PERSONAL ITEMS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 34

PERSONAL ITEMS,

Mies Margaret GilfiJlan, one of the oldest residents of the Wanganui district, is dead, at the age of 78. She was the sole survivor of the terrible " Gilfillan massacre" at Matarawa in 1547, the whole family, except Miss Gilfillan (and her father, who was absent), being murdered by Natives. While on his way to the Bruce County offices on the 3rd inst. the county clerk (Mr Brown) fell in a faint on the pavement. He was taken home, and was ordered to bed by his doctor. His place af the council meeting was taken -by Mr Nelson, the county engineer. Mr Brown's condition, we understand, is not considered very 'serious. Tho Milton Mirror reports the death of Mrs "Brook at Fairfax. The deceased lady made a sensational entry to New Zealand, having been aboard the ship Surat when that vessel) with all sails set, was wrecked at Catlin'9 River on New Year's Day, 1874. Mrs Brook was coming to the colony with her husband and family from her home vi Lancashire. Miss H > M'Leod, who has been first assistant in the Nightcaps School for three TCore; lias 'been presented witH ecune unique gifts. The pupils gave a heart carved out of. bituminous coal and mounted in gold. She was also the .-recipient, of a miner's pick made of gold, each of the articles being attached to a pin. Other gifts vrexo a set of silver teaspoons, and a case cf silver cutlery. At a meeting on the 2nd of the Lawrence Borouarh Coupcil Mr Philip Uren, who has filled the position of town clerk for the Borough of Lawrence for the past 28 years, severed his official connection with that body, and at the conclusion of the business there was a short farewell ceremony. Testimony was borne to Mr Uren's faithful services by the Mayor, Cr Winn, and other members of the council, and a minute of appreciation was drawn up and recorded on . the books, Mr Uren receiving a copy before he left. Mr R. C. Tennent, manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Timaru, has been offered and accepted the managership of the bank at Invereargill, which (says the Southland News) means well-deserved promotion. Mr Tennent will be leaving for the, south in .October, and will be succeeded at Timaru .by ,Mr G. A. R. Maokay, at present manager at Nelson. Mr Christophers, who has for many years been manager of the Invereargill branch, expects to be relieved of his duties in September, when he retires on a well-earned pension. He joined the bank in Victoria in the year 1857, or 52 years ago, and ifc is the intention of the directors^ to supplement the pension to which Mr Christophers is ordinarily entitled in recognition of his long and valuable service. Dr M'Kee, of Dunedin, has been appointed house surgeon in the Gisborne Hospital. .Miss Nelson, who was appointed assistant teacher at Milburn recently, has resigned the appointment owing to ill-health. A Wellington message states -that Mr R. H. Turton, S.M. at Greymouth, takes the Juties of the late Mr W. P. James, S.M., at Masterton. Mr A. Crooke, of Lawrence, the recently-appointed magistrate, sueee&ds Mr Turton at Greymoufch. i At a meeting of the directors of the Canterbury By-products Company, on Tuesday, 3rd inst., Mr Arthur Horwell, who has . recently disposed of his business' in order to proceed lo Southland, where he has acquired a farm, was presented with a case of pipes and set of razors, and also with a gold brooch for Mrs Horwell. The Christchurch Meat Company (Ltd.). whose sphere of operations extends from | Picton to Burnside, has made the following alterations in the engineering staff: — Mr Duncan Urquhart, chief engineer at Smithfield, Timaru, has resigned, having accepted the appointment of manager at j the freezing works in Geelong, Viotoria. ; Mr John Aitcr->on. chief engineer, Burn- 1 | side, transferred to Smithfield, Timaru; : Mr Peter Jack, chief engineer. Oamaru, • 1 transferred to Burnside ; Mr William H. Bevin. second engineer, Burnside. trans- j ferred to Oamaru as chief engineer. i Mr Percy Foote, son of Mr Fred Foote, ! j of Whangarei, has (the Post reports) re- ' | ceived