PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1453, 30 May 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

* The Hon. H. G. Ell, He Hon. W. D. S. Mncdonald, tiis Hon. Te Eangiliiron are at Auckland, tlis Hon. G-. W. Russell and the lion. G. Laurenson are at Christchurch, the Hon. A. M. Myers at Napier, and (iho Hon. T. Huston at 'I'omuka. The only Cabinet Ministers in town arc Iho Hon. J. Hanan and the Hon. J. Colvin. The Hon. T. Mackenzie (I'rinio Ministor) is to leave Nornuinby to-day for Opunake, whore he is to deliver a'policy speech this evening. Ho will return to Wellington on Friday night, leaving for (he south on Saturday. _ Mr. ». G. A. Cooper, Registrar of the Supremo Court in Wellington, arrived from Sydney by the Mauuganui yesterday. .Mr. Cooper has just completed an extended European tour. Sir Joseph Ward, accompanied by Lady Ward and Miss Eileen Ward, arrived from Sydney yesterday by the Maunganui. The ex-Prime Minister and his fainaly are at present staying ot tho Royal Oak Hotel. They intend to leave for the south on Friday or Saturday. The Hon. Edward Richardson, C.M.G., who lias been a director on tho Local Board of tho Australian Mutual Provident Society for the past 23 years, lias resigned, the Principal Board in Sydney has conferred the vacant seat at tho boird on Mr. Harold Beauchamp, of tho firm'of W. M. Bannatyne and Co., Ltd. Tho death took niece at Colombo on *'nv 5 of Mr. Fredorick Beard, organist of 'St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, and one of Australia's best-known musicians. Ho is said to have been the best chorus master in the Commonwealth. Tho Williamson Dramatic Company, now playing at the Opera. House, leave for •Sydney, en route for Brisbane, to-morrow evening. Mr. Richard Stewart will proceed to Auckland on Saturday to assume i tho management of the-"Ben Hur" Company, of which Mr. John Parrel! will bo' tho touring representative. Mr. H. J, H. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works, left on Tuesday evening for Cliristchurch, where he will spend a day or two in transacting Departmental business. Mr. Blow will return to Wellington on Friday. Mr. John Barr, of tho "Sydney Bulletin," has accepted tho position of Australian representative of tho Wellington Boxing Association, Mr. E. D. H. Stocker, Deputy-Registrar of tho Supremo Court, lias received advice that ho has passed the final section of tho Solicitors' Law Professional. Lioutennnt-Oeiicral Sir R. S. BadenPowell will bo the guest of Major-General A. J. Godley (Commandant of the New Zealand Forces) during his stay in 'Wellington. Tho following resolution was passed by . the Wellington Harbour Board last evening on the motion of the chairman (Mr. R, Fletcher): "That this board desires to place on record its deep sympathy with the family of the late Joseph Edward Nathan, as one of the founders and original members of the Wellington Harbour Board, and to sxpross appreciation of tho valuable services rendered by him during the early period of the board s history." It was further resolved that a copy of the resolution bo forwarded to Mr. D. ,T. Nathan, as representative of the deceased's family.

Mr. T. K. Fisher, who has just forwarded to the board of directors of tho Standard Insurance Company his resignation of tho position of general manager, was tho eldest son of tho Tlev. Thomas It. Fisher. Mr. Fisher was born at Walthain Abbey, in tho Comity of Essex, England, in 1837, and was educated at tho old Kingswood School. Leaving there, ho entered commercial life, going, in 1851, to Melbourne, whero ho remained a few months before coming to New Zealand. In 1877 Mr. Fisher joined the Standard Insurance Company as manager at Christchurch, and throe years later was appointed to tho position which ho has just relinquished. Ho was tho first president of the council of the Firo Underwriters' Association.

Among the passengers to arrive from Sydney by the Maunganui yesterday was the Rev. George Grubb, M.A., a wellknown missioner. He was hero about twenty years ago, when ho conducted a highly successful mission in the Opera House. On the present occasion Mr, Grubb has como to New Zealand to fulfil an engagenientjit the AVangnimi Christian Convention, to bo held in that town from Juno 2to G. Afterwards ho is to conduct missions at Auckland and Gisborno. A few of his old friends and admirers in Wellington thought- it would bo a pity to allow Mr. Grubb to nnss through New Zealand without th» publlo of Wellington being given an opportunity of hearing him again, so have Arranged for the visitor to conduct a short mission hero from July 14 !o 21. Sir. Grubb, who is accompanied by Mr. Ernest Jackcon, a director of missions, and Mr. Grubh's secretary, is staying with Captain Blackburne at 5G Hawker Street. Mr. Jackson is living with Mr. Fossetto close by.

Mr. H. Pettit, for smne years associated with the firm of Messrs. J. O'Brcn and Co., carriers, of this city, leaves to-day by tho Kuithine on a holiday tour to England and Ireland. Mr. Pettit, as representative of his firin, has boon intimately connected with the Defence Stores Department foT some ten years past, and tho esteem in which he is held by that Department was manifested on Monday, when Major O'Sullivan, Director of Equinment and Stores, on behalf 'of the staff, presented Mr. Pettit with n travelling has raid rug, Major O'Sullivan said he hoped their guest would have an enjoyable holiday, and would return to New Zealand and once more be among them. Ho felt sure ha was expressing tho feelings of everyone present when lie said Hint, for Mr, Pettit, in his long connection with the Stores Department had won the hearts of .ill these with yhom he came in contact. Mr. Pettit said he was extremely grateful for tho mementoes presented him, and he was glad to have something to remind him of the friends lie was leaving for < ( while, but to whom ha hoped to return onco more in tho near future. Mr. H. G. Harper (representing West's Pictures of Australasia), with his family, arrived from Sydney by the Mauwjaniii ypstcrday. The Mayor of Napier (Mr. .T. Vigor Brown, M.P.) wai met last night by a largj gathering of workers and friends, awl presented with a handsome shield, in recognition of the pnergy he has displayed in connection with" the district. The scrolls bear tho inscription: "The turning nf the first sfld of the East Coast railway." Smaller shields, mounted on thio base show the dates of various elections at which Mr. Brown was successful. Mrs. Brown was presented with n. silver flower stand and a pah- of vases. —Press Association.

It is understood that several important changes are taking place in connection with the Railway Department. Mr. Wellings, locomotive foreman, Wellington, is retiring on superannuation, and it is rumoured that Mr. Guthrie, locomotive foreman, Tnihape, is to bo promoted to Wellington. This report is stated to have caused considerable dissatisfaction amongst other senior men, who consider they aro being passed over unjustly, and several appeals arc likely. Mr. E. C. Little, of the- State Firo Insurance Office, Wellington, "leaves this morning for New Plymouth, where ho is to relievo the manager of the office there.