PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2452, 4 May 1915, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

I — The Minister of Defence (the Hon'< J. Allen) returns from south this morning. The Minister of Inteoial Affairs (the! Hon. H. D. Bell) returned to. Wellington yesterday. Mr. G. J. Garland 1 , chairman of ths Auckland Education Boardi arrived in, "Wellington yesterday to attend the sit- . tings of the Food Commission, of whictf lie is a member, opening to-day. Arrangements have been completed for' Mr. Maugiian Barnett to conduct the performance of "Cavalleria Rusticana," to be given by the Royal Choral Society next month. Mr. H. G. R. Mason, eldest son of Mn and Mrs. H. B. Mason, of Wellington, has been elected Mayor of Puke-, kohe. ■ Dr. Platts-Mills has received advicdthat her brother-in-law, LieutenantColonel Wittycombe, has been mentioned in dispatches for gallantry and that he has received the. distinction of C.M.G. Her cousin,; Major-General Watkys, who was stationed at head?,uarters at Lahore, has gone to the rent with the Indian troops. Mr. N. K. Smyth, who has been. oU tho staff of Messrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., for a number of years, was the recipient of a presentation froiii his fellow- employees on the occasion of his leaving for Christchurch to take up the position of ohief marine clerk for New Zealand • to the Liverpool and London aud Globe Insurance Co., Ltd.

Madam Lina Vvberg, and M. Paul Crets-Saldaigue, the Belgian operatio artists/ who arrived in New Zealand last week, have been, approached by; Mr. Jolm Hopkins with a'view to their, appearance oil the local stage. •It'is v considered more than likely that tho negotiations will be fiuccessful,m whicM case an oarly appearance nlay be 4xpected.. At tho usual weekly meeting of the "Wellington Branch of the Social Democratic Party held last 'light a resolution was passed expressing regret at the death of Mr. W. Holmes, a member of Tne party, ' one of the victims of l&st week's gas tragedy in Mulgrave and of sympathy with his relatives. Mr. G. P. H. Davidson, of, Davidson! and Co., exporters, was elected a member of the Wellington Clumber of Com-i inerce yesterday. Major Colvin, who has been 'appointed to take command of the Salvation Army; in the Dunedin division, leaves to take up his new position to-day. _ He will ho installed on Thursday by Lieut.-Colonel PoWley, the Chief Secretary, who is now in the far south. The Rev, H. L. Blamires, formerly; of Napier, one of the chaplains to the Expeditionary Forces at the . front, writes cheerfully from hospital in. Egypt, where he was confined with a poisoned leg. A cable message recei\ ed a coupla of weeks ago stated that ho had recovered. It is understood, says a Napier paper, that local charities will benefit largely under the will of the late '_ E. W« Knowles. During his lifetime Mr. Knowles was never appealed to in vain for a deserving' cause, and the provisions 1 of his last will and' testament are in keeping with his generous nature. Mr. J. G. Poynter, postmaster at Otaki, has received word that he has been appointed postmaster at Paeroi, Thames district. '

"The only change in tie staff .of inn pertance," stated tlio headmaster of the Clyde Quay School in hii annual report, "was brought about by the temporary, loss of the services of Mr. A. East, who volunteered for the front with the First Expeditionary Force. This gentleman, had thoroughly, identified himselfwith the life of the school, and he iB consequently very much missed by pupils and .itaff, but we are hopeful that an early, termination Of the war will enable the sohool to again benefit by his valued set" rtces." - v At Christchurch Cathedral on Saturday morning, says a Press Association telegram, the clergy of the diocese assembled to make a presentation to Bishop Julius on- tho occasion of the completion of his twenty-fifth year as Bishop of Christchurch. There was a ■ very large and representative attendance of the clergy j and the presentation took place in the choir of the Cathedral, the Bishop occupying' his throne. The gift—a light pastoral staff—was brought in in state. Mr. Herbert Bloy, conductor of the Royal Wellington Society, has been indisposed for some weeks past. Hi? health is now,improving. . ' > Mr. Wielaert.of Auckland, has been! appointed, conductor of the Hamilton Choral Society, which is shortly to perform Wallace's opera. "Maritana" ill .concert form. Mr. Mark Cohen, editor of the Dunedin "Evening Star," will on May 10 attain the fiftieth anniversary of his entry upon his journalistic career. It is Mr. Cohen's intention to take a, trip to America. The veteran journalist is to be entertained by his friends. The death is announced of Mr. L, B* Sangster, a very old resident of InTer-.' cargill, where ho settled in 1863. He was 79 years of age. When a young man he made a trip to the Arctio regions on a whaling expedition. He was absent four years, ana had many interesting anecdotes to relate ofjiis adventures. He is survived by three sous and., two daughters.

Mr. W'i Kesse, formerly officer iit charge of tho Telephone Exchange, and latterly of the head office of the Post and .Telegraph Department, underwent a serious operation on Wednesday last at the Brougham Street Hospital. Ha is reported to be doing as well as can; bo expected.