We have been asked to publish the following notice from the Blairgowrie Advertiser of 14th Decnmber last. The recepient of the purse is woll known to many throughout Otago who will be pleased to learn that up to old agp, he has continued to command that respect and tsteem he so fully cann-d and enjoyed in his younger years : — On Tuesday evening Mr Lake Falconer, who has beemfceepSr and librarian. of the BlairgowH«fiM|chani^y Institute and keeper of tne public hall for the last 12£ years, retired through advancing years, was met in the upper room by- members of committee and other subscribers, and" presented with a purse of sovereigns in recogni tion of his worth and services. Pro vost Stewart presided, and the pre sentation was made by Mr Thomas 'Steven, the oldest member in a happy speech. Mr Falconer feelingly replied in what he afterwards mentioned was his first public spweh. Remarks highly complimentary to Mr Falconer were made by Messrs kobert Robert- Son, A. Allan, P. Pendrieh, J. B. Mac lachlan, and J. /Kidd. Mr\Robertson offered the suggestion that the commit tee might make Mr Falconer a free life member — present him with the freedom of the Institute j which idea the com mittee have cord i /illy carried into effect

A correspondent of the Evening Tele graph writes :— ' Old Lake ' is a splen did specimen of the hatdy, sturdy, in dependent, and intelligent old High lander wlo n we of tell read about but seldom meet. He was born in 1813, at Cray, Glenshe3e, and hfts turned hit, hand to many a job sincf. lie began to "mak' a way" for himself, and has been successful in all. When a, boy he went to Dollar Institution for 12 months, and there was a time in his youth when he had notions of becoming pedagogue. But these were set aside, and he " put his hand to the plough " instead, serving for many years on ihe estate of Mr Peter Shaw, Finegar.d. Afterwards he became manager to Mrs Robertson, Cray, leaving whose service he thought to take a turn r>t (own em ployment, and went to Dundee. There he wus some time grocer's assistant. Then he went tc Edinburgh and changed his occupation, serving "as a coachman for about three years. 