, Scotland, in 1830, he served his apprenticeship in Glasgow. In J 854 he came to Australia in the 8.8. JStormbird, landing in Melbourne, and coming over to Auckland in the s.s. (Wonga-Wonga. After- spending three years in New Zealand he returned to Australia, where he engaged in quartzinlning for four years, returning to the sea in 1862, when he became in one of Messrs Mills and Co.’s steamers. Two years later, during the Native troubles, he accepted a position under ‘the Government on the Waikato River. Subsequently he successively served the Panama Company, the New Zealand Shipping Company, Johnston and Co., And W. and G. Turnbull and Co. The last steamer he served in was the Kahu, in which he remained for over 17 years. Mr. Kelly's wife predeceased him 20 years ago. He leaves three sons and three daughters. His eldest son is chief engineer on the Poherua, Mr. J. M. Kelly is on the Te Aro House staff, and Mr. J. A. Kelly at Stewart and Co. The eldest daughter (Mrs. J. W. Gibson) resides at Levin. Sir James Mills, managing director of the Union Steamship Company, is at present on a visit to Sydney. Mrs and Miss Kettle, of Napier, who have been on a trip Home, returned to New Zealand by the Makura. Mr. W. C. Seale, secretary of the Auckland Rowing Association, has gone to Sydney on a holiday, and will ‘be away from Auckland for several months. Mr C. J. Kent-Johnston, F.P.A. (N.Z.), who was formerly town clerk at Featherstone. but has lately been living in Parnell. Auckland, has been appointed town clerk at Foxton.

Mr Grey Thorne George was a passenger by the Vancouver boat last week on his return to Auckland after a four months’ visit to the Old Country. The Hon. James Allen, Minister- for Defence, returned- to Auckland by the Vancouver mail steamer last week after his visit to Loudon in connection with the finances of the Dominion and matters affecting the navy. Mr Allen was accompanied by Mrs Allen, Miss Ilona Allen, and his private secretary, Mr F. Matthews. Mr E. R. Vickennan, manager of ijie Union Bank of Australia in Lyttelton, was farewelled by the citizens and presented with a gold chain and a purse of sovereigns. Mr Vickennan is about to retire from the bank and take up his residence in Auckland. The Mayor presided, and spoke very highly of the estimable qualities of the guest who, he said, would be very much missed in the township. Mr. T. P. Cummins, who is leaving Auckland for Wellington, was presented at the Young Ireland Society last week with a complete set of the works of Shakespeare. Mr. Charles Collins (chairman of the Kairanga County Council) died at Palmerston North last week. He arrived in New Zealand in 1841 and settled at Manawatu 35 years ago. Mr R. Walker has 'been attached to the Auckland office of the Public Works Department, having been transferred from New Plymouth. He was for eight years on the head office staff of the Public Works Department at Wellington. Mr James Thorn, who for some years has been lecturing and writing for the Labour movement in Great Britain, is expected to leave Scotland on September 12 of the present year, arriving in NewZealand during October. Mr Herbert E. Boon, who has resigned the position he has occupied for the last eighteen months on the literary staff of the “Auckland Star” to take up an appointment on the staff of the “Evening Post," Wellington, left by the Main Trunk express last week to assume his new duties. Prior to leaving Auckland, Mr Boon received a token of the popularity and esteem in which he is held by his old confreres of the “Star” in the shape of a gold albert and pendant, suitably inscribed. The presentation was made by Mr A. S. Reid, sub editor, who conveyed to the recipient the regret of hies brother journalists of the staff that he should be. leaving them, and the hope that he would meet with every success in his future career. Mr. Wm. Johns has been reappointed a member of the Land Board of the land district of Auckland. The Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr) has accepted the presidency of the New Zealand Chess Association, the next annual championship tournament of which will be held at Auckland next December. Mr Hemingway, a Taranaki journalist, has been offered the position of general secretary for the Reform party in New Zealand, not that of Dominion organiser, as was previously announced. Mr C. P. Lindegreen is the organiser for the party.

