PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2730, 27 March 1916, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

A Press Association message from Sydney states that Archdeacon Bat-, chelor, who has been- connected with, church missionary work in Japan for forty years, is a passenger' by the Maitai, which left tho New South Wales port on' Saturday.

Dr. Newman, M.P., returned from the south yesterday, having addressed' several recruiting meetings' at Wynd-' ham, Mataura, Invercargill, and Dune-' din.

Private advice has been received that Lieutenant-Colonel James J. Esson, C.M.G., is returning to New Zealand. Lieutenant-Colonel Esson left with the Main Bodj' of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as Assistant-Quarter-master-General, and his services on Gallipoli and in Egypt have been very; highly spoken of by the military authorities, and also by Colonel R.. Hea-t-on Rhodes ' during his recent visit of inspection to the Mediterranean. It. is understood that Lieutenant-Colonel Esson will resume his duties in thd Treasury, Department, Wellington. Ha left Egypt a, few days ago for London, and will make the return journey, to' New Zealand by way of Canada.

Mr. . John Watson Walker, familiarly known as "Long-Drive Walker," a figure in the Auckland mining world, died at his Auckland residence, Remuera, on Thursday, ,in his eighty-ninth year. Ho gained his name of "Long-Drive" as the contractor for the long Monataiari drive at Thames, and he had been connected with the New Zealand goldfields for nearly fifty years. A native of Aberdeen, Scotland, he came out to. Port Phillip, Victoria, in 1849, two years before the opening of tho goldfields in that colony. Mo Kas it Bathurst, and was at the first "rush' of the Turon River in 1869. He went t-o tho Thames district under an agree-, ment to report on the mines there, and' was induced to take charge of the, "Long Drive" Mine. Mr. Walker was afterwards manager of tho Kuranui Hill Mine, and after that represented tha Bank of New Zealand at Reefton. In 18S5 ho turned his attention to Waihi, and, with the Hon. Thos. ltussell, was successful in floating the Waihi Gold-, mining Company, which became one of tho finest gold-winners fin the world. He personally managed the mine for four years. In, 1894 lie_ went to London, and was successful in floating the Waihi Grand Junction Mine. He paid another business visit to London six years ago, and returned in 1914. "Long-Drive Walker," who was an undo of Madam Melba, leaves a widow, ono son, and five daughters. A Press Association message from' Melbourne records the death of Mr. David Mitchell, the father of Madam Melba. Captain J. E. Riddcll, N.Z.M.C., has been granted leavo of absence from Trentham Camp. , Mr. J. W. Collins, Chief Clerk ot the Labour Department, lias bec-n api>ointcd Secretary to the Board of Trade. . He has been acting-secretary, of the board sinco its formation. Professor C. Owen, of tho Auckland University College, lias enlisted. Mr. A. S. Bankart lias been appointed a trustee of the Auckland Savings Dank.