PERSONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 259, 28 October 1897, Page 7

PERSONAL.

By the Monowai, which arrived at Wellington from Sydney on Oct. 13, three wellknown colonists, who have been for a trip round the world, returned to New Zealand, viz., Messrs G. G. Stead, Isaac Gibbs (Nev? Zealand Shipping Company), and George Fenwick, of Dunedin. Mr Fenwick left for the South in the Te Anau yesterday afternoon, and Mr Stead (with Mrs Stead and family) left for Lyttelton to-day in the Monowai. All three colonists have had a splendid time, and seem to have benefited greatly from their travels.

Sir Walter Buller, who recently returned in the s.s. Taviunifrom atrip to tha South Sea Islands, had a very enjoyable cruise in the Southern Pacific, visiting Fiji, Tonga and. Samoa. When at Fiji he spent a Week with Mr Langdale, formerly an officer in the Royal Navy, on his beautiful island of Wakaya, and succeeded in making a fine collection of tropical birds and butterflies, fishes and shells, native orchids, etc., and also captured a Fijian snake of phenomenal size, nearly seven feet in thickness, which he has brought on here alive for the Auckland Museum.

Lady Ranfurly and Captain Alexander, the Governor's Private Secretary, distinguished themselves at a fire which broke out in a street near Government House, Wellington, on October 11 tli. The fire was in the house of Chief-Detective Campbell, and Lady Ranfurly and Captain Alexander were quickly on the scene. The former attended to Mrs Campbell, who was much alarmed, and also took charge of an infant, which she placed in safety with its mother, and even thesa good ofhees did not put a stop to her ladyship's energy, as she then returned to the house and helped to save the goods. Whilst all this was going on Captain Alexander had carried buckets of water upstairs to the burning room, with which he succeeded in extinguishing the flames. The fire brigade misread the alarm signal, and arrived only after the danger was over.

Amongst the passengers by the R.M.s. Alameda for Honolulu on Oct. 2 was Mr S. Percy Smith, Surveyor-General of New Zealand, who is on holiday leave. Mr Smith, who had just returned from a visit on Polynesian research intent to the islands of the Cook and Society Groups, intends seeing what he can at Samoa duriner the short stay of the steamer there, and will stay at Hono,],ulii for a month or so, in the course of which period he will visit the volcanoes of Kilawea and Mauna —Loa. Mr Smith is collecting materials in connection with the early history and wanderings of the Maori race in Polynesia, and while in Hawaii he will also endeavour to glean there some particulars regarding the Maori offshoot which peopled Hawaii in the past. The result of Mr Smith's investigations will be published in the journal of the Poynesian Society. Mr J. D. Connolly, who for several years has occupied the position of United States Consul here, on Oct. 1 transferred his office to his successor, Mr Frank Diiling-ham. During- his residence in this city Mr Connolly has gained for himself by his ability, courtesy and genial nature the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances and friends. His retirement will be regretted on both public and private grounds however well the new Consul may fill his place. While he has been with us Mr Connolly has been essentially one of ourselves, enteringwith a whole-hearted interest into all our concerns. He has closely identified himself with many public movements, and has followed our democratic legislation in a most appreciative spirit. Our benefit societies have profited by the warm interest he showed in their welfare and the active part he took in promoting their prosperity. His valuable reports on New Zealand must have served to bring- the colony under the favourable notice of large numbers of the people of the States, and ,we doubt not, his services are as fully recognised by his own Government as they have been by the people of Auckland. Mr Connolly, we understand, is likely to be in Auckland for some months yet, as he has mining interests here which have to be attended to. His many friends will, we doubt not, be glad to hear that there is no immediate prospect of losing him. .