PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

To-day tho Hon. J. Carroll and tho Hon. G. Fowlds • will bo returning to Wellington, the Hon. J. A. Millar will ba in Wellington, the Hon. R. M'Konzio is in Wellington, the Hon. T. Mackenzie is in Canterbury, the Hon. D. Buddo in Christchurch, and the Hon. A. T. Ngata on the East Coast. Tho Hon. G. Fowlds is expected to return to Wellington this evening from Auckland. The Hon. J. A. Millar returned from tho north last evening. Mr. Harold E. S. Browning, of Melbourne, has been engaged in the Wellington Choral Society to sing the baritone solo in tho "Creation," which is to be performed by the society on May 5. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, Mayor of Grey Lynn (Auckland), who is not seeking re-election, was presented with a handsomely-written and framed illuminated address, signed by about <10 of the employees of tho council. Mr. Walter Johnston, 'of Christchurch, passed through Wellington yesterday on his way to London. He is travelling as far as Sydney by tho Ulimaroa. Captain R. H. Gibbons, harbourmaster at Onehunga, is at present on a visit to Wellington. Tlio Rev. George B. Stephenson, Anglican vicar of Pongaroa', has been appointed vicar of St. Augustine's, IVtone, in place of the Rev. J. D. Russell, who has received a call to Tiiuaru. Mr. Stephenson will take up his new duties in June next. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt makes no rash promises to the electors. Unlike Jack Cade (in Shakespeare's Henry VI), ho declines to hold out that, if returned, he will promise his supporters "seven halfpenny loaves • for one halfpenny, that'.the four-hooped barrel shall have live hoops, and Twill make it felony for men to drink small beers. - ' Mr. Hunt promises only that, if returned, he will expend, every effort in urging on the progress of .the city on sound and businesslike lines. Speaking at his meeting at Newtown last evening, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt severely condemned the "life-saving" apparatus on the city tramways. "Mr. Hunt said he considered it a barbarous device. Ho ventured to say that if a citiiien were to fall upon the track ho would stand a good chance of being impaled upon tho formidable iron rod which too often stands out from the front of the car like the ram of a warship. If fortunate enough to miss this fate, the victim would bo severely pounded by the ironwork in front of the car "life-saver." Why, asked Mr. Hunt; were not sensible guards provided, projecting in advance of the car, as was. dono in Christchurch and other cities ? What special reason was there for a Wellington citizen being forced right underneath a car before, any attempt was made to save him? Mr. John Kirkcaldie, who has been on a visit to Great Britain, is now on his way back, and is expected to roach Wellington on Wednesday next. Mr. R. R. Willkms has definitelv decided to contest the Wellington 'Suburbs seat at the next general election. At a large gathering of settlers of tho East Coast yesterday (says our Mastcrton correspondent)' Mr. H. F. Toogood, of Kohiwai, was presented with a dressing-case en the occasion of his approaching departure for England. Speeches were made bv Messrs. H. Morrison, T. P. Lett, W. C. Buchanan, M.P., and others.