PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 70, 17 December 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Vice-Regal. Their Excellencies' the Governor-Gen-eral and the Countess of Liverpool will spend Christmas in Wellington. Early in the New Year they will go into residence at Christchurch for some weeks, "Elmwood," Papanui, the residence of Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes, who is at present in England, hnving been again placed at their disposal.

The Hon. D. H. Guthrie returned yesterday from a visit to the Manawatu district.

The Hon. G. W. Russell has gone to Christchurch for a few days.

His Grace Coadjutor Archbishop O'Sliea has received a cable message from His Holiness the Pope .congratulating: him on the attainment of twenty-five years in the priesthood, nnd bestowing on , him the Apostolic. Benediction. Archbishop O'Shea has also received many cOHgratulatoi'y telegrams from New Zealand and Australia. Colonel J. J. Esson, C.M.G., has been appointed Acting Assistant Public Service Commissioner in terms of the Appropriation Act, 1918, and will take up his new duties on January 1. Colonel Esson, who is at present Assistant Secretary and Accountant to tlio Treasury, was for some time on active service. A Press Association message from Sydney records the death of the Rev. Thomas Boseby, formerly congregational minister at Dunedin. Mr. E.' V. Bevan, assistant manager of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Co., Ltd., at Wellington, returned to duty yesterday after a lengthy absence owing to a sevnre attack of influenza. The late John Joseph Dwyer, whose death occurred at Christchurch recently, was the son of Inspector Dwyer, of tlio Christchurch Police Force. The deceased was a member of the staff of the Justice Department, and some little time ago actod as relieving clerk at the Wellington Magistrate's Court. The death of Mr. L. J. Steele, the wellknown artist, who had been a resident of Auckland for about a quarter of a century, occurred on Thursday last. Mr. Steele, who was in his /6th year, was born at Eeigate, Surrey, his father 'being Dir. John Sesson Slcele. Mr. Steele, who was educated at the Eeigate Grammar School, studied painting at the Royal Academy and at the Beaux Arts in Paris. In ISG7' lie entered the Royal Academy in Florence, and after his- return to England he attained considerable prominence as an exponent in Ihe art of etching, his etching of Napoleon on the Bellevophon receiving considerable commendation from critics. On arriving in Auckland he look a foremost position in his profession, many notable pictures being painted by him. One of these, "The Story of a, Saddle," was sent to France, and another, "The Death of Captain Starlight." wont to Australia. Mr. Steele collaborated with Mr. C. F. Goldie in tho pninling of tho well-known picture, "The Coming of Ihe Maori." which is now in the Auckland Art Gallery. This metuire wn« exhibited at the St. Louis Exposition in America a few years ago. Mr. Steele was also successful as a portrait painter, among the purtraita from his brush lieinc several of the late Sir John .ljognn Campbell. Mr. Steele was unmarried.

Mr. Cr. M'Namara, supervisor of staff to the Post and Telegraph Department., is now convalescent, and will resume his duties this woek.

Tho chairman of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday welcomed Mr. Castle to a aonv upon tho counoil, it being tho first occasion on which Mr. Castle had sat at the table,

Sergeant A. L. Ramsay Davidson, who left for the front with the Eighth Canadian Reinforcements, has been awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous conduct at Aniions. He was employed in tho "-arehouse of Messrs. Bing, Harris and Co., Dunedin, beforo lie left for America ten years ago. Our Featherston correspondent states that at tho close of tho 'Sunday evening service conducted by Major R. H. Calherwood, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, Captain Elliott (Y.M.C.A.) stepped forward, and announced that in appreciation of the splendid work carried uut by the ladies of the congregation ,or the past three years in the way of entertaining hundreds of soldiern' every Sunday evening, and of the hospitality experienced at the manse, presentations wcro to be mode to Mrs. Catherwood and Miss Catherwood. Sergeant-Major Bell was called upon, and after a eulogistic speech handed a gold wristlet watch to the first-mentioned lady, and an artistically-designed pearl spray brooch to her sister-in-law, as a mark of esteem from all ranks of the expeditionary and home service branches. Cur.poral Friiser, in a highly-eompliment-a.ry speech, paid tribute to tho work of Major Catherwood during tho period of the war, and said that during the epidemic he had specially distinguished himself by the assistance rendered soldiers and their dependants. Although widely separated from their friend in matters of religion, he had 110 hesitation in saying that no man in New Zealand deserved the esteem of his fellow-men more than Major Catherwood. Tho presentation of a silver tea and coffee service followed. Major Catherwuod, on behalf of the congregation and tho recipients, replied in a feeling speech, and incidentally paid a high tribute to the work of the Rev. Father Lewis, who\ had fallen a victim to the epidemic after'a strenuous and noble fight in the interests of tho sufferers.

At its meeting last evening the Petone Borough Council passed a resolution,of sympathy to the relatives of the late Mr. 11. Mothes, who was an old resident of Petone, and was one of tho borough's earliest Mayors.

As was announced in yesterday's Dominion, Captain Walter Manning, one of the besWraown masters 111 the Union Steam Ship, Company's service, has retired under tho age-limit provision of the company. Captain Manning saw 36 years' service as master mariner, and during 2.'l years of that time he has been engaged in tho Wellington-Lyttelton fern' sen-ice. Ho was extremely popular with tho travelling public. Originally lie joined tho Wanganui Steamship Company. When he became associated with the Red Funnel Line he was given charge 'of the Wailii, a small boat then in the Wellington-Blenheim trade. Later, Captain Manning transferred to the Kanieri, a bigger boat, which replaced the Wnihi. Subsequently lie was master of the Rosamond, Penguin (afterwards wrecked in Cook Strait), and Rotorua (now in Far Eastern waters). Twenty-three years ago lie was appointed master of what was then the pride of the Union Company's fleet—the Rotomahana. Latterly, and for some years past, Cantain Mannin? has had charge of the turbine steamer Maori, and won for himself the reputation of being a very careful officer. Press Associntion messages state that Captain Mannin? is enjoying a holiday until the end of the year. At Dunedin yesterday tho directors_ of the Union Company presented him with a marble clock.