PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 230, 27 March 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. L. Little is back at New Plymouth from a trip to Tasmania. Mr. E. J. Carthew leaves on Thursday morning for Australia. He will be away for several months. The Otaki correspondent of the New Zealand Times announces the engagement of the Rev. R. B. Blackmore to Miss Wirth, daughter of Mr. Wirth, of circus fame, Mr. James Bryce, British Ambassador, is sailing for New Zealand shortly. For several years he has been writing a book upon democracy, and is anxious to study New Zealand first-hand. Mr. Wellans, acting-general manager of of the New Zealand Oilfields, Ltd., duning the absence of Mr. Henderson in England, who has been visiting this district, left this week for Gisborne. ■ Mr. Eric Morey leaves to-day oh a trip to England and the Continent via Sydney. Mr. Bert Rennel will also be a passenger by the mail train to Wellington, en route to England via Australia, Commissioner Cullen has been deluged with telegrams and letters of congratulation on his promotion to the Police Commissionership. These have been received from persons of all shades of political thought, and from those connected with almost every business and profession throughout the Dominion. Leave of absence to the following teachers was granted by the Education Board last night:—Miss Ivy Andrews, assistant at Warea; Mr. Morgan, assistant at Stratford; Mr. Dyson, assistant at Stratford. The resignation of Miss J. M. Butler, assistant at Stratford, was ac : cepted, she having received an appointment at Blenheim. At Pahiatua on Saturday afternoon last, Mr. W. H. Hawkins, who is leaving to take up his residence at New Plymouth, was farewelled by the local bowl: era, and on the previous evening he and Mrs. Hawkins were the guests of the Presbyterian Church at a social and were the recipients of presentations. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins had been residents of the district for a considerable number of years, and took a prominent part in its affairs, being its representative in Parliament for a term. At Yesterday's meeting ot the Education Board the chairman reported that the following appointments and temporary appointments had been made:—Miss N. Ford, assistant Central; Miss E. Andrews, assistant, Fitzroy; Miss A. Seccombe, temporary assistant Tikorangi; Miss M. Golding, temporary assistant GpunaJke; Miss M. O'Rorke, temporary assistant at Warea, while Miss Andrews is absent on sick leave; Mr. Bulliane, headmaster at Waihi; Miss J. Cameri% sole teacher Denbigh; Mr. Blair, temporary sole teacher Ackland; Miss Huse. temporary sole teacher Piko; Miss Mouat, temporary sole teacher at Uruti. It is a coincidence that three of our public men, who over forty years ago were chums, have once again been brought together by the whirligig of time. These are the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, the Prime Minister-elect, his brother James, and Mr. J. Strauchon, Under-Secretary of the Lands Department. They were not all at school together, but were intimate as boys. Mr. Thomas Mackenzie started out as a surveyor, but later on drifted into politics, and has now reached the highest position attainable in New Zealand. His brother, Mr. James Mackenzie, was until recently Commissioner of Crown Lands, and has been promoted to be Surveyor-Gen-eral. Should the new Prime Minister take over the portfolio of Lands his two chief officers will be his brother and the chum of his youth.—Wellington Times.