PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 5

PERSONAL ITEMS.

'Tho Right Hon. W. F. Massoy and tho Hon.'W. H. Berries will leavo today for Auckhnd. The Hon. Jas. Allen has postponed his trip to Napier for a week as the Hawke's Bay schools havo not'yet' been opened. Ho will bo out of town during tho week-end, but will probably return on Monday ovening; Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, and tho Hon. H, D. Bell ;will arrive today from Auckland, and tho Hon. W. Frasor from Kawhia. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes left for Auckland last evening. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher is at Christchurch.

Ti following pithy summing up of New Zealand's Prime Minister,; as published in tho "Daily Mail" Year Book for 1914, will bo read with interest by friends and opponents alike: —"Massey, Hon. William Ferguson, Prime Minister of Now Zealand, aged 57. Is an Irishman, who went to Now Zealand fortytwo years ago; is a typical 'settlor,' who from small beginnings lias acquired a modest competency. Among other experiences of a varied life, he 'followed on tho plough', for two years as a farm-hand on the well-known 'Longbeach' Estate in Canterbury. Is nofv the owner of a successful dairy l farm in north of Auckland. , Entered Parliament, 1894, and became Leader of the Opposition, 1903, and Prime Minister, • 1912. Is not distinguished for tactics, nor even for tact; but shrewd common-sense, a happy gift of speech, and an unblemished honour make him a worthy successor to the FitzGeralds, Rollestons, and Atkinsons who guided the colony's affairs in'past days." Mr. J. 'Evershed, Director of the Kodaikanal Solar Obsorvatory in India, left for • Sydney, on route to India, by tho Ulimaroa yesterday. Mr. Evershod has been in New Zealand reporting on tho site and equipment for the proposed Cawthron Observatory, to be .established at Nelson. Mr. and Mrs. Simester and Master Eric Simester (Messrs, Simester, Hooson and Co., Wellington) left by the s-s. Ulimaroa for Sydney, where thoy join the s.s. Otway, en route for England. . Commander P. J. Stopford,. who was recently in command oi H.M.S. Pyramus, left Wel'ington for London via Sydney by tho Ulimaroa yesterday, Commander Viscount Kelburn having taken over the command of the warship, which is at. present at Auckland. Dr. Pollen, Port Health Officer, left by the Main Trunk express for Auckland on Thursday. The Rev. J. Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, left yesterday morning on a holiday trip toKotorua. Miss Hutchen, at present on the staff of tho Newtown District High School, has been appointed to the position of headmistress of the school in the place of Miss. Ryder, who recently retired on superannuation. , Mr. H. H. Ostler, of the Crown Law Office, Wellington, left here last evening for Christchurch, where ho will represent the Crown, in some interesting cases in which Customs frauds are concerned; Mr. Ostler is taking the cases, as Mr. T. W. Stringer, who formerly handled Crown business in Christchurch, •ha 3 recently been appointed to the presidency of the Arbitration Court. A message received in Sydney last ■week from 1 Thursday Island states that Madame Nordica'a condition,''.which had been unsatisfactory since'her arrival by the' steamer Tasman, still continues more or less serious, but she is reportedl to be improving. . : _ . Mr, Cecil Ryan, a.well-know"n;ChrisU church vocalist, - who went to America a few years ago, is now appearing in tho principabtenor.'iolo.-iin;iYiotor..!HcjT berfs lato3t.'.nud?gr.Qatest.,success, "Thd Madcap Dachess, which is boing produced at the Globe .Theatre, Broadway, New York. It is probable that Mr. Ryan may return to Australasia at an early date with an American operatic company. Messrs. Nopenaire, Dupont, and Desmachielier, three French, wool buyers, left Wellington for Sydney by the Ulimaroa yesterday., ..- Mr. A. do R. Barclay, of the staff, of the "Sydney Daily Telegraph," who has been ' spending . his annual holiday in AVcllington, was an outward passenger for Sydney by the Ulimaroa yesterday. At a meeting of the dircotors of W. Dimock and Co., Ltd., a'motion was passed expressing regret at the illness of their chairman, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, with a hope that he may soon he restored to health and resume position which ho has occupied as chairman of directors for several years past. Mr. J..H. Owen returned from a visit to England this week, and has now resumed residence at Seatoun.' Captain J. Bone, niarino superintendent, for tho New Zealand Shipping Company, is a passenger from the south by the Maori this morning. Mr. A. H. Holmes, formerly Clerk of the Wellington Magistrate's Court, and now Registrar of tho Supreme Court at Christchurch, will leave for the south, to take up his now duties,. on Friday, next. Miss Mary Proctor, the lady astronomer who has played an active part in connection with the establishment of the Cawthron Observatory, was a passenger by the Ulimaroa for Sydney yesterday, and intends to proceed to England. It is hoped that Miss Proctor will pay another visit to New Zealand at some future' date, but she has not yet made any definite plans in that direction. When she came out to this country towards, the end of 1912 she only intended to spend a few weeks here,- but" circumstanoes altered her plans and tho few weeks'have extended into fifteen months. Part of that time, however, was taken up in lengthy visits to India and Australia. 1 It was largely as a result of Miss Proctor's visit to India that, the_ services of Mr. Evershed were obtained in connection with the selection of a site for tho Cawthorn • Obsorvatory at Nelson. Mr. Justi o Edwards will preside at the sittings of the Wanganui Supreme Court, which commence next week. " Mr. Robert Durance, general manager for Australia of tho Ford Motor Company, who has been on a business trip to Now Zealand, leaves to-day on his return'to Sydney. Mrs. Durance accompanies him. Dr. Everett Atkinson,.who was formerly in practico in Auckland, and left three years ago to tako up a position at Perth in tho Public Health Department, is now in Auckland. As DeputyCommissioner of Public Health for West Australia he will 'represent the State at the forthcoming. Medical Congress. Mr. G. H. Fountain, assistant! parcels clerk at the Auckland Post Office, has been promoted to tho position of foreign mail clerk, Wellington. Mr. J. G. M'Dougall, clerk at Auckland, is to succeed Mr, Fountain as assistant parcels clerk. The reports published in several West Coast papers that the Government candidate for tho Westland seat at the forthcoming- general election will bo Mr. Georgo Perry, Mayor of Hokitika, and that tho same party's representative in the Grey contest will bo Mr. H. L.. Michel are stated by our correspondent to have no foundation whatever; Mr. Perry has no intention of entering tho political arena, while Mr. Michel informed our correspondent that ho had not considered the question of contesting tho next election. Tho matter of selecting tho Reform candidates for the Westland and Grey seats will be considered by the local branches of the' New Zealand. Politicil Reform- League, which aro very vigorous institutions,