hi>s degree as member of the Royal College of Surgeons. Mr Foote was for five years a student of the Otago Univer- ! sity, and has been in London for a little ■ j over a year. The employees of the Chratehureh Meat Company at Burnside met together on ; the sth to bid farewell to Mr John Aitohison, chief engineer, who has been prompted to a similar position at the comj pany's works at Smithfield, Timaru. Mr W. H. Bevin said Mr Aitchieon had been [ 24 years in the engineering department afc Burnside, and had held the position of chief engineer for the last 13 years. The omj/loyees had much pleasure in asking him to accept a gold albeit and pendant, suitably inscribed, for himself, and a gc id brooch and chain for Mrs Aitchison, as a J slight recognition of the many kindnesses received from her. Mr Aitchison returned thanks, and also thanked them for their kind remembrance of Mrs Aitchieon, and assured them they would always remember the good fellows at the Burnsido wovlns. Mr J. Liddell Kelly, formerly editor of (he New Zealand Times, hes arrived in England, with his wife, from Plonolulu. They will go presently to Norfolk, where Mr K^lly intends to enter into literary work and novel-writing pure and simple. The Rev. V. W. Scott Moncrieff, who has occupied tho position of warden at St. John's College (Auckland) since January 1, 1908, has (says our correspondent) resigned that position. His resignation has be^n accepted by the Board of Governors, and during the next term tha college will bo in charge of the Rev. E. 11. Strong, -at present sub- warden of the college. La=t Tuesday evening th« Clinton railway employees, who formerly resided with Mr William Nelson at the Temperance Bcarding-houee, presented Mis 3 Tot Nelson with a beautiful gold bangle set with diamonds aad rubies, and Mise A. Alexander with a handsome lady's dressing case. Mr J. M'Larcn made the presentation, and in doing co spoke in glowing terms of both young ladies, and trusted that they both would enjoy long life and prosperity. Mr William Nelson, een., responded on behalf of tha recipients. Tbe Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade , presented Dr J. S. Hayes, who has been for over 25 years honorary surgeon to the brigade, with a siver-mounted pipe, cuitaby engraved, and a tobacco pouch, in appreciation of his eeniccs to the brigade.

Accompanying the presentation was a. «letter signed by the secretary (Mr George Hancox), conveying the brigade's united good wishes. Dr Hayes has retired from active practice, and in future will reside on his farm at Kakahu. For the third time 'since its foundation a student of the Christian Brothers* College, Newfoundland, obtained the Rhodes Scholarship. The fortunate student this year was John Higginsj, who, during his collegiate course, proved, by his great ability as a student, and his prowess in frames, that he was the best candidate inthe island colony. The Christian Brothers in Kimberley have also their Rhodes scholars and tho Christian Brothers College -n Western Australia has as well, while the .Tooderful achievement of Neat Macrcssan of the Christian Brothers Nudgee College, Brisbane, three years ago, is (thT Catholic Press, Sydney, says) too fresh :n people's memories "to need repeat1Q A London nessage advises that Mr Mark Cohen will leave Vancouver on his return to New Zealand by the s.s. Marama-pn the 13th inst. Mr George Fenwick will leave Vancouver by the s.s. Makura on September 10. Mrs Peter Matheson (nee Ann Gibson), a resident of the Waimea Plains for the. last 35 jr«a.rs, died a-t HUorsdale a* the end of vast month, after a lingering illness, at the age of 66 years. Deceased was the wife oi Mr Matheson, one of the - . best-known residents in the palmy days of the plains. She was. a native of County Monaghan, Ire.and. Mrs M'Phee, the only . daughter, resides at Balfour, and two of her sons, Peter and Thomas, live in the . Riveradale district— Alexander at Arrowtown, James at Invereargill, and John at ' Makarewa Junction . Mr Archibald Stewart Fletcher, of Lawrence, was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand