PERSONAL MATTERS

The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Maseey) left for Auckland last evening, and is not expected to return to Wellington tot some weeks. He is to be entertained at Auckland on 19th November, and will also be present at the opening of the Auckland Post Office. When he returns to Wellington, Mr. Massey will reside at the Ministerial residence in Tinakori-road, formerly occupied by Sir Joseph Ward. During the absence in England of the Minister of Finance (the Hon. James Allen), his portfolios will be distributed amongst his colleagues. Mr. Rhode* will take over .Defence, and Mr. Bell Education. Mr. Fraser, the Minister of Public Works and a keen financial critic in the past, will, it ie understood, be entrusted with the local Finance ad' ministration. The Hon. James Allen (Minister of Finance) left for the South on Saturday. He will be entertained at Milton, aiid is expected to return to Wellington on Sunday next. Mr. F. S. Shell, late superintendent of the Missions to Seamen in Wellington, who is to take up similar work in Newcastle, New South Wales, will probably leave for Sydney by the Warrimoo next Friday. Mrs. Shell, who went Home for the benefit of her health, and is still there, « reported to be making good progress. As already stated, Mr. W. E. Cocks, from Australia, is Mr. Shell's successor in Wellington. Mr. Robert M'Nab, who returned recently from Australia, was in Welling ton to-day, and will leave for Palmerston either this evening or to-morrow. Mr. M'Nab spent three months in historical research work in Australia, and has obtained much valuable material. His latest book, completing the history of the South Island and the Cook Strait area up to the time of the Treaty of Waitangi, is now almost ready for the press. This book, the fourth of the series deals with the period between 1830 and 1840, known as the shore whaling period. Its publication has been delayed by the I unfortunate fire which destroyed Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs' premises, fortunately Mr. M'JSfab obtained proofs of the letterpress before leaving for Australia, so thftt the type only, not the result of three years' work, was destroyed. The resignation of the Rev. J. Pattiflon, the Presbyterian Evangelist, is referred to as follows in the report of the Presbyterian Assembly's Committee on Church Life and Work, to be read before the Assembly this week : —"Mr. Pattison's winning and gracious personality has commended Him to all the brethren, and in doing the work of an evangelist he has rendered lasting service to the Good Cause. Your committee deeply regret* that for family reasons Mr. Pattison desires to be released frqm his position as from the end of this year, in order that ho may again enter the regular ranks of the ministry. After careful consideration of the whole situation, we are unable to recommend the Assembly to appoint a successor to Mr. Pattison. We thank God for his zeal, wkdom, and consecration which have characterised his term of special service to the Church." The death of Mr. Alfred Richard Barclay 8.A., LL.B., barrister and solicitor, a former member of the House of Representatives, is announced by Press Association telegram from Dunedin. The deceased gentleman had been m bad health for a considerable time, and his death was not unexpected. He was born in Ireland in 1868, and arrived in New Zealand when quite a lad. After attending the Timaru Public School he went to Christ's College, completing his education at Otago University, where W gained his B.A. degree in 1878, being the third in New Zealand to achieve that distinction. Six years later he took his Lli.B. degree, and was admitted a barrister and solicitor in 1886. For some time he was clerk of the New Zealand University Convocation, and lecturer on constitutional history and law at the University of Otago. He took a prominent part in educational matters in Dunedin, -was vice-president of the Fabian Society in that city, and an officer of the Dunedin Chess Club. In 1899 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives for Dunedin City, defeating Mr. Scobie 1 Mackenzie, but was unsuccessful at the General Election in 1902. Later on he was returned for the Dunedin North seat. 'Mr. Barclay's political career wa« remarkable for his uncompromising denunciation of the South African war. He was married in 1887 to a daughter of Mr. H. W. Barron, of Danedin.