PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2649, 21 December 1915, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Minister of Defence (the Hon. Allen), who has been on an official visit to Auckland, returns to Wellington by the first Main Trunk express this morning. Dr. C. E. Adams, New Zealand Government Astronomer, who has • been studying for a year at t'ho Lick Observatory, California, is returning to the Dominion on January 27 by the s.s Maitai. Dr. Adams, while absent in America, gained liis D.Sc. (N.Z.) degree. : . " The Right Hon. Sir J. G. (Minister of Finance) is still unable to leave his room, though making satisfactory, progress towards convalescence.' Mr. "John Cook, of Wellington, is succeeding Mr. A. M'Kay as chief draughtsman at the Napier Lands Office. The Rev. Bro. Seigfried, who has been connected with the Napier Marist Brothers' School for the past six years, ls'ji yesterday morning for Auckland. The president of the Sydney Operative Bakers' Society, - Mr. J. Wardley; was 100 years 'of age on. October 20, ana is still iri good. health—physically and mentally. At the annual meeting, when he was re-elected president, he was presented with a purse of sovereigns. Mr. W. Hart, a well-known sports-' man and horse-owner on the Australian turf, arrived by. the Manuka last night; He is going to see the Auckland Oup run on Monday, and then he propose# to visit EotorUa. A oablegram has been received by the Defence Department that Lieutenant lan B. Cruickshank, of the Wellington Mounted Rifles, who waß wounded on November 17, has been discharged convalescent from the Alexandria Hospital. Dr. Gordon, formerly of Christchurch, who has been for seven years in London and Glasgow, arrived by the Manuka last night. He intends to practise in Masterton. A Press Association message from Sydney states that Mr._ Harper, the Chief Railway Commissioner, who recently returned to New South Wales after a health trip to New Zealand, has been granted further extended leave on account of ill-health., , Mr, W. Clarkson returned by the Manuka from Sydney yesterday. ' Mr. Paul Eastham, of Wellington, who has been in New South Wales and Queensland on a seven weeks' visit, returned' to Wellington yesterday. Mr. Alexander C. Fife, formerly aocountant for the New Zealand .Bailways, died at his' residence, Hill Street, on Sunday afternoon, at the. age of 76. The late Mr. Fife received his training in railway business in the service of the Scottish, North Eastern Railway Company, in which he attained the position of assistant-manager. On the amalgamation of tlio company named with the Caledonian Railway Company, he came to Now Zealand, and in 1868. his ex-' perience in Scotland secured him the appointment of cashier and paymaster to the Canterbury Railways, under the Provincial Government, and five years later he was promoted to the post of accountant. when t'he railways of the North and South Islands were brought under one management! in 1880. Mr. Fife, with his staff, was _ transferred from Christchurch to Wellington, ana lie was then placed in chatfio of the railway accouuts of the whole colony, which position he retained until he retired on superannuation in January, 1904. Mr. Fife issurived by his wife and four sons —Messrs. Maitland (now in Queensland), Douglas; Keith, and Walter Fife, and two daughters—Miss Fifo and Mrs. R. Waters. Mr. H. Salmon, from Brisbane, who is well known in insurance oircles in Now Zealand, and especially in Dunedin, arrived by the' Manuka on a holiday visit to New Zealand. He goes south to Dunedin to-night.