PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 144, 13 March 1919, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister of Railways, is expected ,to return to Wellington to-day after a visit to northern districts.

The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, who is making a tour of North Island country districts, is not expected to return to Wellington until Thursday of next week.

A Press Association message from Nelson states that the Hon. T. M. Wilford will leave that city for Wellington this morning,

Sir Walter Buchanan, M.L.C., who is about to visit England, was (saysour'Masterton correspondent) given a send-off by members of the Masterton Club on Wednesday evening.

It is now officially announced that Mr. J. H. Howell, director of the Christchurch 'Technical College, has been appointed director of the Wellington Technical School, in succession to Mr. W. S. La Trobe. Mr. Howell is to take up his now duties not later than Juno 1.

A Press Association message "from Christchurch reports the death of Archdeacon R. B. Comins, formerly of the Melonesian Mission;'aged 41. The deceased cleric was ordained in England in 1874, and was curate at Grantham until 1876, in which year he began a long career of missionary work in tho Solomon Islands, which did not terminate until 1910, when he resigned his position as Arohdeacon of North Melanesia' and camo to Jiew Zealand, where he had been engaged in secretarial work in connection with a mission.

Mr. H. Abraham, clerk of the Borough of Onslow, last evening received the kindliest words of praise from the council, which is dissolving upon its amalgamation with Wellington. The Mnyor, Mr. Dale, described Mr. Abraham as the most modest of men and tho finest of workers. He handed to Mr. Abraham a gold chain and a silver _ entree dish iw mementoes of his association with tho council. Tho recipient expressed the sincerest appreciation of the gifts, and of the,encomiums bestowed upon his work. Mr. J. Hill, road foreman to tlie borough, was also the recipient of a presentation. His tool; tho form of a safety razor. Tho council, said Mr. Dale, had wished to give Mr. Ilill a token of admiration for tho whole-hearted way in which lie had worked for the borough. Mr. Hill suitably responded.

Feeling reference was made at tho meeting of the Brooklyn Association Football Club last night to the death of tho founder of tho club, Mr. T. Thompson, who had done such great service in the interests of the club and Association football generally. A motion of sympathy with Mrs. Thompson was carried.

Mr. R. B. Grange left Wellington on Tuesday on an extended trip to Australia.

For health reasons the Rev, H. van Staveren and Hiss van Staveren havo gone io Napier for a few weeks.

Probably the oldest competitor at the Now Zealand Bisley meeting at 'l'renthum is Riileman George Howe, of the Wellington Old Navals' Club, who made his debut at a championship meeting at Brightwater, Nelson, in 187!). Eiflemau Howe is a well-known figure at rifle meetings, and he has attended the championship gatherings ever since their inception.

Advice was received yesterday of tho death at Auckland of the Rev. Charles Moseley Nelson, M.A., vicar of St. Paul's Church. Canon of Auckland and Bishop's senior examining chaplain. Tho late Mr. Nelson was born in Southwark, England, in 1813. In 1870 he was appointed by Bishop Selwyn to the cure of St. Paul's Church, Auckland. Canon Nelson devoted a great portion of his timo to furthering the interests of higher education, and was for many years a member of the Board of Governors of the Auckland Grammar School, and also of St. John's School. The Rev. Mr. Nelson was secretary of the General Synod during tho sessions of 1874, 1880, 1886, and 1892. Ha was one of tli evice-presidents of the Auckland Benevolent Society, and chairman of the Orphan Home Trust Board. He was a Freemason of very high rank, a good musician, and a classical scholar of great ability. Ho was married in 1875 to the daughter of the late Mr. James Coatea, private secretary to the first Governor of New Zealand. Canon Nelson was a brother-in-law of Mr. J. 11. B. Coates, general manager of tho National Bank of New Zealand.