PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 93, 8 April 1908, Page 2

PERSONAL.

The Premier is expected to visit Westland after Easter, when lie will perform the ceremony in connection with the Otira tunnel works.—Press wire. Major A. T. Head, of the .Royal Garrison Artillery, latterly commanding Mo. 1-1 Company ul Shoeburyncss, lias been appointed director of ordinance and commandant of the permanent forces in New Zealand, suy.s a Press Association wire from Wellington, lie was selected by the British War Oflice on behalf of the New Zealand Council of Defence, and will arrive in New ZealaTui. shortly to lake np his duties. besides succeeding Major J. K. Hume, the. ollicer commanding tln> permanent forces, Major llend will take over the duties of director of artillery nt present car ried out by Captain Richardson. The Hon. 11. McXab, Minister for Lands, spent a few hours in Christchnrcli yesterday. He arrived by the ilaori from Wellington, ami left by tt.e second express on his way to Central Otago, where he will join' the Premier in a tour of that district. He intends to be in Christehurcli again on Good Friday, and will be present at the Master volunteer manoeuvres in Canterbury, lie will then return to Wellington, and will go up the .Main Trunk line in the North Island. He is accompanied on his trip to Central Otago bv Mr. Lauren son, M.P., who left Christehurcli with him.—Press wire.

Dr. Elizabeth Mucdonald, of Dundee, the first lady graduate of St. Andrews, has arrived in Wellington. Dr. Mucdonald was lately assistant Professor in Midwifery and Gynaecology at St. Andrews, and was also a Carnegie Kcsearcli Scholar. She intends to practice her profession in Wellington. Queen Alexandra is an indefatigabk: letter writer, writing as many as thirty letters in, a day besides sending telegrams, while Miss Knollys often gets. through a hundred letters under Her Majesty's personal supervision. The Queen'* handwriting is slightly German -in character with pronounced' nourishes and dashes instead of the usual punctuations, .j Mr. George. Hutchinson, ex-member for Patea, now practising at Wang.inui, is likely to be the Opposition candidate to oppose the sifting member, Mr. J. T. Hogan, for the Wanganul seat at the next general election. It is understood that Mr. T .Humphries, Surveyor-General, who would have retired from the Civil Service under the Superannuation Ael, will continue to act ,in that position for another twelve jnonths. Writing six weeks ago, M. H. W. Lucy took a grave view of the Prime Minister's illness, and briefly discussed the question of his successor, '-ft i s no secret among his friends that, behind what may be a passing indisposition, there is a more serious constitutional weakness which precludes sustained effort, whether physical or intellectual. Meanwhile Mr. Asquith acts a s deputy leader of the House, a circumstance significant as foreshadowing a future settlement, the Treasury Bench i 9 j ust now eXCT|) . >ona ly rich i,UI,„ matter of candidate i? 1 ",, k ' il ' ler * lhi P of the party. Mil' Haldane is said Ho consider himself not out of the running. Sir Edward Grey, when his turn comes, w ill command uui versa acceptance. Mr. Harcourt and Mr. VVmston Churchill have, it is to be •oped, many years before them in which to qualify for Ihe Premiership. But Mr. Asqmth's services to the party, the positron he has won for himself hv^h ,„ v ability pomt him out as the successor ,e L Tl V ami,bell ' Bi "" im " ii » «"<"> Lif ,1 d T nt oh * (i( >"» the ems of olhce. That the time may be i« distant is the earnest desire , I sections of the ; Liberal party_of, I think •t may be added, the whole House of Commons, where hi, personal popnlaritc ■is been deepened I,y sympathy wi( j l >"« i in his temporary breakdown!''