PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 19, 17 October 1907, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

His Excellency the Governor and Lady Plunkot are to give a small dance at Government House this evening. . Mrs. 'J. M. Shera, widow of the late Mr. J. AlcE. Shera, ex-M.H.R., died suddenly on Sunday last at her residence, Arney Road, Remuera, Aucldand. The deceased, who in 1873 married the late Mr. Shera, was tho eldest daughter of the lato Colonel Balncavis. One i daughter and five 'sons aro' living. Mr. F. A. Krull intends making an extended trip to the Old Country, and leaves Wanganui for Wellington on October 28. Ho embarks for Sydney on the N.D. Lloyd boat Manila, leaving on November 19, via Now Guinea, Manila, Hongkong, and I'okoliama. , Mr. J. M. Batham, Registrar-General' of Lands and Deeds, who has been indisposed for several weeks, returned to work yesterday. , . • . . At the quarterly circuit meeting of the Newtown Methodist Church, the Rov. W. J. Williams was invited to remain for a third year in charge' of the district. Tlio invitation was accepted. Mr. W. W. Lightband, a very old settler of Nelson, and one of the first discoverers of gold in the Collingwood district, is spending a fow weeks in Wellington at the residenco of his son, Mr. Charles Lightband, on Clydo Quay. A stirring story of tho adventurous younger days of Mr. W. W. Lightband appears in another column. Mr. James Coutts, Inspector of Mines at Thames, has resigned that position as from Dccembor 31, owing to ill-health. Mr. A. C. Pcarce, Mayor of Karori, and Mrs. Pearce are passengers by the Rimutaka, duo from London, via Hobart, next week. In tho Legislative Council yostorday afternoon, loavo of absence for ono week was granted to tho Hon. Sir G. M. O'llorke, on publio business. Two presentations wero inado at the annual public mooting in connection with tho Taranaki Streot Wesley Church Sunday School last night. On behalf of tho Sunday School, members of tho congregation, and friends, Mr. Moxham,. ono of tho earliest superintendents, asked Mr. F. Bellman," tho musical conductor, to accept a handsomo bicyclo, in recognition of liis fifty years' association with tho school. Incidentally ho mentioned that Mr. Bellman had trained tho scholars for tho musical portion of tho past twenty-seven anniversary sorvicos. Mrs. Bellman was made tho recipient of a chcquo for a' substantial amount. Subsequently, Mr. Garrard, tho superintendent, on behalf of-tho school, presented Mr. Grocott (who is resigning his position as a teachor and office-bearer owing to removal to anothor part of tho city), with a gold medal bearing tho following inscription: " W.C.S.S., D. H. Grocott. For long acrvico (1897-07), ' .Well dono.'

The Rev. Father Ginat'y, of Christchurch, who has been spendinga few days in Wellington, returned South yesterday. The Very Rev. Dean James M'Kenna, o£ New Plymouth, is in town. Mr. F. A. Wilson, second assistant maßt«r nt Mount Cook Koys' School, who has been prostrated by a. severe attack of influenza, has gone to his home in Napier to recuperato. Cojonel A. W. Robin, C.8., Chief of,the Council of Defence, is at present confined tp his homo by a slight attack of malariay which ho first contracted whilo in South' Africa during the late war. Business at tho Magistrate's Court was brought to a sudden stop 1, yesterday morn* ing through the presiding magistrate, Mr.W. G. lliddell, having to leave the bench on account of indisposition. V The case before tho Court had to be adjourned. and tho balanco of the charge-sheet was taken by Dr.A. Jl'Arthur. Mr. Itiddell's indisposition was a sudden attack of faintness, and he expccts to be able to resume duty this morning. Sir George Clifford arrived from the South' yesterday to attend tho Wellington Racing Club's Spring meeting, which commences today. . '