PERSONAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 220, 22 October 1909, Page 2

PERSONAL

Air. W. Kerr, S.M., Wanganui, is on a v sit to New Plymouth.

•Mr. J. J. Cassells, of the -Sen- Zealand detective force, who lias i.een to Eng-

iand on duty, arrived home by me lmmaroa on Wednesday. A Press Association message states thai, the congregation of St. Paul's Presbyterian Ctiurch, Wanganui, decided to extend a call to the Kev. John McKcnzic, of Colac, Victor a.

The position of chief postmaster at Napier, rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr. J. 11. Slieath, has been filled by the appointment of Mr. T. T. King, inspector of post offices for Olago and Southland. Mr. King for many years acted as postmaster at Gore. Mr. E. A. Osmond, of Stratford, who for the past nine years has held a responsible position in the Government Life Department, has accepted an appointment as district manager for Taranaki of the National Mutual Life Association, Ltd., with headquarters at Stratford. There was laid in his last resting-place

at the Northern 'Cemetery, Duncdin, early on Sunday morning, full of years (eighty-six), and followed by the loving respect and sympathy of many relatives and friends, another of Dunedin's pioneers in Uie person of -Mr. Charles Selby. He arrived in Duncdin from Louden .forty-two years ago, and at once settled down to his trade of carpenter and builder on his own account. He was by trade a ship's carpenter, and helped to build the first of the modern mammoth ships—namely, the Great Eastern. From its launching till its return to the scrap heap not many years ago the Great

Eastern was what was termed an unlucky ship. Several deaths occurred at her iaunehing. When the ship's company was appointed Mr. Selby was elected head carpenter. Her first trip was to America, and the big ship was still in the English Channel when something went wrong with her steaming gear, two or three lives were lost, and Mr. Selny himself also narrowly escaped fatal injury. The ship's immense (as then considered) tonnnge, over 11,000 tons, was supposed to make her impervious' to the motion of the waves, and consequently proper care had not, been taken to seehg that her saloon fittings were properly secured. When in the centre of the Atlantic a fierce gale arose, and its destructive force to the ship's furniture was soon made evident—she entered New Y 7 ork Harbor an internal wreck. Mr. Selby also worked in his department, of shipbuilding in the Government Department at St. Thomas's, West Indies. He never entered into active politics, but always gave a conscientious vote on the side of liberty and progress. He will be much missed, says the Duncdin Star, by those who knew linn as a man of generous and loving disposition. He was one of the oldest, members' of Moray Place Congregational Church. His wife predeceased him eleven years ago. He leaves three daughters, two sons (one of whom is Mr. J. K. Selby of this town), and several grandchildren to mourn his loss.