PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 454, 12 March 1909, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

All the members of tho Executive, with the oxception of the Hon. A. T. Ngata.who is in Auckland, arc still in Wellington.

Mr. A. M. Lewis has decided to leave on March 26 for a trip to the Old Country.

Mr. T. W. Kirk, Government Biologist, is expected hack from the south to-niorrow.

Dr. Mason, Chief Healtli Officer, is on a visit to Gisborno and Auckland. Ho will probably bo back at the end of nest week. ,

Mr. H. Reed, K.C., left for England by the Turakina yesterday, after a tour of the Dominion.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Walkley, Hamua, arc leaving New Zealand in May next for ■an extended visit to England, after an" absence of fifteen years.

The Hon. C. M. Luke, who was operated irpou nearly a fortnight ago, is still confined to his room, and will hardly resume business for a couplo of weeks.

Mr. Justice Denniston left last night for Nelson, where ho will preside over tho sittings of the Supreme Court, which commence on Monday next.

Mr. A. K. Hayward, editor of the "New Zealand Farmer" (Auckland), .is : spending two or three days in "Wellington on his way. to tho South Island.

Mr. C. Hall, M.1 , , for Waipawa, and Mr. It. B. Itoss, M.P. for Pahiatua, wore visiting Wellington yesterday on business connected with their electorates.

Tho appointments of Mr. H. L. Godbcr as rate collector, and Mr. H. V. Caverhill as senior cashier to the City Corporation, were confirmed at last nightjs mooting of tho City Council.

Mr. Laing-Meason has been appointed assessor for tho City Council in an action which it is bringing against tho Crown in connection with tho Hutt lioad railway deviation.

Mr. 0. H. Stephens, Deputy Electoral Officer of •SduSl-liViistralia.-who. is visiting New Zealand on behalf of his Government for. the purposo of inguiring into our electoral system,..,is iiow in' Wellington. ■ v^. Captain Bell, roas'to'r of the.. Union Company's steamer llotoiti, lias accepted a.position with tho Auckland Harbour Board, ,and has resigned from -the Union Company's service. It is expected that Captain 801 l relinquish command at Onehunga.

Mr. J. W. Marchbanks, engineer to the Wellington Harbour Board, has left for the south, on route to Australia. Ho will inspect the principal harbour works in the South Island, and in the Commonwealth, before assuming his now duties on May 1.

The Rev. E. S. Buchanan (Sovenoaks. England), Messrs. F. L. and E. W. Hadrill (Sovenoaks, England), Mr. F. W. Reynolds (Bookham), Mr. David M. Wostland (Edinburgh), Dr. Wcstland (Aberdeen), and Mr. George Eadio (U.S.A.), wcro callers at the Tourist Office yesterday.

Judge lleid, tho newly-appointed judge of tho Nativo Land Court, died at Taupo early yesterday, morning. Deceased, who was appointed judge some eight months ago, had been in ill-health for some time past. Hβ was a native of Auckland, and at one time a prominent athlete in the northern city. Deceased, who was about 38 years of age, leaves a widow and two children.

Mr. K." Brown, who is leaving Wellington to-day by the Hiverina, was entertained by a number of his.follow commercial travellers , yesterday, and presented with a travelling ba", whilst he was also made the recipient of a ciiso of silver-ware for Mrs. Brown. Before leaving Gisborne, Mr. Brown was also farewelled, and presented with a silver entreo dish for Mrs. Brown, and at Palraerston North received another presentation, in the shape of a sovereign case and pondant.

The appointment of city, organist at a salarv of £240 was conferred on Mr. Maughan Barnett at last night's; meeting of tie Citv Council. Ono of the conditions of the anointment is that Mr. Maughan Barnett shall pivo on an average one recital a wrok. The Mayor pointed out that Mr. Maughan Barnett had'had a successful year, but tho returns had not been very great—about 2 per cent, on tho cost of the instrument, less cost of tho hall, whilst tho instrument was being played. Several councillors also referred in complimentary terms to Mr. Maughan Barnett.

Dr. Sven Hcdin, tho famous explorer, expects to spend his next throe years in civilisation. Ho will then "make further explorations (writes a London correspondent), but declines at present to reveal the next field of his labours. "It will take thrco years," says Dr. Hcdin, "to arrange my collection and make known tho results of my journey to tho public and,tho scientific world. If'one does not do this it is no uso travelling. Tho lirst year will be spent in lecturing to tho different geographical societies, and in writing tho. popular work for the general public I .shall write.this in the summer. 1 shall isolate myself at a seaside place, free from rail and boat, and , I shall refuse to see everybody. ■ In tho autumn, I guess, tho work will be ready. The English edition must not cost more than two guineas. Then will follow the scientific work, and the large chests containing geographical and botanical material will for tho h'rst time come fully into use."

Further information has been received in Christchurch with regard to the engagement of Mr. W. H. Babcock, as secretary of tho work in connection with tho Boys' Gordon Hall portion of tho Young Men's Christian Association, in Uhristehurch. Mr. Babcock is a graduate of one of tho universities of the State of Minnesota, and has had experience as boys' secretary of tho Y.M.C.A, at Minneapolis. Mr. Lyman L. Pierce, who in conjunction with Mr. Strnning, secretary of the Christehureh Y.M.C.A. (who is lit present in the United Stales), made tho appointment, states that it is with great satisfaction that Mr. Babcock is being sent, because ho is a line type of man, and on account of tho experience he has had. Mr. Babcock is expected to leave Vancouver on March 26 for New Zealand. Amongst the bovs ill and about Christchurch the opening of tho boys' Gordon Hall is bsiug looked forward to with great interest, and present indications appear to point to the possibility of tho accommodation provided being inadequate in a comparatively brief space of time.