PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr. Robert Uraab, ex-Minister for Lands and Defence, returned yesterday from a visit to America, Great Britain, and Europe. Mr. C. J. Skerrett, K'.C, who has been appearing at the sessions at Palmerston North, returned to Wellington by last night's Napier express. Dr. Paxton arrived from London by the s.s. Arawa yesterday morning, and intends leaving Wellington, for the Waiktito on Wednesday. At present he is staying at the Occidental ■ Hotel. Mr. H. J. H. Blow, Tjnder-Secretary for Public Works and Mines, who has been spending a holiday in Australia, arrived at Auckland yesterday, and is expected back in Wellington on Thursday. Messrs. S. and A. M.' Salek, of Wellington, left on a visit to Sydney by the Ulimaroa on Friday last. Mr. W. G. Talbot has been appointed acting-secretary of the AVellington Boxing Association, vice Mr. William Cof-.. fey, deceased. ■ • At the invitation of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, two lads named Clark-, son and Morgan, of the Onehunga State School Cadets, leave for London by the. White Star liner Corinthic to compete at the Bisley Eifle meeting in England. Dr. Darby, who has given up the position of medical adviser to the Mount Eden Gaol officials, after 11$ years' service in that capacity, has been presented by the officials with a handsome tea and coffee service. . . A call signed by 160 members and 80 adherents of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Palmerston North, is to be presented to the Auckland Presbytery, in favour' of the Rev. A. Doull, MX, of Otahutu. This was decided upon at a meeting of the Wanganui Presbytery at Palmerston yesterday. The commission from the congregation, Messrs. J. E. Vernon, James Wallace, and J. C. Young, said the congregation were, quite unanimous in the call. The Rev. G. Budd, of Feilding, and Messrs. C. Snow, and R. Gardiner,' of Palmerston, were appointed commissioners to appear before the Auckland Presbytery in support of the call to Mr. Doull. ■ • . Mr. and Mrs. Walter Barker, of Gisborne, leave, on a trip to England by the Corinthic on Thursday. Mr'.' and Mrs. Matthew Young, of Wellington, leave on a trip to England by the Corinthic on Thursday. The team of footballers representing Lincoln College arrive from the south today, and will stay at the Occidental Hotel prior to proceeding on their upcountry >tour. Among the visitors staying at the Occidental Hotel are Mr. Bassett from Wanganui, and Mr; Sykes from Pelorus Sounds. • • • On Friday morning the death of Mr. John Kinross Goudy, of Napier, took place after a somewhat extended period of ill-health. For many years he had resided in Napier, being engaged in commercial pursuits. Since 1889, the year in . which they first started business in that town, he had been manager for Dalgety and Co., Ltd., retiring last October on account of ill-health. The deceased was\ born in Belfast, Ireland, and was the son of the Rev. Alex. P. Goudy, ; D.D., of Strabane, County Tyrone, a well-known clergyman in the North of Ireland. Ho was educated at Ayr Academy. His two brothers are still living, and. hold distinguished positions in the educational world, one of them being Dr. Henry Goudy, Regius Professor of Civil Laws at the Oxford University, while tho other, Mr. A. P. Goudy, is lecturer on the Russian language at Cambridge. He also leaves two unmarried sisters residing in Cambridge. His outliving relative iu New Zealand is Mr. W. Kinross White, of Nnpier. Flags were flying half-mast at Dalgety and Company's and elsewhere, and a number of places of business bore emblems of mourning.

Dr. A. 0. Downey is surgeon aboard the R.M.S. Arawn, which arrived from London on Sunday night.

The death occurred at Moteo, Hawke's Bay, on Sunday, of the Kev. Nirai Kunga, aged 70, who 'had been 26 years in the Anglican Ministry.—Press Association.

Mr. W. M. Coster, who has been connected with the Masterton post office for some time, left that district yesterday morning for Bussell, Bay of Islands, where he takes up the position of postmaster. '