PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2372, 30 January 1915, Page 7

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Eight Hon. Andrew Fisher, with the Hon. J. Btiyd, sailed for Sydney last night by the Ulimaroa. Yesterday Mr. Fisher entertained . Ministers of tho Crown, representative Labour leadors, and others'at luncheon in Bellamy's. Beforo leaving Wellington Mr. Fisher extended a cordial invitation to the Right Hon. Mr. Massev to visit Australia. Mr. Massey said he would be only too glad to do so when tho opportunity offered, and added that he folt certain such an interchange of between public men of tho overseas Dominions 'would be benefioial to tho countries concerned. The Hon. H. D. Bell and the Hon. R. H. Rhodes are leaving to-day for Napier, en route to Lake Waikaremoaua. In Napier Mr. Rhodes is to attend to some Post Office matters, and on Monday will leave by motor for Lake Waikaremoana. Mr. Rhodes is going in the interests of the Tourist Department, "and Mr. 801 lis going in connection with certain Maori lands on the lake shore, which will probably be acquired by the Government as a scenic reserve. Afterwards they will go -on to the Morere Hot Springs and then to Gisborne. The Hon. W. Fraser will arrive from the south this morning. Mr. Wybrant Olphert, R.N.R., formerly chief officer of the R.M.S. Remuera, is now Lieutenant-Commander of H.M.S. Seadaun, and is engaged patrolling the west coast of Ireland and mine-sweeping. There is quite a fleet of these patrol ships, their naval base being Queenstown. The Seadaun before being taken over by the Admiralty was a large steam trawler. Mr. Gerald Wbitcombe, who has been stationed at the local branch of Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., for the past two years, has been promoted to the position of factory manager at the firm's Christchurch house. The Wellington staff yesterday presented i Mr. Whitcombe with a handsome _ pair of field glasses, and expressed their wishes for his future prosperity. Mr. Whitcombe takes up his new duties at once, and leaves for the Gouth by to-night s steamer. Mr. J.' G. Rutherford, who had been in Wellington as a member of the Valuation Commission, has returned to Auckland. News has been received in Auckland by cablegram of the death on Tuesday at Colombo of Mr. H. V. Wheeler, for some time chief clerk in the Auckland branch of . the Alliance Insurance Convpany. Acting on medical advice, Mr. Wheeler, accompanied by his wife, left Auckland for India in November last. Mr. Wheeler was- in a weak state when he left, but recent advices stated thai the doctors gave hope of a recovery. In the board' room of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, Ltd., yesterday morning a very enthusiastic send-off was given to Mr. H. H. Rouse, 1 who has been attached to the New Zealand branch ,of the society for some years as assistant resident secretary, and who left for Sydney by the Uhmaroa last night to take charge of the society s I New South Wales branch. Mr. P. D. Leslie, the resident secretary, m making a presentation on behalf of the staff of a travelling rug and a case of pipes, expressed his great appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Rous® in New Zealand, and though sorry to say good-bye to him, wished him much success in the important post to which he had been promoted. Mr. E. T. wray, agency manager for New Zealand, also expressed-on behalf of himself and_wie outdoor organisation regret at Mr. Rouse's departure, but pleasure at the fact that made such departure necessary. He wished him all.the success his abilities "and personality.,deserved, Mr. RoUse .'thanked the' staflr for their fine presentations, and Mr. Leslie and Mr. Wray for their kind remarks. Mr. M. J. Reardon, of the Wellington Trades Hall, is at present visiting tho Gisborne district. Mr! W. P. M'Cormick, of Hastings, is in town in connection with' the erection in Hastings of a new theatre to the order of Mr. W. J. Douglas, of Te Mahanga Station, Hawke's Bay. Mr. M'Cormick is staying at tho Grand Hotel. . ' Mrs. Nalder, of Nova Scotia, who for some years past has been helping Pundita Ramabai, of the mission to the child widows of India) arrived in Wellington yesterday afternoon, and will' hold a series of meetings in the city. Mr. Charles Barry, Feilding, has bought Mr. John Wilson's sheep f&rffij Waiotama, Tangiteroria, and has gone there to live.