PERSONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 149, 24 June 1903, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Mr C. H. Verity, of Napier, has written to the Auckland Harbour Board referring to the suggestion to connect the Waitemata and Manukau harbours by a canal. He suggests that, a preferable scheme would be to construct a sixrailed track between the two harbours, which would enable boats of 500 tons register to be carried upon it in cradles. He estimates the cost at between £60,000 and £70,000. The letter was received at yesterday's meeting of the Board, and acknowledged, but further action was not taken.

Mr W. J. Napier was a passenger to Wellington by the s.s. Ngapuhi to-day. The Bishop of Auckland desires to transfer the Rev. Win. Cherington, of Kaipara, to Waimate, but on Dr. Neligan's asking the opinion of the Maoris he received an objection from them, as they consider Mr Cherington one of the best pastors they have had. Mr Justice Conolly leaves Auckland to-morrow to attend the Court of Appeal at Wellington. Mr E. Pearson, of the Lyttelton staff of tht, Union Steamship Company, has been appointed manager of the Bluff branch of the company. Mr A. Bull, formerly accountant of the Union Steamship Company at Gisborne, has been appointed to a good position in a leading firm at Durban, South Africa.

His Worship the Mayor (the Hon. E. Mitchclson) saw Lady Ranfurly off today. Mr. Walter Kelsall, baker, of Onehunga, died last night in the western borough after a severe attack of illness. Mr. Kelsall was about 56 years of age. He was a well-known figure in Onehunga, being connected with many of the public happenings there. He was a Mason of long standing, and he was formerly a member of the Borough Council. The Governor and Lady Ranfurly witnessed the performance at the theatre last night.

Lady Ranfurly and Lady Constance Knox went to New Plymouth by the NgapuM to-day, being accompanied by Major Alexander.

Mr John Plimmer, of Wellington, will celebrate his 91st birthday in Wellington on June 2S. Mr Plimmer came out ■to this colony in the ship Gertrude, in 1841, and has since been closely allied ■with local politics during the whole time.

The Rev. Mr Martin, Presbyterian minister at Martinborough, who has given up pwlpit work on account of a disease of the throat, was recently given a cheque for £82, with another for £30 for Mrs Martin, by the members of the congregation.

At Awanui on June 16, Miss Frances Maud Evans, daughter of Mr Joseph Evans, was married to Mr Richard T. Wrathall, of Mongonui, by the Rev. Mr Grantham, of Kaeo. The bridesmaids were Misses M. Berghan, A. Richards and Evans. The honeymoon was spent at Rotorua.

Mr Jas. Buttle, who has been appointed by the New Zealand Insurance Co. as successor to Mr D. Craig as general manager, was for many years the manager of the Melbourne .branch of the company, and latterly has been in the position of acting-general manager. Major Shepherd, Sergeant-at-Arms in the House of Representatives, went South by the Ngapuhi to-day. The Hons. T. Thompson and Major Harris, M.L.C.'s, and Messrs M. M. Kirkbride, J. Bollard, Massey and Houston, M.H.R.'s, were passengers by the, NgapuM to New Plymouth to-day. They, of course, go on to Wellington for the opening of the session. Surgeon-Captains E. O'Neill and A. R. Falconer, mentioned in yesterday's telegrams as having passed the medical examinations for the Royal Army Medical Corps, are both medical graduates of Otago University. Dr. O'Neill was senior house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, when he made application to get away with the contingent in which he got his captain' 3 commission. He is a son ef the late Sergeant O'Neill, whom all old Dunedinites will l'emember. Dr Falconer is the son of the Mr Falconer who inaugurated the Sailors' Rest in Dunedin, and whose splendid generosity) in ministering to the comforts of the outgoing contingents in camp at Dunedin and Wellington was one of the brightest features of that epochal time. Dr.° Falconer also saw service with one of the contingents which left Dunedin. The memory of the late Dr. George P. Brown, who died of scarlet fever contracted while acting as senior house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, is likely to be commemorated by the erection of a brass tablet in the hospital building. The Dunedin Hospital Trustees also recently passed a resolution regretting the termination of his bright and useful career, and bearing testimony to his high professional ability and untiring gentleness in the treatment of the sick poor under his charge. Among recent arrivals in the colony is Mr W. Heney, who was employed on military telegraph construction duty during the war. He is now postmaster at Ladybrand. Mr Heney is on a three months' holiday. Dr. De Renzi, who has been in the service of the Indian Government as plague officer for the last twelve months, during which time he has been located at Amritzar, in the Punjab,' has arrjyed in Melbourne, and is expected to reach Christchurch in about ten days' time.