PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2332, 14 December 1914, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

. VIOE-RE3A.D, Mr. 'Hamilton, private secretary to the Governor, left for Christchurch on Saturday night to make arrangements for tie lengthened visit which Their Excellencies are' about to. pay to Canterbury. Tho Earl and Countess of Liverpool will leave for Gishorne on Friday next, and on their return to Wellington on December 21 will go on.to Christchurch, 'where they will be in. residence for two or three months. All the Ministers of the Crown are in Wellington to-day, with the exception of the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, who is still in Christohuich. Tho Hon. J. Allen arrived here on Saturday, and tho Hon. W. Eraser yesterday morning. ' ' Mr. G. M. Thomson, ex-M.P. for Duncdin 'North, is a visitor to Wellington. ' Sir Joseph Ward arrived by the Monowai from Lyttelton at noon yesterday. He was accompanied by Lady Ward. Captain J. G. Little, Melbourne mauagor of the Howard Smith Company and Australian Steamships, Ltd., is a risitor to Wellington. Captain -Little, who is accompanied by his wito, -wallvisit Christchurch and Dunedui beforereturning to Melbourne. ■ News has been' received that Captain J G. T. Harper has been appointed to command H.M.S. Dreadnought. Captain Harper is a New Zealunder, having been born inChrjstchurcli and educated at Christ's College until ho went Home. He was for three years Navigating Commander of the llo.val \aeht,, and Master of the Fleets in the great review of last July. Twelve months ap;o he received his promotion to captain, and has since then been Assistant-Com-mander of tho Portsmouth Dockyards,"' and so was largely responsible m the mobilisation of the fleete at the beginttiug, of the war.

Loud detonations disturbed the crowd" in Cathedral Square from time to time' on Thursday night (says a Christchurcls newspaper). They were caused by de-j tonators on the tramlines, placed there* presumably by boys. Several persona' near the lines were struck by fragments of the detonators. Mr. A.I K. Hardy, a newspaper agent, who hasj had a bad log for some time, had ifr' struck rather sharply. Dotective Ward* who was in the crowd, was also 6truokon the face. The culprits could not be detected on Thursday night, but may be traced, as it is supposed tha#| they stole the detonators from railway; premises.

Captain and Mrs. E. C. Dovey arei staying at the Windsor Hotel. : i

Mr, Thomas Adkison Gates, who. died! at Ashburton last week, at the age 1 of 82, had been a resident in that towni for 85 years'. Ho survived his wife by, two and a half months. Mr. Gates ar-'| rived in Now Zealand with his wife and] young family in 1864, settling first ini' Christohurch and going to Ashburton! in 1879. Mr. Gates were) married at St. Paul's Church, South--' sea, in 1852, and they celebrated thtf golden and diamond jubilee of theirf wedding. Tha deceased gentleman, didl good work for the Anglican Church,! and was a chorister for 50 years. Ho! leaves six daughters and three sons', (seven of the family being married), 18 ! grandchildren, and seven great-grand-i children.

The death occurred in Canterbury on!' Wednesday of Mrs. Frances Jane Lilly, widow of the late Mr/Alfred Lilly. Mr/ and Mrs. Lilly were early settlers in New Zealand, and saw the pioneering, days in Timaru and South.Canterbury* Their first residence in Timaru was a> sod hut, which Mr. Lilly erected owing to tjie scarcity of accommodation, in I those, It was_ probably the damp-: ness of this . primitive abode which!; caused Mrs. Lilly to contract Theumatig fever, which had caused her more .of less suffering from that time.