PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 54, 20 October 1914, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Professor Laby, of New Zealand, has bden appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy at Melbourne University. Mrs Pattison left Stratford by yesterday's mail train for Gisborne in connection with the critical illness of her sister, Mrs G. Black. Mr Black died about seven months ago from injuries received by a fall from a horse While "out mustering sheep on his run at "Pakowhia," near Gisborne. A wire received yesterday by the Rev. J. Pattison, contains the information that the doctors give no hope of Mrs Black's recovery.

The death of Mrs Fredericka Robinson, wife of Mr Robert Robinson, County Foreman, Cardiff, occurred yesterday at her residence, Cardiff, after a very long and painful illness. Mrs Robinson had lived in the Stratford district for the past fourteen years, also for twelve years on the Manaia Road, and was formerly at Carterton, Wairarapa.

Messrs J. Horton, 6. H. Olliver and R. Willis, members of the Stratford Defence Rifle Club, have been selected to join the first reinforcement for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and leave for •Wellington to-morrow morning. After the parade of the corps last night presentations were made to Messrs Horton and Olliver, Mr Willis not being present. Mr McMillan, officer commanding, made the presentations, consisting of wrist watches in each case. He said that while all hoped that the war would soon be over, at the same time they hoped that the representatives of the corps would see some fighting. So far as possible the corps would endeavour to follow the careers of its representatives, who, on their part, could ensure remembrance by despatching a postcard on every possible occasion. The corps then gave three cheers and Messrs Horton and Olliver suitably replied, thanking the members for their gifts.

Mr T. K. Macdonald, whose'death occurred in Wellington on Saturday, was for many years a prominent business man in Wellington as a land and estate agent, and auctioneer, and was more or less associated with the public life of the city, having represented the city in Parliament from 1890 to 1892, and subsequently sat as a member of the Legislative Council. Mr Macdonald was born in. Boulogne, France, of a Highland family, in 1847, and the following year his parents were forced to leave Franco owing to the .revolution, and returned to their home at Lednachan, Fort William, Scotland. Mr Macdonald was educated at Dundee, and later at Adelaide, South Australia. He, came to New Zealand in 1871, and was first engaged as a clerk in the Defence Department. He afterwards joined the firm of Joseph Nathan and Co., and later commenced in business for himself as an auctioneer, land and estate agent, and company promoter, and for many years conducted a business in the old Exchange Buildings, on Lambton Quay. Subsequently, he went into partnership with Mr Alexander Wilson and Co., with premises adjoining the Club Hotel, on the Quay. Some years ago that partnership was dissolved, and Mr Wilson set up for himself in other premises, whilst the old business was carried on by Messrs E. Johnston and Co.