PERSONAL MATTERS

Mr. L. B. Beale, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner, accompanied by Mrs. Beale, will leave by the Limited tonight on an official visit to Auckland.

The Hon Sir James Carroll, M.L.C., who was taken seriously ill on Monday, has regained consciousness, and his condition is stated to have improved considbTably.

Mr. R. Moffat, who has been manager of the National Bank of Te Aro, AVellington, for several years past, has received notice of his transfer to the general manager's office, AVellington, to take up inspection duties. Mr. a. T. Kebbell, late manager of the Syinonds street branch, Auckland, will succeed Mr. Moffat at Te Aro.

Tho recent death of Mr. C. E. Finch was referred to at last evening's meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union, and a resolution of sympathy with his widow was passed, members standing in silence. Mr. J. Prendevillo said that Mr. Finch had always been a very loyal supporter of Rugby, and was a man keen to do what he could for the game.

Tho Rev. Amos Reader, superintendent minister of the Northern -AVairoa Methodist Circuit, died at Dargaville on Sunday. Mr. Reader had been in tho ministry for about twenty-five years and was well-known in Auckland as minister of the Kingsland Methodist Church until recently, when he was removed to Dargaville as superintendent of the Northern AVairoa Circuit. His theological education was gaino-l at the Prince Albert College, Auckland.

Tho Rev. William Barnett died at Tauranga on Sunday, aged 82 years. He was born in Monmouthshire, AValos, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1863, in the ship Captain Cook. For a time he resided at Lyttelton. In the following year he moved, with his family, to Le Bons Bay, and later was appointed to the charge of tho Congregational Church at Akaroa. In 1891 he accepted the charge of the Baptist Church at Sydenham, Christchurch. Mr. Barnett took a great interest in farming, and when he retired from the ministry took up land in Wairarapa. In 1905 he came to Tauranga, in which town he was responsibli for the erection of tho Baptist Church. He always associated himself with movements calculated to advance the interests of the district. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. R. Bidwell, of Tauranga.

The death occurred last evening of Mr. C. P. Hulbert at his residence, 9, Prince street, in his 85th year. The late Mr. Hulbert was born in Bristol, England, and arrived in Now Zealand from Australia in 1860. He took part in the gold rush at Gabriel's Gully, Dunstan, Otago, in 1863. He served in the Maori War, and was an officer and life member of E Battery, New Zealand Artillery. For over thirty years he was in business in Christchurch, was soveral years a me. er of the Christchurch City Council, and was twice elected Mayor. Amongst other public activities, he was a member or the Domain and Hospital Board, and Licensing Bench. A prominent Freemason, he was W.M., St. Augustino Lodge, in 1882, P.G., senior warden, of tho Grand Lodge of England, and past provincial grand warden of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. The late Mr. Hulbert was a promoter of the Jubilee Memorial Home for Indigent Poor in Christchurch. After leaving Christchurch he was for some years employed as examiner of military clothiug during the South African War and tho Great War. He had five sons serving during the Great War—the youngest, Captain L. "V. Hulbert, being killed in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The deceased leaves a widow and eight in the family—Mrs. S. C. Thompson, "of Christchurch; Mrs. C. H. Crawford, of Auckland; Mrs. G. A. Hathaway, of Opotiki; Miss Hulbert, of Wellington; Mr. W. C. and C. B. Hulbert, both of Sydney; Mr. W. Hulbert, marine engineer abroad; and Mr. E. J. Hulbert, of the Government Treasury, Wellington. The interment will take place at Christchurch on Friday.