LADIES, GENTLEMEN AND OTHERS

Dr. C. J. Russell was present at a meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board m Ohristchurcli last week, and moved a resolution relating to additions to a school.. ' * • • ■. - *, D'Arcy Perry, the tall. Hamlet-built Fuller brother-in-law, who has been managing Wellington's Theatre Royal for the past IS months, has been transferred to Auckland, where he assumes the- responsibilities of the Opera House. Courteous and attentive to patrons, he became a popular young man at. the windy city's only house of vaudeville. * a * • The members of the Asche.-Brayton Company at present appearing m "Kismet," for the most part represent the intellectual" or scholarly side of the stage. The majority of them have had lengthy and thorough Shakespearian training under Mz F. R. Benson, or have graduated from other famous training schools • for the intellectual stage. Two are the sons of clerymen, three of^ schoolmasters, and three have their University degrees; '. . * * ■ * One electorate m New Zealand anxiously awaiting " its opportunity - to rectify the error of last December is Masterton, which discarded A. W. Hogg, for a person named Sykes who scarcely opens his mouth m Parlia- ] ment. An indication of what Masterton intends doing was given last week, when Masterton ratepayers elected A. W. Hogg, the Labor candidate to the vacancy on the Masterton Trust Lands Trust. A. W. .Hogg's majority was a solid one. ■ .' *.'.'■ * - . * . ■ i Bob . Skipage, now manager of the | New, .Zealand Shipping Company at the Bluff, put m t\\e last few days of his stay m Napier attending presentations; the Working Men's Club, Musical and Chess Societies, and the Shipping: arid Merchants of the Port, together, with a feryr minor presentations from the New Zealand Shipping Company's various departments, taking up most of the spare time of the rather quiet •^mannered gentleman, who left more friends m Napier than he knows what to do w,ith. - * ■ . .* * Edward Benge, of Ebtientown, Upper Hutt, having notched 64 of life's milestones, handed m his checks on September 17. Coming of a Kentish family of pioneer settlers, he had long been engaged m sawniiUing 'and farming at Mangwroa. More re- ' cently, he had .retired into private ■ life; Latterly he had suffered acutejly from an internal malady. Ho has Heft behind a widow, two; sons, and a: daughter by a for'mor wiio, two sons and four daughters by bis widow, and eighteen grandchildren. .'*-■ ".'(*'■ », Sir Frederick William Richards, G.C.8., whose death was anonunced m ; Tuesday's cables, seems to have been' lone of those Individuals who have for-' \ gotten to die. His demise certainly i removes one of the. links with the past/ for the veteran Admlral-of-the-Fleot was m the 80th year of his age. Born m 1833, he served m the Zulu War m 1879, the Boer. War of 1881, when he was created a X.C.8., attained flag rank m 1882 V and served m the Burmese War m 1885, besides commanding on tho Cape; China and' East Indian stations, being' awarded the G.C.B. m 1895.- He was ' formerly , Senior Naval Lord of the. Admiralty, and acted as Naval A.D.C. to her late! Majesty Queen Victoria. * ..* * -Mr Herbert Grimwood, who plays the Wazir Mazur m "Kismet," began his i career with Mr,F. R, Benson, and subsequently appeared with Miss Olga ' Nethersole and William Havlland. The clang of arms called him to South j 'Africa, where he took part as a member of the Imperial. Yeomanry m the Boer War, and was m the unfortunate lath Battalion under Colonel Spragge. j Qn his 1 returp to England, he was eni gaged by Miss Fortescue to support ' her m a repertoire of modern arid old ! comedies; Early m 1903 he left for the ■ Continent, and travelled for 18 months j through Italy, returning m the autumn | of 1904 to join the company of Mr Oscar Asche and. Miss Lily Brayton when they started m management at the Adelphi, London. * • • The ranks of ex- parliamentarians 'have been further depleted -by the ! death of Robert Morrow Houston, i who, from 1891 till 1908, represented j Bay of Islands constituency m the House of Representatives, and, for 15 years, was Chairman of tho Native Affairs Committee, receiving a vote of thanks from the House on his retirement on account of ill-health m 1906. He was born m County Down, Ireland, ■ \n 1842, and arrived at Lyttelton m the s. Canterbury on January 10, 1564, and, six months later, went to Auckland. He acted as a school-teacher at Whangarel and Otara, and subsequently ran a store at Mangonui, and was chairman of the Mangonui Town Board and Orualti District Board, and, for 24 years, was chairman of the Mangonui County Council. In 1870, ho married Tina, sister of James Stewart, C.E., of Auckland. On Friday last, having attained the allotted span of three-score-and-ton, he has relinquished his claims to mundane responsibilities. '» • * A Maorlland scion of Great Britain's nobility passed away on Saturday evening last at his late residence In Main-street East, Palmerston North, In the person of Charles Basil Montagu, oldest son of the late Charles Parr Montagu, barrister-at-law, and groat -grandson of tho fourth Earl of Sandwich. Deceased, who was 78 years Of age, was born m England, formerly held n, position m Somerset House, came to Now Zealand In 18f>5, settled, m Canterbury, and married In Chrlstchurch In 185S, subsequently rc- \ siding In Teremakau' (Westland), Hawern and Palmerston North, his wife | pro- deceasing him a year or so ago. lit} luis left' one son and' two married daughters, two other married daughters having predeceased him. The first Earl of Sandwich wns Sir Edward Montagu, ' Kt., 'M.P. for HuntiiiKdon.shlre, who -had distinguished himself as a Commander on tho Parliament Hide during, too .Civil War. but afterwards, when joint High Admiral/ of England, had Induced the iloot to acknowledge Charles 11.. thus galninK his promotion to the Peonu^-. The present peer, who is the Hth Karl, is also Viscount Hinchinfrbrooke and Baron Montagu ot St. Neota, Is unmarried, and Is now; 33 years of age.