Miscellaneous Items

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1558, 4 March 1920, Page 46

Miscellaneous Items

The value of the area of land (between 10 and 12 acres) at Karori, Wellington, which Messrs. Vivian, Eric, and Daniel Riddiford have given for the purposes of an Anglican Diocesan School, is between £BOOO and £lO,OOO.

Mr. Horace G*. Hunt, formerly of Wellington and well-known in musical circles throughout New Zealand, writes from London that he will return to the Dominion shortly. Mr. Hunt was in Germany at the outbreak of the war, and was a prisoner there for a considerable period.

Mr. Dugald Ferguson, the wrellknown author and poet, of Tapanui, died at Caversham at the advanced age of 80. 1 His “Bush Life” had a wide sale in the colonies and at Home, also a number of other books, including a historical romance, “The King’s Friend,” which ran into five editions. It was his habit to tramp the roads selling his publications, and in this way he was well known throughout New Zealand from Auckland to Bluff, and he also travelled Australia and paid a visit to the Old Country. During the past few years (states the Tapanui “Courier”) he was engaged on another novel, “Romance of the Maori War.” The deceased was engaged in. various pursuits earning a livelihood —shearing, following the thrashing mills, or doing general labouring work. With advancing years his eyesight failed and he toiled laboriously with the aid of a powerful magnifying glass, and his powers of perseverance were unlimited. Some five months ago he decided to go to Dunedin, and was in lodgings awaiting admission into Ross Home, in connection with the Presbyterian Church, when he died.