PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 136, 26 October 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie, High Commissioner, has been appointed a trustee of the sinking fund of the New Zealand loan of 1863.

It was stated in London last montl that Sir Joseph Ward intends paying ai early visit to London—probably arrivinj in December.

A cablegram from Ottawa states that Mr. Foster lias postponed his visit to Australia. He expects to sail at the end of February. The House on Thursday granted four days' leave of absence to' Mr. T. Parata, M.l\ for Southern Maori district, on the ground of illness. Mr. Chas. Ahier. who has been on a visit to Jersey, Channel Islands, left Fngland on his return to New Zealand by the Osterley early this'month, and should arrive in Xew Plymouth towards the latter end of next month. The condition of Mr. (i. V. Tate has improved so as to allow of his removal from Marton (where he was lying seriously ill) to a private hospital in Wanganui, says the Waitara Mail. Mr. Tate is now slowly improving, but it mill be a few days before he is allowed to return home. The Venerable Archdeacon Stocker, who has been vicar of St. John's Church in Invereargill for thirty years and is now retiring, was met yesterday afternoon by a large gathering of citizens and presented with a purse containing 235 sovs. Speeches of n most complimentary nature, regarding the Archdeacon's publicservices to Invereargill, were made by the Mayor (Mr. .Scaudrett), Colonel Henderson (representing the military), J. E. Watson (representing the citizens), and also by representatives of the clergy and various societies with which Archdeacon Stocker was connected. The presentation is said to lie the most substantial yet made in Invereargill, and subscriptions were received without a single personal application by way of canvass being made.—Prt»*s Association. The Hon. ,1. A. Millar. >peaking to a Du:ied ; n Mar ivpo'. •■'•y. said I ha 1 , ills health was greatly improved since his last visit to Duuedin, but in accordance with the advice of Hr.-r Wohlmann and Colquhoun be was abstaining from taking any active pari: in politics. He had been enjoined to continue bis rest for a few months longer. Mr Miliar said that if his health permitted bis taking an active part in next session's work, he would be found in his place in Parliament, but if the progress which be was happy to say be had made did not prove to be p.M'iuaiient lie would place his resignation in the bunds of hk constituents, for he was determined that the electors of Dunedin West should not be disfranchised for a second su>sion. He was <lqterniined not to be a mere figure on the political chess board.