PERSONAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 20 August 1919, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Mr E, Lanchestor left Otaki this morning for Napier for a short holiday.

Mr Henry Parata is announced as a candidate for the Southern Maori electorate at the general election.

Mr Voiteh, M.P., and Mrs Veitch, of Wanganui, spent lust night, at Otaki—the gnests of Mr and Mrs Sargison.

Mr T. IC. Sidey, member l'or Dunedin South, will not seek re-election. Mr Sidey has been a member of Parliament for nearly IS years.

Mr Malcolm Ross, who has been official war correspondent with the New Zealand Division, is returning to Now Zealand shortly.

The Kev. John Dukes, a Methodist minister with a very lengthy and honourable career, died at l'e Arolni ok Saturday, aged 74 years.

Mr Fred. Pirani is making a rapid recovery from the operation performed on him at Feiiding hospital a fortnight ago, and anticipates business as usual in eight days’ time.

The wedding took place at Wellington on Friday of Miss Agnes Segrief, the well-known vocalist, of Wellington, and Captain R. Grant, M.C., of AA'yndham (Australia).

Tiic Unionists have selected Mr F. M. 15. Fisher, of New Zealand, to be their candidate for the AVklnes' byelection, caused by the elevation of Colon W. Hall Walker to the peerage.

Mr Kipa tc AVhatauui, of Otaki, into lie a candidate for the Western Maori electorate at the next election. It is reported that there will be five candidates for the scut.

Private advice has been received that Private Ivon Hughes, son of Mr and Mrs R. Hughes, of Otaki Railway, is on his way home from tbo front, and is expected to reach New Zealand on the 10th of September.

Mr S. Death, late of the Levin Dairy Company’s staff, who has been appointed manager of the Inangshun Dairy Company’s factory at Cronudnn, A Vest Coast, has left to lake up his mew position.

’ A meeting of supporters of Mr C. AC AVilkiuson, M.P., wa%.hcld at Eltbaiu oa Monday afternoon, when he definitely announced that he would not bg a candidate for re-election at the forthcoming Parliamentary poll. A further meeting is to be called to select a suc-

Sir Andrew Bussell has withdrawn from the candidature of the Hawke’s Bay seat. Mr H. M. Campbell n*nounccs his intention of standing. Mr R. O. Fullbrook, who unsuccessfully stood for Wellington Suburb* at last election, and who now lives in Napier, has decided to contest tho Napier scat.

Mr D. P. Porteous, who is leaving Levin to take up the position of postmaster at Akaroa, was entertained by the Levin Club on Saturday night last, when Mr Kcbbcll presented Mr Porteous with a cheque as a token of the esteem in which be was held by member,-. Mr and Mrs Porteous wero also entertained by the members and friends of the Presbyterian Church on Monday night, when Mr Porteous was presented with a case of silver-mounted pipes on behalf of the choir, and with a travelling rug on behalf of the congregation.

The death took place a few day* ng* of Mr .John Middleton Stevens, a son of the late Mr and Mrs .James Stevens, of Palmerston North. Deceased, who was fifty years of age, was formerly a farmer at Ashburxt and in the Iiok»whitu. During the war he served in the Samoan Toroa, but the climate seriously undermined his health. Deceased leaves seven sister*-—Mr* D’Ath (Palmerston North), Mrs P. Lynch (Kumeroa), Mrs Curtis (Petone), Mrs Stephen Curtis and Mrs Donald Donald (Mastorton), Mr* Gower (Klthain), Mr* Stedman (Melbourne), and one brother—Mr J. Stevens, Melbourne.

We regret to record the death of Private IL G. Higgott, N.Z.F.A, brother-in-law of Mrs Frank Higgott, of Otaki. Deceased, who was very popular, was for some years one of the best trainer* in India, where he was la. ; charge of the horses of one of the leading princes. Wien the war broke out he felt it his duty to enlist, and accordingly joined the forces, and fought with honour for his King and country. Only a fortnight ago he spent a holiday in Otaki, when be was in good health, but on returning to Wellington contracted pneumonia and entered Victoria Hospital, and despite all attention IMS ‘Vj quietly away.

One of the probabilities of the next few month* is that Sir William Fraser will relinquish the portfolio of Miwrtrr for "Public Work-. This was rather broadly hinted at at a recent meeting of the Auckland Automobile Association, when a letter wa- read from the secretary of the New Zealand Automobile "Union stating that he had interviewed Sir William in connection with the Nation Bowl Board* scheme. In response to a request that he weald receive a deputation on the subject, the Minister had replied that it would be very in-rooveaieat for hint to do m just sow. According to the writer. Sir William pointed tni that It was, h«wever, almost- certain that an election 'would isActt place shortly, and. that, in that event, it vas very unlikely that he would continue i» Cigkc-. He had therefore suggested that the matter should be deferred.

Mr Popperill, of Paekakariki, who » has resigned from the Hailway Depart- i ment after eighteen years’ service, re- A, eeived a presentation from his fellow- 8' employees at a surprise party given in 1 his honour on Saturday. Mr E. Martin, who made the presentation, wished Mr and Mrs Pepperill every success and happiness in the future. An enjoyable evening was spent, musical ' items being given by Mrs Sheridan, Misses B. Jenkins, M. Davis, E. Smith, and B. Oliff, and Mr Martin.

The Christchurch “Star” of recent date contained the following par re Lieutenant Osborne, who was recently married at Christchurch to MRss Shepipard, of Otaki: —“Lieutenant-Osborne, of Timaru, who was in charge of the 'band of the Ist Canterbury Regiment, (which left with the Main Body, in 1914, arrived back by the Kigoma recently, and is at present in Chriattehurch. It will be remembered that the instruments for the band wore provided by the people of Christchurch by means of a concert organised by Mrs H. H. Loughnan and given in the Opera House. Lieutenant Osborne all through the war kept Mrs Loughnan acquainted with the doings of the band, but it was from a letter sent to her by Captain Lascelles that information was gleaned of Lieutenant Osborne’s good work. 'Captain Lascelles stated that Lieutenant Osborne was a much favoured bandmaster by the headquarters staff Of the High Army Formation, and he was called on whenever band matters /were being discussed. Lieutenant Osb#rnn had kept the Canterbury Ist (Regiment Band going well, despite •many difficulties eucoifntcrcd in the war teone. At the close of the Divisional band contest, held at St. Legcr early in 1918, Lieutenant Osborne was selected t# conduct the massed band of 300 performers, and subsequently was sent to Kneller Hall to go through the bandmaster’s course. He had acquitted himself well all through his five years’ service. Captain Lascelles mentioned in his letter that he was present at the band contest. The playing ground was within easy shelling distance of the German artillery, and It was a strange experience to hear band music and simultaneously to witness the bursting of shells in the distance.”