by his Honor Mr Justice Williams on- the 9th inst. ' Owing to My Robertson having taken a farm of his own, and thus severing his connection with Gladbrook Estate, the employees met last Saturday evening to bid- him farewell. The occasion was celebrated with an elaborate banquet, which was wholly managed by the employees, and was a credit to all those who took part in itt. During the evening Mr and Mrs Robertson were presented by Messr3 Murray, Roberts, and Co. (the owners of the estate) with a beautiful marble clock, and also with a- handsome cheque by the employees. Mr M'Kinnon, the manager, made 'the presentation on behalf of the owners, and Mr Logic that on behalf of his fellow employees; and both spoke in glowing terms of .Mr and Mrs Robertson's good qualities, and wished them every success in their new home. The musical programme was very much enjoyed by alt present. The manager also took the opportunity of introducing the new overseer(Mr Willis), who is a stranger to the district, and hoped that the friendly terms which had existed between all would still continue. A change is about to take place in the management o£ the Lawrence branch of the Bank of New South Wales. Mr K. Ml^ Wakefield, who has filled the position of manage for the past 25 years, is (cays the ' the Tuapeka Times) retiring from tie active work of thfr bank in October, ?.fter a service of 43 years, having ■ ioined the service ' in 'November, 1865. On Being relieved- of - duty is" is Mr WakefieH's intention to take a trip, and in- the meantime lie is unablo to say whether on his return -he will take up his permanent residence in Lawrence ' or not. The many friends of Mr Alexander Hamilton, sub-accountant at tho National Bank of New Zealand, in Dunedin, will be glad to learn of his promotion to the managership of the Riverton branch of the same bank. Duriner his stay in Dunedin Mr I Hamilton made many friends. He was an elder of Knox Church, where he will be much missed. Prior to his departure for tho south he> was met by the staff of the National Bank, awl on their behalf prei eented by tbe manager (Mr M'lntosh) with. i some handsome silver. Mr Hamilton suit1 ably responded. Mr Hamilton was also . presented on the 9th inst. by the Deacons' : Court of Knox Church with a set of gold j studs aad links as a souvenir of his eon- • nection with it. The Rev. Professor Hewitf son, through whom the presentation was : made, specially eulogised Mr Hamilton's services in connection with the movement for the extinction of the debt on the church, i and said that the measure of success that I had been accomplished by the committee . 1 which had this project in hand waa largely due to Mr Hamilton's wise persistency. News haa beeni received by cable (reports . our Wellington correspondent) of the death, at Johannesburg of Mr John IsaaC3, on Saturday, from pneumonia. He was wellknown in New ZeaJano commercial circles. He w?3 born in London 53 years ago, and l came out in 1878 to Dunedin, where ho joined Mr Philip Isaacs in business. When> the firm amidgarajatsd with D. Benjamin, and C^. Mr John Isaacs beoa-me a partner in the latter house. At the end of five years he retired, and went to South Africa, ! entering into business at Johannesburg. He 1 was unmarried. He is a brother to Messrs ' Henry and Alfred Isaacs, of Dunedin, Mrs Heinemann, of Ohristchurch, and Mr Philip Isaacs, of Wellington. There passed away at Cromwell on the 12th of July, in thf person of Mrs Mary . Tregear Thomas, one of the fast-yanisli^ ing pioneer women mho uncomplainingly bore the hardships which were inevitable in the early goldfields da3's. Born at' Just, Cornwall, England, in 1841, she accompanied by her husband and two children came co New Zealand in 1866 in tho 1 ship Blue Jacket (wrecked on the return: voyage), and immediately proceeded tp Cromwell, residing for /nany years at Cornishtown, where she reared a large family.) Ever ready to assist the weak and suffer-*-ing, and being of a genial, kindly nature,' sho was respected and beloved by all who knew her. She leaves a husband and *■ family of five sons and three daughters.