PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 303, 16 September 1908, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

« ,Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., returned last night from Palmerston North. Judge Fisher, of the Native Laud Department, returned from Wanganui last evening. The Rev. R. G. Porter, of Oamaru, was associated with the presbytery at its meeting yesterday. The Rev. Father Holloy, of Blenheim, will commence this week the annual collection in the Thorndon parish towards tho Roman Catholic Cathedral fund. Mr. R. Arnst, tho sculler, arrived from the South yesterday, en route to Wanganui, where ho is to commence training for his raco with Webb in December. Included in tho passengers arriving from Lyttclton by the I'atcena this morning aro Messrs. Buddo and J. A. Macphersou, M.P.'s, and the Hon. C. C. Bowen, M.L.C. Mr. J. Burnett, chief engineer for working _ railways, and Mr. M'Lean, inspecting engineer, are at present engaged on a tour of inspection in the Waikato district. Mr. G. S. Robinson, of tho clerical staff of tho Wellington Woollen Company, has been transferred to the Christchu.rch branch. His fellow-clerks presented him with a travelling rug. The Very Rev. Dean Regnault, Provincial of the Marist Fathers, has teen visiting Blenheim and Nelson, and is at present in Westland, where his visitations are expected to extend over five or six weeks. Mr. Warwick Ainslcy, who is managing the concert tour of his sister, Miss Irene Ainsley, left for New Plymouth yesterday morning to inaugurate a provincial tour. Miss Ainsley is to appear in Wellington again on October 13 and 15. At a meeting of the provisional directorate of the Napier Branch of the Y.M.C.A., it was decided (says a Press Association message) to offer the position of general secrotary to Mr. Dickenson, who is at present receiving a course of training •in Y.M.C.A. work in America. The Rev. P. C. ltennie, of Brooklyn, has accepted a unanimous call to the charge of the Herbert and Kakanui district. The acceptance was notified and approved at the meeting of the presbytery last evening, and the Rev. W. Shirer was appointed moderator ad interim for Brooklyn. Mr. T. F. Dunhill, who will conduct practical examinations in music throughout New Zealand 011 behalf of tho Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music, London, arrived in Auckland on September 13. He is due in Wellington 011 October 16, and he will remain hero for a fortnight. The Wellington City Council's handbook for 1908-9, just issued, has, under the heading of, '' Principal Officers of tho Council," Organist, J. Maughan Barnctt. - It is, of course, known that Air. Barnett was engaged by tho council to give forty recitals 011 tho Town Hall organ, but it is news to hoar of his joining the municipal service. Mr. George Biddle died at Rangiora recently, aged 85. He Was/one of the picked miners who went out to tho Crimea in 1855, and assisted in the formation of the railway from Balaclava to Inkerman. On roturning to England he was engaged in tunnel work. He left for New Zealand in the Robert Small, arriving in January, 1860. Mr. Biddle worked on the Moorhouse tunnel under Messrs. Smith and Wright until thoy gave up the contract, and lie then worked on tho same tunnel under tho Provincial Council (Mr. Edward Dobson, engineer). The _ death is announced of Mr. Donald Murchison, of Springhills, Southland, at the ago of 92 years. Born in Ross-shiro, lie left Scotland for Victoria in 1852. Attracted to Otago.by jthe. discovery of gold, ho came to New Zealand in 1861, and made his way to. Gabriel's GlUly,_.ll!4t_d.id...not strike it rich. He wont to Riverton, and resided in tho Western District; for some years. Over 30 years ago lie took up sonic land in the Springhills district, and by hard work, aided by his family, converted a piece of rough land into an up-to-dato farm. He. enjoyed good health almost to the last: