PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1919, Page 4

PERSONAL.

It is announced by cable from Washington that President Wilson's health continues steadily to improve.

A London cable states that Sir Chaß, G. Wade, New South Wales AgentGeneral, has been appointed King's Counsel.

A Washington cable notifies that Secretary Wilson lias been elected permanent President of the International Labor Conference.

A Washington cable states that the King and Queen of Belgium have left for Belgium. Trior' to their departure, King Albert and Queen Elizabeth visited President Wilson, who was in bed. Mr W. G. Foster, managing director of the Wellington Meat Export Company, is retiring' after over twenty years' association with the company. At Saturday's meeting of the Moa Road Board, Mr. F. a member of the Board, wrote resigning his seat owing to severing his connection with the district. The resignation waa accepted with regret. Mr. Bridge, who ror some years has. been in charge of the Bank of New Zealand branch at Kaponga-, has been appointed to the managership of the Kawakawa branch, Bay of Islands, and leaves immediately for the north.

On Friday afternoon Mr. 0. J. Howarth, who has been appointed an organising teacher unajcr the Taranaki Education Board, was farewelled by the teachers and pupils of the Central School. General regret was expressed tliat circumstances necessitated Mr. flowarth's severance from the school, where for the past fifteen months he has been third assistant, but congratulations that his conscientious and capable services had been rewarded were extended to him. At a complimentary afternoon tea given by the teachers, the headmaster cordially thanked Mr. Howarth for his painstaking interests in the welfare of the school and his ever-ready willingness to take his full share of the work; he exceedingly regretted that he was leaving, but hoped that Mr Howarth would be happy in hist new sphere, and that it would lead to still further promotion. Mr. Mcllroy, in voicing the opinion of the staff, said that it had been a pleasure to have Mr. Howarth in the school and, in leaving, he was taking with him the .good opinions of all. Mr. Howarth replied in terms that showed his appreciation. Framed photographs of Standard, V., of the football team, and of the life-saving team are to be completed and presented to Mr. Howarth.

Under the heading, "Impressions of a Great Singer," the Echo gives high praise to Miss Eosina Buckman, the New Zealand singer, who has made a name and place for herself in London as a leading artiste. Miss Buckman had been asked to sing at one of Mr Vicker'a concerts, but was unable to do so, as she had heen asked to take .Melba's place in "La Boheme" at Covent Garden. "This signal honor," says the writer, "a recognition, as it was, of the ability of native operatic singers by a management which had relied almost exclusively on foreign artists, was a welcome result of the war, and of Sir Thomas Beecham's wonderfully successful seasons, for as his prima donna Miss Buckman had long made a name for herself, She subsequently appeared in several other royal opera productions, and with great success. It was not surprising, therefore, that when she appeared in Liverpool the Picton Hall should prove much too small, despite the sultriness of the weather, to hold all those who wished to hear her." The writer eulogised Miss Bttckman's voice and manner of production with extreme appreciation, and mentioned in particular the perfection of her rendering of "Perhaps in One Fine Day" from "Madame Butterfly." With Mr. Maurice d'Oisley she sang some ducts, and it is stated that in these and in her solos the audience was insistent in its demands for encore after encore.