PERSONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19994, 11 January 1927, Page 10

PERSONAL.

Ministerial. The Hon. W. Nos worthy (Postmastergeneral) travelled north from Ashburton by the second express yesterday on his way to Wellington. The Hon. G. Fowlds joined the through express at Oamaru yesterday, and travelled north by it. , ~ Mr and Mrs W. Easton left Dunedin yesterday morning on a holiday trip to Queenstown. Captain A. W. Pearse (Australian representative of the Port of Authority), who has been on a brief visit to Dunedin, left by the express for the north yesterday. A Press Association cablegram from London states that advice has been received from Nice that the Duke of Connaught has recovered from his recent illness. News has been received that Mr H. L. Levestam, Supervisor of the Government Insurance Department, died suddenly at Wellington on Saturday. He had recently been promoted from the district managership, Christchurch. Those who remember Logan’s Popotunoa estate, near Clinton, and the late William M'Callum, who was manager there, will be interested to learn that Mrs M'Callum celebrated her ninety-first birthday yesterday. She still resides on the Eortion of the estate near Waipahi which er late husband secured when the estate was sold, and is in good health. The Northern Advocate records the death, on New Year’s Day, of Mrs Charles Johnson, late of Shag Point. The late Mr and Mrs Johnson were among the old,, identities who arrived in New Zealand in 1872. She is survived by her two sons and five daughters. A sad circumstance in her life was the loss of three sons at various times as the result of accident. Another of the old South Canterbury pioneers, Mrs George Davey, passed away at Temuka on Friday evening last in her 67th year. The deceased came to New Zealand from England in 1872, joining her father, the late Mr Findlay, at Timaru. She leaves a husband and four children — Mr Frank Davey (Taumarunui), Mr Henry Davey (Opunake), Mr Charles Davey (Auckland). and Mrs S. W. Trumper (Temuka). Prior to his departure for Addington. Sergeant Murray, of the South Dunedin police, was met last night b- the members of the force in South Dunedin, and presented with an oak silver-mounted tray, suitably inscribed. Constable Pratt, in making the presentation on behalf of his colleagues, expressed their reirret at Sergeant Murray’s departure, and wished him every success in the future. There were also several other speakers, among them being Detective Farquharson, who spoke on behalf of the detective branch. Sergeant Murray briefly replied. The death is reported from Temuka of a very old South Canterbury identity in the person of Mrs Emma Rooke, who passed away at her residence, Davey street, Temuka, on Saturday morning, in her 84th year. The late Mrs Rooke was born in Surrey, and at the age of seven years -'ame with her parents to New Zealand in 1850 in the Cressy, one of the first four ships to come to Canterbury. The family settled at Papanui, and in 1861 the deceased was married to the late Mr L. A. Rooke, who also came to New Zealand in one of the first ships. In 1866 they came to South Canterbiny. living at Washdyke and Hilton, and, on retiring from farming pur■nuitv reaided at Temuka, where Mrs Rooke’s husband predeceased her in 1915. There are eight children of the marriage, alt of whom are still living. A presentation was made last evening by the Otago Centre, New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, to Mr G. H. Luckhurst. who is leaving Dunedin shortly lor Melbourne. The president of the centre (Mr E. L. Macassey) presented Mr Luckhurst with a dressing case, and in doing so referred to the services rendered to the sport by the recipient as an official and member of the centre. His departure was regretted. Messrs F. D. Gibson, C. W. Clark, R. Swmnjy, and E. C. Isaacs also referred to Mr Luckhurst’s connection with the sport. Mr Luckhurst suitably replied. Mr D. Munro, who passed away on December 5 at Palmerston, was a man of varied teaching experience. He received his primary education at the Warepa (now Toiro) public school, and in due course attended the University classes in Dunedin, where, after taking the arts course, he gained the B.A. degree. His first appointment was in the Timaru Boys’ High School; and aftea short period of service in that institution, he received the appointmdnt of head master in the Riversdale School, Southland, a position which he worthily filled for 17 years. His health at that time not being very satisfactory, he retired from the teaching service to his father’s farm for a short rest, but was then appointed to the Sutherland’s School in South Canterbury, and after two years service there he held appointments at Tuapeka Mouth, Luggate, and Goodwood schools, in Otago. From the last-named place he retired from the teaching profession, and resided in Palmerston up till the time of his death. For the past few years his health had been rather indifferent, and he did not long enjoy his retirement. Honest and conscientious in all his dealings. Mr Munro has left behind him a large circle of friends. He never married, but he leaves one brother (Mr W. Munro, of Palmerston) and two sisters (Miss Munro, of Dunedin, and Mrs Meggett, whose husband is in the railway service) to mourn his loss.