PERSONAL MATTERS.

Mr. Dinnie, Commissioner of Police, left for Nnpier this morning. Mr. John Stevens informs us that ho will be a candidate for the Manawatu seat at the General Election. Among the passengers to Englnnd by the Rimutaka will be Mr. and Mid. L> Priest, of Eketnhuna. Mr. A. Kidd, M.H.R. for Auckland, who has been on a tour of the South Island, left for the North this morning. Mr. Lning-Meason, Engineer to the Hutt River Board, arrived from tho South by the Rolomahana this morning. Sir George and Lady Clifford, and Mi-s Clifford, left for Auckland, via the Wonganui River and the Hot Lakes district, this morning. Mr. Justice Dcnniston, who arrived from the South on Sunday, left yesterday for Nelson to preside at the Supremo Court sittings in that town. Archdeacon Dovoy. who his been on a visit to the Catholic Seminary at Mcanoe, Hawkes Bay, returned to Wellington last night. Tho Undcr-Secre.nry for Public Works (Mr. Blow) who has been on a visit of inspection to Nelson and Marlborough, returned to Wellington last night. Tho Minister for- Lands (Hon. T. Y. Duncan) nnd the Minister for Customs (Hon C. H. Mills) left Wellington this morning — tho former for Hawkes Bay and the lnttcr to Taranaki. The Rev. C. Tisdall, of Rotorua, formerly curate of St. Paul's, Wellington, was married last week to Mil* Gertrude Ireland, daughter of the late Mr. Barton Ireland, of Auckland. At the parade of tho Zcalandia Rifles last night Lance-Corporal Paul Peters, who is also Secretary of the corps, was presented with a silver tea ana coffee service in connection with his recent marriage. Mr. W. C. Trimnell, of the New Zealand Government Veterinary Stnff, who recently received an offer to join th« New South Wales State service, has agreed lo remain in his present position, at an increased salary. Mr. Orton Stevens, Mayor of Lower Hutt, has so far recovered from his r#cent illness as to be able to get about. He intends to attend the next meeting of tho Council, and to enable him to do so tho Council has decided to meet at 4 o'clock in tho afternoon. Mrs. nnd Miss Nicol, who are leaving for England, wero entertained by tli« residents of Pliinmerton at a social gathering on Friday evening. Brother Mutter, on behalf of tho adherents of tho English Church, presented Mis» Nicol with a memento in recognition of her services as organist to the church. Archbishop Redwood, who is returning from Europe, is duo in Sydney on Friday next, nnd will, it is understood, remain there until Saturday week, when he will leave for Wellington direct. His Grace is to receive a purse of sovereigns and an address from his diocese soon after ho returns. Tho resignation of Sister Kathcrind (Nurso Berry) and Senior Nurse Gardner has been accepted by tho Hospital Trustees, nnd the following promotions have be«n made: — Nurso Thurston promoted to the position of Sister; Nurses Hnddlcslon and Buonett to the senior nursing staff; nnd Probationers Douglas and Sexton to the junior nursing staff. News from Springston (Canterbury) was received in Wellington yesterday afternoon concerning the serious ilmess of Mr. Lawry, senior (father of the Rev. S. Lawry, ex-President of tho Methodist Conference). It is feared that Mr. Lawry may be called away from tho current Conference beforo its termination, for his father's condition is serious, and his ago (eighty-soven years) accentuates tho gravity of his case. Mr. J. F. Williams, who has been promoted to tho New Plymouth branck of the Bank of New Zealand, Inst -night received a presentation from tho members of tho Swifts Amateur Swimming Club in recognition of his services to the club. During the club's six seasons Mr. Williams had been a prominent member, serving as secretary, twice ns treasurer, and twice as a delegate lo Iho Wellington Ceutre. Mr. Hockon, the well-known archaeologist from Dunedin, has just completed a visit to North Auckland in connection with tho New Zealand career of tho Rev. Samuel Marsden, who was responsible for tho introduction of tho missionaries to this colony in 1814. Dr. Hocken has obtained a quantity of valuable historical matter concerning early missionary effort in New Zealand, and intends to publish a book on the subject.