PERSONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 186, 6 August 1903, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Dr. Wohlniann and his- wife returned to Rotorua to-day by the express. Mr G. G. Nixon, late second officer on tthe Manapouri, has obtained his foreign master's certificate. Mr G. Peploe has been elected president of the Thames Miners' Union by 171 rotes, as against 140 secured by Mr W. H. Potts. Sergeant H. Pearse, of the Thames Rifles, was elected second lieutenant of (the same corps last night. Signor Bragato went to Napier to-day an connection with the new vine nursery in that district. Mr A. Warbrick, the Government guide at Rotorua, is in town for a couple of days. He came down by the express last night. Mr Holobrook Chatfield, son of Mr A. W. Chatfield, Auckland, and a student of dentistry at Pennsylvania University, lhas passed his second year's examination. The committee of the Huntly miners' sick and accident fund have appointed Dr. Lowe, late of the Mercury Bay Hospital, to succeed Dr. Kellar. Mr John Lawson, late Official Assignee, does not actually retire till October 31, but he has been granted three months' leave of absence. Mr Gerard does his duty meanwhile. Lady Ranfurly has been suffering from influenza for the pasf. fortnight, but she hopes to be able to go to Christchurch with the Governor and attend the Grand National Steeplechase Meeting. Mr George Barnes, Mr George Musgrove's representative, arrived at Wellington to-day and will be in Auckland early next week to.make arrangements for the season of grand comic opera, commencing at his Majesty's Theatre on the 25th inst. Mr J.W. Houston, r.n ex-professor of law in the Columbia University, and a graduate of Harvard, has been touring the Rotorua district with Mr F. Coffee. They returned laafc night by the express, and put up at the Central Hotel-

The committee who had in hand the erection of the Dr. Cleghorn memorial, in Blenheim, have decided to hand over the structure to the Borough Council on the 19th August. Mr Campbell Johnson was returned unopposed as a member of the Raglan County Council for the Whaingaroa Riding, in place of Mr J. A. La Trobe, resigned. Mr J. King, of the Railway Department, Whangarei, js leaving the Northern town shortly, having received promotion to the head office at Auckland. Mr Itobson, of the Auckland staff, succeeds him. Mr J. S. Gibbs, Miss E. S. Atkinson and Mr R. Atkinson left to-day for a short tour of Rotorua, Wairakei, etc. They are following in the lines of the trip taken by the Honorable 11. Gibbs and party, who were also piloted through New Zealand by Thos. Cook and Son. There was a very large gathering at Stratford on Tuesday night at the farewell to Mr. J. G. Harkness, the newlyappointed secretary of the Nationa,yDairy Association. He has been for eight years chairman, and for six years secretary of the Midhurst Dairy Company, and president of the National Dairy Association. He was always prominent in dairy matters.

On Sunday JEuntly Avill be visited by Bishops Lenihan and Neligan. The former will lay and solemnly bless the foundation stone of the new Catholic church about to be erected, while the latter will conduct confirmation services at Ngaruawahia, Taupiri, and at Huntly. On Saturday, in order to meet Dr. Neligan, a social will be held in the Volunteer Hall, a similar function organised by the members of the Catholic community being announced for Monday night.

Lady Sybil Tollemache, Lady Mary Cooke, Mr 3 Finlay, and Dr. Finlay and party, left to-day for Okoroire, en route for Rotorua, where they intend making a. short stay. Their stay at the Lakes will only be br,ief, however, as they have to return to Auckland on Monday next, proceeding afterwards by the Moura to Fiji on 12th inst. They connect at Fiji ■with the Moana for Honolulu, en route to Aferiea and juemdon. The hurried trip through New Zealand is only a small part of an extensive round-the-world tour i.hey are making under the arrangements of Messrs Cook.

Another old resident has passed away, in the person of Mr Henry Richmond, of Portobello (Dunedin). Deceased arrived in New Zealand in 1861, and located himself at Napier, where he remained during the Maori War. The goldflelds attracted him to Otago. i He afterwards settled at Portobello, where he resided until his death.

Lieutenant Selve, of the German Army, who is touring the colonies, is on his way to Auckland and the Hot I Lakes by way of Napier. \ The Hon. E. Mitehelson (Mayor of Auckland) was in town for business this morning, but lie liad to go home before luncheon on acsount of a relapse. Mr Morton, of this city, writing to family, states that both he and his daughter arrived in London after a pleasant journey, South Africa being touched at on the voyage. He was leaving for Ireland and Scotland, where he intends spending some time before returning to London.

Mr J. C. Parker, of Te Arai, who bft Gisborne some months ago on a visit to the Argentine, has returned home impressed with the fact that it is no country for a man of limited capital. Everything was in the hands of big companies. The main crops grown were wheat, corn and linseed, but the returns for the eJatter per acre could not be compared ■with those of Poverty Bay.

Wiremu Pirihonga, better knoAvn as Wiremu te Parihi, a Maori patriarch, died a few days ago at Oromahoe, aged about 90 years. He was greatly respected by both Europeans and Maoris, being a thoroughly honourable old fellow in all ilis dealings. He was 'the last of Hone Heke's old warriors, and always enjoyed talking about his early reminiscences. He fought against the English in several battles, and was in the Ohapawai pah when General Despard ordered a storming party to take it, which r<? Bulted so disastrously for the English, who lost over 100 men in a few minutes, and were forced to retire. It was Wiremu who led the war dance before Lord Banfurly at Waitangi four years ago.