PERSONALIA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 27 January 1913, Page 3

PERSONALIA

VICE-REGAL. Lord and Lady Liverpool and party*, which included Sir William and Lady Russell, attended tho performance at the Opera House on Saturday night. Their Excellencies leave Wellington this evening for Christchurch and Dunedin. They return next Sunday. Dr H. Hardwick Smith, medical superintendent of Wellington Hospital, was a passenger by the Wakanui for London on Saturday, Mr L. Birks, Government hydro-elec-trical engineer, is on a visit of insoeotion to the Lake Coleridge waler-powci works.

The Dunedin "Star” says that the Government has recalled Mr J. Graham Gow, Commercial Agent in Canada, who will return to the Dominion at an early date.

ilr Noils Jensen, a resident of the Dominion for about forty years, most of that time being sptnt in Napier, died in Wairoa- Hospital last week. He had been often employed by various Government departments as Danish interpreter. News has been received at Gisborne of the death at Bombay of Mr Pcrcival Barker, a well-known 6heep farmer, who was returning to Gisborne from England, via Japan and Djdia, after a honeymoon trip. Ethel Winnie Penton, of Kilbirnie, nho is tinder sixteen years of age, in the recnt examinations, succeeded 111 winning a board senior scholarship and passing the Junior Civil Service and matriculation, a feat not often accomplished by a student at that age. The twenty-five years' service- gold stax will be awarded to Firemen C du Moulin and A. J. Miller, of the Itangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade, at tho annual conieronce of the United Fire Brigades' Association, to bo held at Wanganui next month. Mr T. M. Wilford, M-P., will deliver a lecture in Temuka on Thursday evening under the auspices of the Navy League, He will remain in Temuka until Saturday and will be present at the 60cial to be tendered to Mr Buxton on l'ridajr evening.

Sir Hugh Graham, the well-known Canadian newspaper proprietor, will probably succeed Lord Strathcona as High Commissioner for Canada. Canadian interests will shortly be centralised in s building that is being erected at the Westminster end of the Strand, at a cost of X 400,000.

Mr Hugh Wilson, who recently disposed of his interest in the Queen’s' Theatre, Dunedin, arrived from south by tin. Mokoia yesterday, on his way to Brisbane. Ho has accepted the position of general manager of the King’s Pictures, Ltd., Brisbane, and will commence bis new uucios on March Ist.

Coming so quickly after the death of her father, Mr E, L. Smith, the news of the untimely death of Miss Lily Smith created a most painful impression in town (says the ‘Napier Telegraph”). Miss Smith, who was just 20 years of age, went to spend a holiday with friends in Petono some weeks ago, and whilst there took ill. At the time of her father’s death early last week Mias Smith's condition was so critical that _it was thought inadvisable to communicate the sad news. She gradually became worse, and on Thursday evening word was received by Mrs Smith that her daughter was sinking fast. Mrs Smith left by the express on Eriday for Petono, but before the train started she received the sad news of her daughter’s death, the second in the family within four days. Mr Harold Walter Fairfax died at Sydney last week after a short illness from acute tetanus, the source of which could not be traced. He was the fourth son of Sir James Fairfax, senior uropriotor of the “Sydney Morning Herald,” and was forty-two years of age. The late Mr Fairfax was bom in Sydney, and educated at the Sydney Grammar School, Later ho graduated at Balliol College, Oxford. He was called to the Bar, at the Inner Temple, and was afterwards—in 1893—admitted to the Bar at New South Wales. A few years ago ha decided to buy the Kooringa property, near Young, and take up wheat-growing and sheopfarming, the venture proving a very successful one. For many years he filled the position of honorary secretary of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children.

Mr H. Parker, a well-known early settler in South Canterbury (Waitaki), has died at Abbassia, Cairo. Mr Parker was (says the “North Otago Times”) advanced in years, and before he disposed of his Little Doderick property was in frail health. At on© time he owned the Elephant Hill and Mount Parker properties, but like all the largo men at the time suffered reverses, and these properties were disposed of, and for some years he and his wife (who is a sister of Lord Kitchener) had lived at Little Roderick. Last year they left for the Old Country, and at the time of Mr Parker’s death had evidently been living with Lord Kitchener in Egypt. Mr Parker was a candidate for the House of Representatives many years ago, bnt was unsuccessful, although he disclosed a very intimate knowledge of the politics of tha time.

An event of more than ordinary interest took place at the residence of Mr M. Hunt at Eongotea on Friday last, when Mr and Mrs Neal Buchanan celebrated the diamond jubilee of their wedded life. The aged couple, who are looking remarkably well, wore happy in the midst of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who h'ad assembled from far and near to do honour to them on the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding day (says the "Manawatu Standard”). Mr Buchanan was born at Loch Awe, Argyllshire, Scotland, in the year 1830, and he spent the early years of his life there. He joined the Gordon Highlanders at the ago of sixteen, and served with them for some years being in Ireland during the Smith-O’Brian troubles. Shortly after he went to America, but returned to Scotland, where he resided for several years. Then he emigrated to New South Wales, and, on the breaking out of the Maori war in New Zealand Mr Buchanan volunteered, and crossed the water to the scene of action. He received a grant of land at Hamilton East for military services, and settled thereon with his family. Subsequently he proceeded to the Wellington province, whore he took up his present holding in the Rongotea district, Auguste Van Biene, who died at the Brighton Hippodrome at the conclusion of a dramatic sketch in which he played “Home, Sweet Home," on the 'cello, waa one of the most romantic figures of the stage in Britain. He was born in Holland in 1800, and commenced his career as a street player. He was well known in the London streets, and his 'cello playing was heard and appreciated by Sir Michael Costa. It is recorded that while Van Biene was still playing in tho London streets he was heard by the late Sir Augustus Harris, who at once offered tha 'cellist an engagement in the Drury Lane orchestra. Van Biene, it is stated, asked Sir Augustus what the salary would be. and when told, ho replied: ‘T am making five times that sum in the streets.” It was not long before Van Biene went on tbe concert platfoim as a star ’’cellist. Later, he struck out as a manager, taking operatic companies into the proving cial theatres, and in 1883 he took charge of the Gaiety Theatre during the regular Gaiety Company’s absence in Australia In I&S2 “The Broken Melody” was written for him, and he toured the world with it. It has been estimated that ha played the leading part in the play over GOOO times. Van Biene never forgot his early days, and what he owed to the London thoroughfares. Every year one day was set aside by him as a commemoration. On that day he always played in the streets as he had done as a "young man, and all the proceeds of_the day were devoted to charity. Vellington theatregoers recollect the interesting performance that Van Biene gave of “A Broken Melody" at the Opera House some years ago.