PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 7

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Our 'Napier correspondent states that Dr. Averill, Bishop of Waiapu, has not yet intimated his decision regarding tho invitation to tho vacant See or > Auckland, but it is generally understood that ho will accept it.

The Hon. A. L. Hcrdman is to attend the social gathering at Eastbourne next Saturday in connection with the. inauguration of the municipal ferry service.

■Mr. F. de G. English, this year's examiner in New Zealand for the Associated Board of tho Royal Academy and Royal College of Music, London, arrived yesterday morning by tho Mivheno at Auckland. He is "acoompanied ■by Mrs. English, and ho will 'probably reach Wellington early in, Octoberj to Donduct examinations on behalf of the board. An unusually large number of candidates (have entered their names.

Hie Rev. A. Macdonald Aspland, who Came out from England nine years ago to become pastor of the Courtenay I lace Congregational Church —a position which he still holds—has been offered the charge of tho Emmanuel' Congress tional Church, Palmerstori North. He will announce hip .decision in a few days. •

Mr. R. B. Grange, who' is leaving Wellington for America shortly, will bo tendered a farewell dinner by friends at the Grand Hotel this evening. .

The Rev. W. Douglas, M.A., who is' retiring-from tfhe active ministry, received a presentation of a purse of sovereigns at the annual meeting of the Evans Bay Presbyterian Circuit on Friday evening. Mr. Douglas was in charge of thb Evans Bay Circuit for six years, and prior to that was stationed' at Hokitika. He was the oldest active minister in the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, and in mentioning this fact, tlie Rev. J. Patterson ; who presided at the gathering, spoke in high terms of Mr. Douglas's long and faithful service. Tho Revs. Comrie, M'Caw, and Shirer also added their tributes to the zeal and earnestness of the retiring minister. The presentation was made by the circuit secretary (Mr. Smith), on behalf of the several congregations' in the circuit. The Misses Douglas were also the recipients of a similar presentation. '

The Works Committee of the Dunedin City Council has recommended that tho maximum ■ salary of 1 the city engineer (Mr. W. D. R. M'Curdie) be fixed at £700 per annum. ■ Tho present salary is-£6OO. The "Daily' Times" understands that the committee recommends also that the salary of the librarian (Mr. W. B. M'Ewen) be fixed at a maxijnum of £400 per anuum.

Mr. Duncan Stout, a sen of the Chief 'Justice, has obtained the degree of M.S. at London. This is the highest degree" in surgery in Great Britain. No one 3ias it in New Zealand, and only 150 have obtained it during the last- 90 years. '■

A Press Association message from Greymouth states: —Captain Connor, the harbourmaster, has been seriously ill for the past week, and is now in a precarious condition..

Mr. H. A. Brown (Christchurch), Mr. Johnstone (Waipukurau), Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Herrick (Hawkea Bay), Mr. S. Kirkpatnok . (Nelson), Mr. C. R. Beattie (WoodVilie), Mr.' J. Barry (Blenheim), Mr. and Mrs. Giesking (Greymouth), iand Mr. and Mrs. Hanrahan (Greymouth) arc amongst the latest arrivals at the .Royal Oak Hotel.

Mr, B. Reginald Collins (Melbourne) 5s on a visit to Wellington, and is staying at the Royal Oak Hotel.

Mr. J. H. Wear (Christohurch), Mr. E. E. Robinson (Stratford), Mr. J.. E. Piper (Auckland),' >and Mr. J. F." Shawley (Auckland) are staying'at the Windsor Hotel.,

Mr." J.B. Gow (Opotiki), w3w ■ was present' throughout the_ Counties' Association ' Congress, is remaining in Wellington for a brief holiday, and has made the Windsor ; Hotel his headquarters. 11 .; ' 'Mr.' E. Greatbach. stationmaster at Otira, lias .been . transferred to Shannon (North 1 Island).

Mr. P. Fraher, formerly assistant in 'the Kumara and Hokitika branches of the Bank of New Zealand;, has been appointed manager- of the Naseby branch.

Amongst the latest arrivals at the Empire Hotel this week-end were Mr. R^D.'Wilson (Christchurch), Mr. Davies (Pongaroa), Air. Pork (Palmerston North). Mr. Thos. Brown (Christchurch), Mr. E. A. Neilson (Patea). Mr. J. Bradley (Palmerston North), and Mr. •A. Jenkins (Palmerston North).

Major D. J, M'Gavin, of the New Zealand Medical Corps, has been granted twelve months leave of absence' as from July 31,1913, and!-with permission to be absent from the.Dominion during the period. Mr. Justice Chapman on Friday last admitted Mr. Neil R. Russell, .LL.B., solicitor, of Dannevirke, as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, on the motion of Mr. W. J. Sim. .

Canon Garland, organiser of the Bible-in-Schools League, delivered addresses in Christchurch yesterday in support of the movement.

At the meeting of the Board of Governors of the M'Lean Institute iin Christchurch last week, Miss Collins, late matron of tho Rangatira Private Hospital, \was appointed matron of Holly Lea.Mr. J. B. Brinsden, manager of the Dunlop Rubber Company, left by the Mararoa on Saturday for Christchurch. He expects to bo in town again by_ the end of the week.

The Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald was a passenger 'by the ferry steamer Wahine, which arrived here from Lyttelton yesterday morning.