PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 196, 28 November 1910, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The death of Dr. J. M'Gregor, of St. Cuthborl's, Edinburgh, is reported by cable. -•* Mr. Peter Bowling is a passenger for New Zealand by the Warrimoo, wliieli. left Sydney yesterday afternoon. Mr. Percy Wel»ster has been appointed secretary to the Mills' Reward Gold Mining Company. There were nine applicants for the position.

Mr. A. L. Cooke, of New Plymouth,, will be leader of the orchestra ut the production of the oratorio "Elijah," at Feilding on December 7. A Dunedin message reports that. G. C. Baker, secretary of the School Committees' Association, dropped dead on. Saturday morning. He was just in the act of putting a contribution into a Hospital Saturday collector's box. Colonel J. 11. Banks, formerly officer commanding Auckland district, who commanded the Sixth New Zealand Contingent in South Africa, and who has been living in retirement at Portsmouth, for some years, is contemplating aiir other visit to New Zealand.

Mr. J. D. Hughes, of Manaia, has been requested to oppose Mr. Pearce, M.P., at the next election for the Patea seat. He has not yet finally decided, but there is every probability (says the Witness) that he will consent to stand. Mr. Pat O'Dea has already decided to stand in the Government interest. It is reported that W. Percy, formerly with tllie Piollard Co. and for soiue years past in the employ of. Mr. J. C. Williamson, has secured a big London, engagement that will run close on to. a century a week. In addition to this, it is understood that Pathe Freres, ot Paris, have secured his services for pantomime work for at least a year.

Constable L. D. M'lvor has received notice of transfer from New Plymouth. to Blackball, where he will have charge of the police station. Constable M'lvor well deserves his promotion, but his departure from New Plymouth will be re-, gretted, not only on account of the respect earned in his official capacity, but ou account of his athletic prowess ana the support give to local athletics. Constable Egan, ; of Blackball, is to succeed Constable M'lvor at New Plymouth. Mr. J. Youlin Birch who, some six months ago, resigned his position ai chief reporter and dramatic critic on the New Zealand Herald to take up theduties of press representative for Mr.. George Willoughby, is to shortly rejoin the Herald in his old capacity. Mr.. Birch arrived in Auckland from Sydney last Monday and was offered his former position on the Herald the same day.. Mr. A. E. Hall, who left the Dominion to take the position, is. the Herald's present chief of staff.

Mr. Hugo Gorlitz, Dr.. Charles Harrisa' representative, reports that, the following soloists have been, engaged to tour the world with the Sheffield choir, and will appear at the British Empire and Coronation festivals:—Soprano, Lady Norah Noel (Lord Gaansborough'ft daughter) and Miss Jennie; contralto, Miss Gertrude Lonsdale (forper puph of Mr. Spencer Lorraine) j* Tenors, Messrs. Henry Turnpenny and Wilfred Virgo; baritone, Mr. Robert Charlesworth; Bass, Mr. Robert Chignell.— Press message. A London correspondent writes:—"A romance, wliach is said to have originated over Latin primers and other equally prosaic subjects, has- just been revealed at Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, by the announcement of the engagement of the vicar of the parish, Canon Ivens, to Miss Annie Tate, a school teacher, whom he had coached for a post at the church day schools. The canon, whose age is fifty-six, is rural dean of. Halifax, and has been vicar of Sowerby Brigde for twenty-two years. At present he is on a mission tour in New Zealand. Miss Tate, who is about twentyone, is the daughter of an engineer in the electric supply station of the Halifax corporation." The death occurred last month in England of Colonel John Bower, J.P., ot Droxford, Hants, at the age of 101. The deceased gentleman was born at Kincaldrum on July 15th, 1809, and was the oldest British officer when he celebrated his one hundredth birthday last year. He received' congratulations from all parts of the world. Originally Colonel Bower was intended for the Bar, but he chose a military career, obtaining a cadetship in the Indian army. He served for six years with his regiment, the 20th Madras Native Infantry, and was than appointed to the staff. He retired on a pension in 1859. Colonel Bower was a keen huntsman, and rode to hounds until a year or two ago. The death took place at Auckland on Tuesday, after a brief illness, of M. Auguste A. Lelievre, Deputy-Consul iu Auckland for France. Mr. Lelievre wan suddenly taken ill a few weeks ago, and although he improved for a time he subsequently grew worse, death occurring on Tuesday. The deceased was born in Normandy, France, in 1805. He went to London in 1881, hut returned to Franco seven years later, and joined the artillery. Next year saw him again in London, and in 1891 he came to New Zealand. For three years he was attached to the French Consulate in Wellington He then went to Hastings, and in 1893 he removed to Auckland, where he had since been attached to the French Consulate. M. Lelievre was (says the Herald) secretary to the Auckland Ches* Club for a number of years, and at the New Zealand Chess Congress he tied with Mr W. Maekay, the cheSs champion for that year.