Mr A. M. Myers, AI.P. for Auckland East, who is a major on the reserve of officers, 3rd (Auckland) Regiment, ‘ Countess of Ranfurly's Own,” has been promoted to the rank of lieutenantcolonel. The many friends of Mrs Cooke, the wife of Mr Lindsay Cooke, an old and well-known resident of Auckland, will regret to hear that her death took place suddenly on Saturday last while on a visit to Helensville. Sir William Hall-Jones is making a leisurely return to New Zealand. He wrote to a friend in Wellington, stating that he intends remaining in Sydney until June 7, when he and his family will leave for Wellington on the Ulimaroa. Mr. F. J. Bankart, F.S.A.A., who for 28 years past has been a resident of British Guiana, arrived in Auckland last week. It is Mr. Bankhart's intention to join his brother in business as successors in the old-established business of Brown, Campbell and Company. Dr. L. Cockayne, F.R.S., who returned to Christchurch oil Tuesday at the conclusion of the sittings of the Forestry Commission, will he occupied for some time writing his work on the "Vegetation of New Zealand,” which will be published in Germany and will form part of an important series dealing with the vegetation of the world. While travelling as a member of the Forestrv Commission through the Dominion during the past few months, he obtained much additional information which will be available for the work. Officers of the public service who have so far been notified of their impending retirement, under the age limit provisions of the Act, are Mr Amelins Smith, secretary of the Superannuation Board, and Mr I). R. Purdy, second clerk of the Income branch of the Tax Department. Both officers will cease duty on September 30, and will have three months’ leave of absence on full pay after that date. Mr Amelius M. Smith is one of -the bestknown officers in the Public Service of New Zealand. Prior to coming to the colony in 1860 he was in the Imperial Army—lBth Hussars. On arrival here he was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor, Sir George Grey, and on the retirement of Sir George Grey, Captain Smith joined the staff of the new Governor, Sir George Bowen as A.D.C., which office he held until October, 1870, when he entered the Colonial Secretary’s office. He has seen many changes in public life during bis long career—notably the abolition of the provinces, which alteration in the system of Government entailed a considerable amount of arduous work in the Colonial Secretary's office. As the late Mr G. S. Cooper, Under-Secretary, was laid aside by serious illness for some time, much additional duty devolved upon Mr Smith. Subsequently. Air Amelius Smith was private secretary to several Prime Ministers from the time of Sir John Hall onwards. When the Public Service Superannuation Act came into force in 1908 he was appointed secretary to the Superannuation Board, and has filled that position up to the present day. Air Smith’s official career has brought

him in close contact with the leading events of the history of the colony during the last fifty years. Mr D. R. Purdy, second clerk in the Income Tax Branch of the Tax Department, entered the Public Service in April, 1880. He first joined the Property Tax Department at Invercargill, and in 1882, when'the branch offices were done away with, Mr Purdy was transferred to the head office iu Wellington. where he has remained ever since.

Mitra B. A. St. Clair bihilall (now Mrs. H. 11. Tatton) lias had a picture accepted by the Royal Academy this year. The Dunedin correspondent of tire ‘'Post'’ states that it is practically certain that Mr. Belcher, secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union, will be a candidate for Parliament for one of the Dunedin seats at the next 43eneral Election. The deatli occurred of an old colonist on Saturday evening in the person of Mr. W. Hildreth, of the firm of Hildreth and Sone, Freeman's Bay. The deceased arrived at Dunedin from Victoria in the days of the Otago gold rush, and was for many years a resident of the Southerncity. 'He is survived by a widow and family of three sons and two daughters. There died suddenly on Monday Mr Richard Ching, who was one of the Otago goldfields pioneers. Afterwards he went to the Went Coaet, whence he went to Dunsandel, in Canterbury, and subsequently was storekeeper at Opunake. When Native lands were opened he took up 600 acres, which he farmed until recently, when he retired to New Plymouth. Death of a Veteran. A veteran of the very earliest Maori wars. Sergeant Jesse Sage, paeeed away last Friday evening at his home in Seymour Street. Ponsonby, aged 89 yeans. Sergeant Sage was a native of Canterbury, ’England. ami in 1842, when he was 18 years of age, enlisted in the 58th Regiment at Chatham. Two years later the 58th wa«s ordered out to New South Wales, and subsequently was sent on to Auckland, arriving here on March 22. 1845. The first work the men were put to was the erection of ramparts around the old Fort Britoinart, but roon they were sent up to the Bay of’lslands, on the outbreak of lleke’s War. Sergeant Sage’o first engagement Was at Okaihau. where the Maoris attacked the troops from front and rear ■together, hut were eventually driven off with the bayonet, having killed or wounded 37 ot the soldiers. Ihe next year he was one of the 200 men chosen for the unsuccessful attempt to storm Hike's pa at Ohaeawai, in which 127 men fell under the deadly fire of the natives. A few days later the pa was entered without opposition, aa the Maoris had evacuated it. In January. 18*11;. he was present at the taking of Ruapekapeka pa, in which he nearly met his death at the hands of a couple of retreating warriors. He next saw service with the 58th in the Wellington district, where he helped to defeat the famous Ranihaeta, and assisted at the capture of Te Rauparaha in his pa at Poherua. The regiment wan next ordered to Wanganui, after the murder of the Gilliilan family. Ho took his discharge in 1857, ami subsequently saw service in the Waikato War, down in Auckland when hostilities ended. Though he lead long passed the allotted span of years, the old gentleman remained to the last as straight a*- a ramrod, and retained vivid recollections of the early campaigns, of which he was very ready to talk. He was for •many years a member of the King’s Empire Veterans, and was one of the very few members who possessed medals for both the earlier and later Maori wars. He had also the distinction of being the sole survivor of a regiment which {landed, hundreds strong, when Auckland was but a village on the shore of the Waitemata.