PERSONAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2038, 25 March 1907, Page 2

PERSONAL.

On Saturday morning the commerce 1 travellers in town formed in procession and accompanied the body of their late comrade, Air. Sharp, to the Tuatea. AD - . Sharp’s body is being taken to his home in Auckland.

On Thursday Air. S. Camming assumed the duties of Chief Postmaster, Air. AV. IT. Renner having been granted holiday leave for a month. Air. Renner left on Sunday oil a visit to AA’ellington and Christchurch. Mr. A. Steele takes the position of Acting Chief Clerk.

Captain Colcbournc, who has relinquished command of the East Coast Mounted Bides to take command of the Hawke’s Bay Mounted Biflcs, was present' at the meeting of the E.0.M.8. on Saturday, and before the meeting terminated Lieut. Ei ans moved that a resolution expressing the regret of the corps should be put on tbo minutes. ‘Personally bo was very sorry Capt. Colebourne was going because lie would lose one who had been his mentor lor the whole of his military career; and there were probably many more in the squadron who felt the same as ho did. The motion was seconded by the Chaplain and carried with acclamation. Capt. Colcbournc suitably responded.

The flags on the Government buildings in town were Hying at halfmast on Saturday, and yesterday, advice having been received from Wellington of the death at midnight on Friday, of Mr. W. Gray, secretary to the post office. Ho had been connected with the Department for over forty years. Born in Aberdeen in 1844, ho came to the colony when a hoy, completing his studies at Now Plymouth. His first experiences here wore in a newspaper office, lmt in 18G4 he joined the Postal Department at Dunedin, and 10 years later became Secretary to the Postal Department, and for over a quarter of a century held . this important position. His health had been failing for some time. Apart from bis official position, he was well-known throughout the colony as ail enthusiastic howler, and was universally liked and respected. He accompanied Sir Joseph Ward when lie attended the last Postal Conference in Borne. The late Mr Gray was regarded as the doyen of the civil service, which lie entered n,; February 1, 1564. When lie became Secretary to the Postal Department on May 1, 1574, the letters received and posted in the colony numbered nine millions per annum; now they reach seventy millions. The staff then comprised 735, and is now 3209. The revenue, not including telegraphs, was £00,535, and last year it was £445,310, or with telegraphs £743,090. Mr. Gray served under eighteen Postmasters-General, the first being Sir Julius Vogel. Previous to joining the civil service bo was for a short time on the staff of the Taranaki News, and afterwards on the Nelson Colonist.