PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 82, 2 December 1912, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr. E. M. McCarter, solicitor, cf Hawera, was in town yesterday. The Premier (Mr. Massey) left for Auckland for Wellington by the midday train.—Press Association.

Mr. R. S. Macalister, solicitor, cf tho Public Trust Office, Wellington, who has been spending a few days in Stratford with his brotnor, Mr. Macallister, of Spence and Stanford’s office, returned to Wellington by the mad train-this morning. .

Mr. A. D. Thomson, S.M., who has been appointed one tlie three Public Service Commissioners for New Zealand, said farewell to the members of the Bar at Levin on Thursday. Mr. W. S. Park, as the oldest practising solicitor in Levin, said he must thank bis Worship for his kindly references, and express the Bar’s regret that they were about to lose Mr. Thomson.

Czar Ferdinand of Bulgaria, who is chief of the allied Balkan States in the present war, is supposed to be the best dressed Sovereign in Europe, and to possess a larger wardrobe than any of his brother monarchs. The “Little Czar,” as he is called by comparison with his neighbour, the “Big Czar (over whom, by tho way, ho has tiio advantage of many inches in height), was a personal friend of King ltdward, for whom he had the greatest admiration.

Tho Eight Reverend Lawrence Frederick Devaines Blair, Bishop of the Falkland Islands, who recently announced that he would resign unless an adequate response was made to his call for financial assistance, has the distinction of presiding over the largest diocese in the world. It embraces the major portion of the continent of South America, though his work lies principally on the west coast, tils commission gives him jurisdiction over all the English Episcopal clergy and congregations throughout Chili, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, together with the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Tierra del Fucgo, and Southern Patagonia. Mr. Charles Stephen Reeves, a member of the Representation Commission, who died at Dunedin on 1' nday, aged 76 years, was born in County'Wexford, Ireland, and educated at Tarvin Hall, Cheshire, England. Mr. Reeves came out to Australia in loot, and nine years later settled in Dunedin. Entering public life, he became a member of the Otago Provincial Council for the city of Dunedin. He was chairman of the Otago Harbour Board in 1876, and Mayor of the citv in the same year. Mr. Reeves joined the artillery 'volunteers in 1863. and was captain of the North Dunedin Rifles from 1876 to 1885. In tho latter year he was appointed Major Commanding tho First Otago Battalion, being raised to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1889. He was a member of the Land Commission in 1879-89,, and was appointed to the Representation Commission in 190-1.

Miss Gladys Stoneharn, of Dunedin, who on Saturday won the champion pianoforte contest at Wellington, the prize for which is a grand piano, is only eighteen years of age. She won (says the ‘Star’) the Plunket Medal when fonyteen, and is the holder of a Trinity College senior exhibition, and topped the junior grade in the same college prior to the senior examinations, besides which she has performed with marked success at the Dunedin competitions. Miss Stoneharn is a daughter of Mr. Arthur Stoneharn, of Musselburgh. We congratulate her upon her.success. It is part of a brilliant career. Dunedin has reason to be ,proud of its pianoforte students. Last summer Miss Lizzie McLaren went to Auckland and beat all comers ; then Miss Vera attained'to like success in Christchurchand now Miss Stoneharn further justifies the Dunedin tuition at Wellington. Mrs. Massey, wife of the Prime Minister, was entertained by two hundred and fifty members of the Women’s Political Reform League, at Auckland, on Friday, and presented with a handsome diamond necklace and pendant as a token of the esteem in which she is held by the ladies of the league. The vice-president pointed out that although the recipient herself was content to remain at home whilst her husband gathered public honours, all recognised that in Mrs. Massey the Premier had a wife and helpmeet whose influence and good counsel at home could be depended upon to smooth away many of the difficulties and worries which are the lot of a public man. A man owed a great deal of his success in life to his wife, and in Mrs. Massey the Prime Minister had one whose wifely qualities could be counted upon to clear away many a frown gathered in the stress and strain of office. (Loud applause) .—Press Association.