PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1609, 28 November 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Vice-Regal. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Islington gave a garden party yesterday to the citizens of Auckland. About 2000 invitations were issued. In spite of the threatening weather, the function was, a great success.—-Press Association, The Hon; W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) is at Auckland. He will arrivo in Wellington on Monday or Tuesday next, and probably will leave on the same day for the south, whore he is to attend a banquet to the Hon. Jas. Allen at Lawrence on December 6. The Hon.' F. M. B. Fisher is at Christchurch, and the Hon. H. D. Bell at Nelson. 'Mr. Bell is due to return to Wellington:on Sunday. The other Cabinet Ministers are in town.

The Hon. Jas. Allen will leave for Dunedin this evening. December i he is to be entertained at a banquet at Tua-. peka Mouth. On the following day he will attend the opening'of the Kaitaugata Post Office. The ceremony is to be performed by the Hon.. R. H. Rhodes (Post-mnster-Qeneral). In the -evening Mr. Allen will be entertained by Kaitangnta residents at a' banque.t. On December he will be banqueted at Lawrence. This latter function is to be attended by the Prime Minister, and possibly also by the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, the Hon. W. Fraser, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, and the Hon.Dr. Pomare. Mr. Allen is due to return to Wellington on the morning of December 11.

The Hon. W. H. Herries will remain in town for the rest of this week, but may go north for a few days next week*

The Hon. W. Fraser may go south on Wednesday next to attend the banquet at which Mr. Allen is to be entertained at Lawrence on December 6. On returning to Wellington Mr. Fraser will take up the duties of Minister for Finance, which he is to discharge while Mr. Allen is absent in England,

The Hon. A. L. Herdman will shortly commence his projected tour of the prisons of the Dominion. He has not yet determined on the date of his departure from Wellington, but his first journey will bo to Auckland.

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher is not expected to return to Wellington until next week.

Mr. Justice Sim arrived in Wellington by the Arahura last evening.

The Hou. C. H. Mills was a passenger from Nelson to Wellington by the Arahura yesterday.

Mr. A. G. Barnett, who has been acting as treasurer to the Wellington Harbour Board for the last twelve months, was last night permanently appointed treasurer and assistant-secretary to the board.

A concert was held in the Masterton Town. Hall last evening, to celobrato the jubilee of the ministration in the district of the very Rev. Dean M'Kejina. During an interval in the proceedings, the Mayor of Masterton, 'oil behalf of the Roman Catholic community, presented the Dean with an album containing photographs of interest to the parish. AN OPEN CHALLENGE FEOM THE TRIUMPH. Just recently in Christchurch the air has been thick with motor-cycle challenges and counter-challenges, allegations of bluiT, excuses, and explanations. The time has como to show wliero the Triumph stands in this matter, and to put an end to an unprofitable controversy. The trouble started with Mr. G. B. Brawn's open challenge to any make of motorcycle, irrespective of h.p., to a hill-climb-ing test on Paekakariki or Sumner Hill. That challenge still goes begging. Then a firm of motor-cyclo agents issued a counter-challenge to pit one of their machines against a tourist trophy Triumph on a speed test from Christchurch to Kaikoura and.'back. That counter-challenge was promptly accepted, but the public are now being treated to a number of explanations as to why the contest has been declined by thoso who suggested it. We arc, however, delighted with the suggestion given in ilint counter-challenge that there should be a contest "of somo use to prospective buyers—a challenge of reliability." Had wo thought of it wo should havo issued such a challenge! long ago. Such a test should give the general public an excellent criterion as to the comparative merits of various makes of motor-cycles. We hasten, therefore to avail ourselves of the very valuable suggestion given by our good friends of the J. Philp Motor Company, und on behalf of tho Trumph Motor Company, Ltd., Coventry, wo hereby issue a .£lO challenge to all makes of motor-cycle, 31 h.p. or under, for a contest, Christchurch to Kaikoitra, via Cheviot, returning to Christchurch via Waiau, against time. No restrictions to be iiiadu as to riders or equipment by oitlior side. The Kaikoura run is not our selection. It is tho course chosen by our competitors, but wo agree that it is a good course for a- test of reliability. We have issued a sporting challenge, without reservations or restrictions, and as evidence of our desire to make the test a imrely sporting concern, we undertake to hand over any money we may win to tho Christchurch Beautifying ' Association, Are there any acceptances for this challenge? Adams, Ltd., Now Zealand agents for Triumph motor-cycles. Branches Wanganui and Palmerston North j and agents Tourist Motor Co., Hastings,—Advt.