PERSONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 89, 15 April 1903, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Dγ Goldie was a passenger for New Plymouth yesterday. Mi John Fitt lias decided to again offer himself as a candidate for the Mayoralty of Parnell. The Countess of. Eanfurly and Ladies Eileen and Constance Knox left Lyttelton for Wellington by the Rotoma'hana kst evening

His Worship the Mayor, Mr Alfred Kidd, M.H.R., accompanied by the Town Clerk, paid an official visit to the commander of the Chilian warship General Baquedano this morning. The first lieutenant, doctor and six midshipmen from the Chilian warship. General Baquedano left Auckland this morning for a brief visit to Kotorua. Among the callers at the Government Tojjrist Department yesterday were Messrs J. A. Lonnisaka (Toronto, Canada), C. Varela and Alberto Sarkcoys (Chilian warship), Ernest 0. Clayton (Rotorua), and Mr and Mrs G. Brown (Wellington). Eight of the officers of the Chilian ■warship General Baquedano have gone to Rotorua for a feAV days. Their arrangements were made by the Government tourist agent (Mr Montgomery). The Rev H. H. Roget, who has been in charge of the Coromandel Methodist, Church for the past year, is leaving the charge in order to pursue a course of study, covering two years. 'Last Sunday the town band turned out as a mark of their esteem for him. The Rev Mr Perry aucceeds him at Coromandel, and will assume his charge on Sunday next. A very kindly action was that performed by a few friends and supporters of Mr Frank Lawry, M.H.R. for Parnell, the other evening. These friends had subscribed the amount of the legal expenses incurred in anticipation of the threatened petition against Mr Lawry , ? election. This petition came to nought. but through the generous act of his friends, Mr Lawry was at no expense at ail in the matter.

Mr East, a member of the literary staff of the "Lyttelton Times, ,, is up in Auckland with the Canterbury College students, of whom he is one. He returned South with them to-day.

Mr Christian Blucher, C.E.. whoso death at the age of 76 is just announced, as occurring at Bavenswood, Queensland, on March 20, was well-known in 'New Zealand. He was a native 0/ Magdeburg, Germany, and emigrated to New Zealand in ISG2, where he was made chief field surveyor under Major Heaphy. I«i that position he laid out the Great South-road from Auckland to Waikato. .At the close of the war; he was made Northern district surveyor, and held the position till he left New Zealand in 1885 for a position under the Queensland Government, and at the time of Ms death was surveyor to the local Divisional Board. Among his numerous family of five sons and three daughters '- t,he wife of Mr A. Hogarth, general of the Monowai Gold Mines, 'IJVaiomo, Thames. The widowed mother Ita also alive.

The funeral of the late Mrs Cummins "i»4 Ramarama a short time ago was largely attended. The deceased, who was well known, arrived here in th& ship Ganges with her husband, and has seen much of the vicissitudes of farm life. Her hospitality was liberal, and her death is much regretted. Mr and Mrs E. H. Abbott have decided to leave for the United States and Europe by the mailboat Sonoma on Friday. Signor Bragato is returning to Auckland, and will arrive here to-morrow morning. He has been inspecting the vineries in the Napier district. Dr. and Mrs W. C. W. McDowell were passengers for New Plymouth by the Neapuhi yesterday. _ A party headed by Viscount Borington went to Waimfingu on April 12 to witness the eruption of the great geyser, and were just in time to do so. At five o'clock the geyser burst into magnificent eruption, settling down to rest again by ten o'clock, when about 150 other dilatory people came up too late to see the geyser in operation.