PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1826, 12 August 1913, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Vice-Regal, His Excel! encj' tho Governor, accompanied by Mr. Gavin Hamilton (private secretary) and Cnptain Eastwood, A.D.C., left for Chiristthurch last evening to attend tho Grand National meeting. His Excellency will bo tho guest of Mr. and Ml'.-*. Khodcs. His Excellency the Governor has intimated to Mr.i \Y. J'j. Cocks, Seamen's Mi.<sioner, that ho will bo pleased to accept the invitation of the committee of the Missions to Seamen to open tho "Mercantile Marine Fair," in aid of the funds of tho institute ou Wednesday, September •I, and that he will bo accompanied on flic occasion by her Exoelk-ncy vliu Conntoss of Liverpoul. His Honour Mr. Justice Edwards will leave for Auckland on Saturday. Ilis Honour' Mr. Justice Sim left for Napier yesterday. His Honour tho Chief Justieo (Sir Robert Stout) returned to Wellington from Hastings Jast night. Tho Bishop of Waiapu (Dr. Averill) preached at All Saints' Church, Auckland, on Sunday morning, and at St. Mary's ill the evening. On Saturday afternoon His Lordship held a confirmation service at St. Mary's Homes, Otahuhu, and on Sunday afternoon he confirmed U0 young people at St. Mary's. Yesterday morning ho visited St. John's College, and in tho afternoon St. Stephen's School l'or Maoris. He left for Napier in the evening. Tlx® funeral of the late M.r. W. T. Gorl- - formerly private secretary to ' Sir James Carroll, took place .at Jvarori yesterday aftemoMi. The ceremony was largely attended, those preiiont including Mr. L. Johnson, private secretary to t'iie Native Minister (tho Hon. W. it. Berries), who represented Iris Ministerial chirf; a number of members of Parliament, and numerous Civil Servants, inchiding all the Ministerial private secretaries. The paM-bearers were Messrs. J. Hislop (Under-Seoretary for Internal. Affairs), T. W. Fisher (Under-Secretary of the Native Department), J. W. Black (private secretary to tho Hon. 11. i). Hell, Minister for Internal Affairs), and W. Pitt (Native Department). The Press Gallery was represented by Messrs. A. Bullock (chairman), W. D. Lusty, C. E. Wheeler, and F. K. Reeves. A service was conducted at St. Andrew's Church, Wellington Terrace, by tho Rev. J. Gibson Smith, who also officiated at the graveside. Tho pall-bearers at the graveside were some of tho tho Into Mr. Gordon's former, colleagues on the secretarial staff, Messrs.' J. Hislop, F. D. Thomson, J. H. Macalister, and W. Crow.

According to "Fair Play" of July 3, it lias been arranged that Mr. J. H. Estill, tho Port of I/omlon Authority's cominer-' cial superintendent, shall, in September, proceed to Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Estill will first visit tho principal commercial centres in the Commonwealth, including Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Fremantle, and Perth. In January lio will go 011 to New Zealand, paying visits to the leading ports, and, after a short stay in Tasmania, will roturn to England about tho end of April. The object of the visit :9 to acquaint shippers in tho colonies with tlio facilities which, tho port. <)f London already affords for the rapid and economical handling of Australasian produce, also to explain the additional accommodation which the Port Authority is now in process of providing under it's important programme of dock extension' and equipment for the accommodation of colonial produce.

Mr. Henry E. White, tho Wellington, architect, has returned from a' business visit to Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. One of- the oldest mining pioneers of the district has just passed away at Waihi in tho person' of Mr. James Smyth, of Owharoa, at tho age of 71 years. 1 Mr. Smyth was an experienced prospector and miner, and a man of sterling character, says our .Auckland correspondent. He and others, including Mr. M r . Nicliol, woro part owners of the Martha Hill before tile birth of the Waihi Company. So far as is known, Mr. Smyth has no relatives in the Dominion,, but has a nephew in Victoria. ■ • Commissioner Richards, of the Salvation Army, who is at present on a visit to Auckland, spoke 011 Sunday at tho children's all-day service in tho Foresters' Hall, Edinburgh Street, Newton. 'It was the lirst service of its' kind held in Auckland, says our special correspondent, hnd considerable interest was taken in the proceedings. Tho commissioner spoke on tho . Army work, with a special appeal to the young people to join tho cadet movement.. Last evening tho commissioner was to open a new hall in Valley Road. Mr. Edward John White, one of. the | oldest astronomical scientists in Victoria, and probably tho best known, died at his residence at the Melbourne Observatory a little over a week ago, aged 81 years. Mr. G. H. Davies, of Karori, is at pre'6cnt confined to his bed with an attack of gastritis. Mr. J. Kistc.ll, of British Columbia, is a visitor to Wellington. ' - Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Gibbons, late of Wellington and the West Coast of the South Island 1 , left Auckland by tlio Maliono on a trip to the Old Country. Mr. C. V. Heath, British aviator expert, arrived in Australia last week. He lias como out under a three years' engagement to the Commonwealth military authorities as mechanic to the Australian fleet. Mr. Heath will bo followed in a fortnight's time by Mr. Fontoliead, another mechanic, and two B.E. biplanes. . Tho Chief Justice of West Australia (Sir Stephen Parker) lias been granted six months' leave of absence on full pay. It is believed that the Chief Justice will retire on the expiry of liis leave. Mr. G. S. Hiitton, accountant, died in Brisbane last week after a long illness. Deceased was tho first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Queensland, and prominent in Masonic circles for many year 3. Mr. Ernost Scott, for a number of years past a momber of Federal "Hansard" staff, has beon appointed professor of liistory at the Melbourno University. Mr. Scott is '15 years of age. Mr. A. H. Cooper, secretary of tho Operative Butchers' Union and tho Pacific Lodge, U.A.0.D., underwent an operation for appendicitis yesterday morning. Mr. G. A. Hurley has joined tho staff of Messrs. Harcourt and Co., and will take charge of the country property department of the firm. Mr. Hurley is well known throughout tho North Island in connection with land transactions.