PERSONAL'ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 532, 12 June 1909, Page 5

PERSONAL'ITEMS.

Mr. Adam Forsyth, of Messrs. Burns, Philp, i and Co., Sydney, was a passunger from Wellington by tho Warrimoo, which sailed yesterday nitornoon. Mr. A. Slinger, engineer to the Dunedin Drainage Bonrd, who is at presont in Wellington, has received an offer from the board asking him to loncw his term of office for another three years. '• . Mr. W. J.'Hurat, of Hawera, anil Mr. Chavannes, jun., of Wanganui, lefij'by tho Warrimoo ycsteiday, en route for. Queensland, to enquire into tho fanning prospects in that State. Mr. J. J. Grealish, of the "Evening Post" etaff, received a presentation from the members of the Press Gallery last night, to mark tho occasion of his marriage, which took place at Hobart recently. ; Mr. William Franklin, who is retiring from tho binding-room oversoership at the Government Printing Offico after 34 years' servico, was presented by tho employees' with a gold watch, and chain. Tho Government Printer (Mr. J. Mackay) made tho" presentation, and Mr. G. ,H., Broad,spoke in corroboration of his expressions of the respect and eeteem •in which Mr. lfranklin is iield bj his associates. The death occurred at Waipukurau on Thursday of Mr!, Peter Barrie, one of the early' Hawke's Bay settlers. Our, Napier correspondent states that deceased,,who was 69 years of age, and a native of Perthshire, Scotland, arnvod in New Zealand 43 years ago.' He settled in Kaikora North, "some 38 years ago, and, from there, he went to Poverty Bay, where ho was in business for a numbor of years. Subsequently he returned to Waipukurau, where, for the past 25 years, he has successfully carried on a drapery, business. Deceased took an active part in church matters, being ono of the" elders of the local Presbyterian' Church. The Rev. Mr. Powell, a missionary, who lor 21 years has been working among tho lepers of India, is at present in Wellington, and, during his visit, will occupy some of the local pulpits at the Sunday services. He haa < established a lepor-house at Bapatha, India, and it is at present occupied by 127 victims of the dread disease. The Government of Madras has assisted the work by moan 3 ofgrantß of land and money donations,' but' a large amount of the finance has still to be provided by Mr. Powell himBelf. He has undertaken a tour of Australia and' New Zealand with the object of raisins £500 in order to widen (he scope of his Work. Mr. Joseph Toms, aged about 65 years, one of the old To Awaito whalers, died suddenly while on his way from To Awaito to licton, yesterday morning. Deceased, who leaves a family of live daughters, and three sons, one of whom is now whaling at the Auokland Islands, formed an interesting Jink with , the early history of New Zealand', his father having been one of "Dicky" Barrett s original whaleboat crow in 1822, in which year Barrett founded the whaling set- ' tlament of To Awaito, in Tory Channel. Deceased possessed a genial personality, which endeared him to all with whom he camo in contact. His unexpected death will bo much regretted by a wide circle of friends and relatives.

Much, of: the past: excellent, record and' present' high ' efficiency of the D buttery is duo,;as.the meabf tho battery freely acknowledge, : to the work.of their staff.instructors, Captain-G.g. Richardsou. Chief Instructor, of Artillcrj , , Sergeaut-Major Peter-' sen and Corporal Someryillo. At:the annual smoke concert of the battery ,last evening' the' company■:presented, as a .token of its appreciation; :of the assistance received from its instruotors, a" handsome framed' photor graph to each.'To' Captain Richardson (who was unable.to.be present), is to be presented a photograph of tho battery oiiicers; to Ser-geant-Major Petersen, a' photograph of. the battory,"specialista,<' who, as Captain Potherick observed, put in more hard and continuous work than any system of compulsory training would ask of them; and to Corporal .Somorville, a photograph of tho battery irivors.

■■' -A', number .of * citizens met last night in Messrs. Turnbull's: room,, Panama Street) to discuss the inost suitable manner in: which to recognise. the:eervicosi.rendered tho city by;the recent Mayor, the Hon. T. W. Hislop. .. Amongst .those. presc-nt were Councillors Shirtclilfe,. : .Frost,/- and ilindmnfsh. Apologies, were'.received .from; Councillors Luke,- Fletcher,':' and "Cohon, • their letters conveying assurances- of support ■■ and sympathy in the movemont. .J Mr. A. A. Corrigan .was elected chairman, Mr. Geo. Goodall secrotary,. and an executive: committee was appointed. Sixty-eight guineas were subechoed by .those present, and others interested in the.movement.- , .-Tho list was headed by Sir Joseph Ward. The chairman nssuvc.l the meeting, tliat such .ah encouraging beginning would form-the nucleus of a thcrongh ly • successfu I: and representative appreciation of thp Hon.T.:W. Hislop's terms of mayoralty. .The. Executive Committee will report- progress to.the: General Committee on Tuesday, Juno:22. -.-,.> •....; .--..