PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 838, 9 June 1910, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) left Auckland, yesterday for Huntly to attend a conference which is to be held to discuss Native' affairs. He expects to return to Wellington on Friday.

The. Hon. G. Fowkls (.Minister for Education) left Auckland for Wellington last night.

The Hon. E. M'Kenzie (Minister for Public Works) returned to Wellington from Nelson last night.

The Hon. J. Carroll (Minister for Nativc_ Affairs) left yesterday to attend the Native conferences which are being held at Waahi.

Messrs. L. Blundell (Wellington), G. Fenwick (Dunedin), H. Horton (Auckland), P. Selig (Christchnrch), and C. S. Smith (Dunedin) are attending a special meeting of the directorate of the New Zealand Press Association, which opened in this city yesterday and will conclude to-day.

Mr. F. B. Knyvett, formerly officer commanding the No. 1 Company of Gar-: rison Gunners at Auckland, is now residing at Christchnrch.

The Board of Education lias appointed Mr. E. K. Mulgan, of Canterbury, to be Chief Inspector of Schools in the Auckland province.—Press Association.

Mr. Peter Hockley, for some years head salesman in Whitcombe and Tombs's Wellington shop, Ims been promoted to be manager of the firm's Melbourne branch, vice Mr. Symons, resigned. Mr. Hockley is well known in musical circles in Wellington and Christchnrch.

Mr. J. W. Copithorne, of Ingestre Street, is leaving by the Moana on June 21 to catch the Vancouver boat from there, and after a slow journey through America he will cross to the south of Ireland, returning by way of the Continent and Brindisi. The voyage is being taken in accordance with medical advice.

Captain D. R. Hewitt, of the Indian Army, whose family are well known at Palmerston North, arrived by the Warrimoo yesterday on six months' leave.

Captain P. F: Tarawa, a retired officer of the Imperial Russian Guard, reached Wellington by the Warrimoo from Sydney yesterday. Captain Varawa was commercial agent at Shanghai in connection with the Russian Volunteer Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War. He also saw service in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. At Melbourne the other day, Captain Varawa was awarded ;ESOOO damages against the Howard Smith Company for false imprisonment. He leaves New Zealand by the Corinthic next week, and will visit the Buenos Ayres Exhibition before returning to Europe.

.Dr. Thacker, of Christchurch, accompanied by his brother, will leave for bouth Africa next week, and will be absent from New Zealand about four .months. They intend to witness the Arnst-Barry sculling Tace on the Zambesi in August.

Mr. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works, who is at present in Australia, leaves on his return to New Zealand this week, and will travel via Auckland.

The funeral of the late Mr. R. H. J. Beeves, M.L.C., took place at Nelson' on Satunlay afternoon, the remains being followed to the grave by a large and representative body of mourners. The Hon. R. M'Kenzie (Minister for Public Works), and Mr. John Graham, M.P., represented the Government, and amongst others who attended were the Mayor (Mr. Thos. Pottit), the Town Clerk (Mr. G. A. Edmonds), I lie Stipendiary Magistrate (Mr. J. S. Evans), the chairman of the Waimea County Council (Councillor Philip Best), and representatives of the various branches "of the public service. The funeral service was conducted by; the Rev J. P. Keinpthorne, and the pall-bearers were Messrs. J. P. Clark, R, Arnold, E. S. Cresswell, F. Muntz. E. Smallbon?, J. S. Winstanley, J. King, and E. Trask Wreaths were, forwarded; pn behalf of tho Ministry, the Legislative Council, the House of Representatives, and tho Westport Harbour Board, and by Sir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward.

Mr. B. H. Pascoe, who for the past two years has been resident secretary for New Zealand of the Australian 'Widows' Fund Life Assurance Society, is returning to Victoria. Mr. and Mrs. Pascoe and their family will leave Wellington on June 17.

The health of the Countess of Dudley on her arrival in Melbourne last week was such that a medical consultation was deemed • necessary. Dr. Mandsley and Dr. Shields expressed -the opinion that if her Excellency's improvement in strength was to be sustained there must bo complete rost and avoidance of ill public functions for at least three months to come.

Sir Henry Wc-edon, of Melbourne, has received a notification from London of his appointment as an Australian representative of the Society of Knights Bachelors.

Lieutenant-Colonel A. Bauehop, officer commanding the Wellington military district, is at present in Palmerston. He is expected back in town this evening.

Mr. H. G. Greatbatch, senior check clerk of the Wellington Telegraph Office, who was recently transferred to Hastings as relieving paymaster, has been presented by his follow officers in Wellington with a gold albert as,a souvenir of his nine years' service amongst them.

The death took place at Auckland on Monday, at the early ago of 57 years, of Mr. Thomas Russell, of the firm of Messrs. Russell and Somers, shipping agents. Deceased was born in Edinburgh in 1553, and was educated there. For same time he was in business in Aberdeen. He came to New Zealand in 1859, and entered the service of Messrs. Sargood, Son, and Ewen, at Dunedin, as accountant, being afterwards transferred to the Auckland branch of the firm. In ISS3 Mr. Russell took up a responsible position in the firm of Messrs. Cruickshank and Co., shipping and commission merchants. On the death of the then surviving partner (Mr. D. B. Cruickshank), the business was taken over by Messrs. Russell and Somers, and has since been carried on by them. About six months ago Mr. Russell became affected with heart. trouble, and since then his health has been very precarious, so that the end was not altogether unexpected. The late Mr. Russell filled the position of Italian Consul at Auckland for some time. He took a keen interest in athletic sports, especially in rowing, and was for manv years a member of St. George's Rowing "Chib. He held the position of commodore for 12 years, but resigned a few months ago owing to ill-health. Mr. Russell was well known and highly respected in business circles, and in private life was deservedly esteemed by a verv large number of friends for his many estimable and kindly qualities. Wide sympathy is felt for his in their bereavement. Mrs. Russell beingi left with five children (the eldest of whom is only 12 years old), to mourn their loss.

•Vt yesterday's meeting of the Christcluirch Education Board Mr. T. Ritchie wrote resigning his position as Inspector of Schools on the ground of ill-health. Mr Hardy; M.P., paid a tribute to the services rendered by Mr. Ritchie, and moved that his resignation be accepted with very great regret, and that the board express its highest appreciation of Mr. 'Ritchie's valuable services, and honed that he would soon be restored to health. The motion was seconded by Mr. Opio (who also eulogised Mr. Ritchie's services to education), and carried nnnnimouslv.—Press Association.