PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir Joseph Ward leaves for Canterbury to-morrow night. Ho has accepted an invitation to atend a representative meeting of farmers, at Ashburton, which is being held concerning the now income tax returns required .by tho .Government.

Tlie Hon. G. W. Russell goes south to Christchurcli to-night en route to the Hanmer Convalescent Home for Wounded Soldiors. He will lie absetn from Wellington for the wholo of this week.

His Honour Mr. Justice Stringer and the members of the Court of Arbitration will leave for Diwedin next Monday evening, and, after sitting there on December 15 and following days, will proceed to Christchurcli.

Nurse Murie, who was selected as one of tho nurses for the Hospital Ship Marama, unfortunately for her, contacted a mild form of scarlet fever, and is now a patient in the Wellington Hospital. Nurse Murie obtained her certificate in the Dunedin Hospital, and later went to Sydney, where she followed her profession, and eighteen montho ago was appointed to the oharge of the Colonial Sugar Company's bospitul at Labassa, Fiji. She resigned this position last month to volunteer for service at the front. Nurse Murie's brother, 'Lieutenant Murie, is serving with the 10th Labour Battalion, Royal Engineers, in the North of Franco.

Mr. G. H. Cate, chief clerk at iha Petone post office, has received advice of his promotion to the position of lJostmaster, Dunedip North. Mr. Cate has been connected with the Petone cffice for some fourteen years, and has proved himself to be a capablo and obliging officer. He has also been closely associated with the local bowling •club, having nllod the office of secretary for the last Ave years.

Among the passengers from Australia by the Ulimaroa yesterday wera Mr. J. B. Brinsden (manager in New Zealand for the Dunlop Rubber Company), Mr. J. L. M'Clintock (manager *>f the Vacuum Oil Company), and Mr. Durrance (representative in Australia for the Ford Motor Company).

Mr. G. E. Tolhurst, of Wellington, returned from a visit to England by 'the yesterday.

Major C. H. Evans, formerly of Gishorne, who has been accountant for Messrs. Dalgety and Co: in Adelaide for some time past, returned to Wellington from Australia by the Ulimaroa yesterday, with the intention of joining the New Zealand forces here. Mr, and Mrs. Walter Macarthy-Reid, of Wellington, returned from a lengthy visit to the Old Country by the Ulimaroa- yesterday. - ' _ Te Mona Ngata (son of Me. A. T. Ngata, M.P.) and Nihi Hinnfti, two Natives who have been studying scientific - agricultural methods at tho Hawkesbury College,'N.S.W., arrived hero yesterday 'by the Ulimaroa, to spend the Christmas vacation at home.

Drs. Morrison, Edgar, and E. Thomas, and tho Revs. Magnan and Galway were among the passengera from Sydney by the Ulimaroa yesterday.

Mr. J. S. Barton, solicitor, returned by the Ulimaroa from Sydney yesterday morning,

Mr. John S. Barton, 6olicitor, returned io Wellington yesterday after a holiday trip to -Australia.

Mr. W. 11. P. Barber returned from a visit to Sydney yesterday.

Word has been received, says our Featherston correspondent, that Major E. H. Saunders, of Featherston (who left,, with the' Main Force and was wounded in has been promoted to the rank' .of lieutenant-colonel.'' He is now in command of a base canw in Egypt. .

Belfast, Canterbury, has suffered a loss in the death of Mr. Robert Guthrie, a very old resident of 38 years' standing (says the "Sun"). Ho was a brother of the late Mr. Guthrie, at one timo editor of the "Press." He took a great interest in the welfare of the district.

The death took place at Lytt-elton on Tuesday last < f one of the oldest residents of 'She port, Mrs. Isabella Gaudie Flett. The late Mrs, Flett was born in th9 > Orkney Islands in 1837, and arrived in Lyttolton in 1863 in the ship Tiptree. She had resided ,in the nort ever since', with the exception of a short sojourn, in hor native country in company with hor husband some years aeo. 011 the tension of ti?i visit Mr. Flett lost his life by falling over a cliff. For many years the Into Mr. Flett carried on a shipwright's business. .

An .old colonist, and one well known during tho early days of Auckland, has massed away in tho person of Mr. Isaac Watts, at the age_ of 82 years. Mr. Watts arrived in New Zealand in 1859 from Doncaster, England. He was emploved for some time in Messrs. Newman and Ewen's ironmongery business, and was afterwards engaged as accountant in the "New Zealand Herald" Office. He was subseouently employed for 30 years' as chief clerk and oashier by the Auckland Gas Company.

Tho death has occurred in Auckland of Mr. Vincent E. Rice, a well-known resident.' at the ace of 71 years. The deceased had been oiling for some time, nnd his death was not unexoected. Mr. Rice was the son of the lato Dr. Edward Rice, of Strntford-on-Avon, Warwickshire.

Mr. John Fuller, a member of tha City Council, returned from a trip to Australia 1 yesterday by the Ulimaroa. When asked as to wliethfer there was anything to bo said as to municipal advancement in Sydney and Melbourne, Mr. Fuller said that taking all things into consideration, Wellington had nothing to learn in Australia as far as he could see. He was very much impressed with the ability of Mr. Verbrugghen, tho Belgian director of the New .South Wales Government Conservatoire of Music. He had the pleasure of attending an orchestral performance givtn under Mr. Verbrugghen's direction in tho Sydney Town Hall, and to Mm, as to many others, it wa6 a revelation as to what could bo done in tho domain of orchestral music in the colonies. So enthusiastic was lie in this matter, that lie made tho suggestion that it s would be a great tiling if some arrangement could be made wliereby Mr. Yerbragghen and his orchestra could visit New Zealand, and givo two or three. concerts ill each of tho principal centres. Mr. Fuller did not think there wero many obstacles in the way, providing the members of the orchestra could get away for a month. An arrangement might bo made to allow the orchestra the free use of the Town Ha'l, and by billeting tho members in the several citios, and getting concessions 111 steamer and train fares, the expenses could be kept within reasonable bounds. Sueli performances as they would give -ould hardlv fail npt as a stimulant to orchestral mysio in New Zealand.