PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 236, 15 March 1915, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr J. Lcpinc. who for many years was steward of the Taranaki Club, died suddenly at his residence on Saturday. Lieutenant A.' Scott, of the local post office staff, left for Trentham on Saturday morning to join the reinforcements. Mr L. S. Jennings, the well-known tennis player, who has been spending a few days in New Plymouth and Hawera, left on Saturday morning for Trentham to join the sixth reinforcements - In which he has obtained a commission as lieutenant.

The secretary of the Melanesian Mission lias been advised of the death of the Rjev F. H. Drew, missionary iu the Solomon Islands. The cause is unknown. He is stated to have died on the way to the Maravovu Hospital.

At a large gathering of the locomotive staff at the New Plymouth railway engine-shed a presentation of a travelling nig was made to MrT J. H. Cameron on his promotion to locomotive foreman at Ohristclrarch. Mr. J. tMander, in a few well-chosen words, voiced the regret of the staff at losing Mr. Cameron, hut •congratulated him oni his well-deserved promotion. Messrs Donohue, Bingham Weals, anrl Thomson testified to tao esteem in which Mr. Cameron was held, and that gentleman suitably responded. <Mr. Trevella, who is taking Mr. Cameron's position, wa3 suitably welcomed. Mr. Cameron leaves by the mail train this morning.

The death occurred at Auckland of the Rev; R, F. M'Nicol, who was formerly minister of St. James' Presbyterian Church, Auckland. Mr. M'Nicol first came to New Zealand from Glasgow in November, 1865, to take charge of the Presbyterian Church in New Plymouth. For some time he held services in the Freemasons' Hall, but a year later a church had been built on the site occupied by the present church, the old one having been burned down in 1882. Mr M'Nicol did good work under great difficulties, and left for Auckland in 18G9, a few days before the White Clifi's massacre. It is worthy of note that even in those early days a bazaar_ held in ISC7 to reduce the debt on the nev) church, brought in £252. The London correspondent of the Auckland Weekly News states that new-ly-elected Fellows of the Royal Colonial Institute include the following New Zealanders, all of whom reside in the North Island:—Mr. John Chambers, Mr. John G. Bell, Mr. Robert Harding, Mr. J. P. Lethbridge, Mr. James S. McLcod, the Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.L.C., Mr. F. W. Triggs, Mr. C. ]). Wilson, Mr. P. L. Witherby. The following have been appointed honorary corresponding secretaries in New Zealand:—Mr. Colin C. Hutton (Wanganui), Captain J. R. Kirk (Gisborne), Professor Worley and Mr. ,1. R. Napier (Auckland), Mr.'c H. Trip)) (Timaru), Mr. Leonard Tripp and Mr. Alex. Turnbull (Wellington), Mr. David S. Wylie (New Plymouth). Advice has been received from England of the death of Mr. Horace Harri-son-Smith, R.N., which took place at Kamsgale on January 4. The deceased, who resided in Auckland for a number of years, was one of the oldest naval staff-surgeons on the retired list. He qualified as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1847, and in the following year obtained the M.I"), degree at St. Andrew's University. He then entered the. Navy, and retired from the service in 1870. Ten years later he sailed for New Zealand in the ship Wellington, commanded by Captain Cowan, and settled in Christchurch for three years. He subsequently went to Auckland, and remained there for seven years, serving on the staff of the Government Life Insurance Department. He left for England in March, 18!)0, leaving behind him a wide circle of friends.