PERSONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 304, 22 December 1903, Page 3

PERSONAL.

' Sir William Russell left for Napier to- ; fcay. f The Hon. J. Curio!' is spending Christ- • bias at Gisboriip. Major Alexander, private secretary to I] !the Governor, left for Wellington yea_,.terd;:y. ]\Jr. C. F. Lindeiiipn. of the Cawarra ' SVine Manufactory, viii anive in Auckland on Friday. < Mr. George George, director of the ; : {Technical School, spends his Xmas "noli- ! ! Bays at Cambridge. .Vr. J. V. Benuett, organist of Ivnox Church, lias gone to the Southern lake (district for Ins Xmas holidays. It is believed Mr Hawkins, S.M., of I [Westport, intends to go to South ALk-a i after he retires from the bench. Another old colonist in the person of Mrs. .Mary Heffernan has pastel away. I She r.-aine here in lB5(i, and she leaves j a, numerous family behind hfr. The Premier left Christchureh, where ; tie Las been staying a couple 01 days, i for Dunedin this morning. He proposes : to g r > to the Chatham Islands early next ycai on a visit of inspection. i The Rev. Frederick Siubbs, of Christj (Church, is at present in Rotoma, and ac preaches in the Presbyterian Church sthftro on Sunday next, ife has just rejknrned from a journalistic mission to Australia. Judge Mair, of ihe Native Land Court, returned to Auckland from Tautnar.mui. ilis next sitting will be held at Otorohanga. Judge Edger is also in town, and reopens his Court at Taulanga after the holidays. Judge Dun- , Jiar Johnson has arrived from Timpo, and after spending Christmas at Te 'Aroha (his home) he reopens the Court jat Tokaanu. Dr. Xeligan has appointed the Rev. Mark Sutlon as his domestic chaplain. He has been in South Africa, and pending his arrival Miss Burdett acts as secretary, Mr M. Neligan having resigned. Major-General Sir 11. Chermside, Cfovs rnor of Queensland: went >ip to SRotorua to-day with Lady Chermside, iwho already has spent a considerable time there. Mr Edwin Hosking, wlio was -wellknown in musical circles in Auckland 6om»> years ago, but is now in the legal profession, has arrived here to spend ithe Christmas holiday vacation. Mr T. M. Wilford, M.H.R., for Hutt, is spending a holiday at the Hot Lake.?. He is a keen fisherman and will take Sull advantage of the fine angling to he got there. Mrs Wilford accompanies -Slim.

Mr. A. Selby, huntsman of the Pakur&nga Hounds, has been presented with a hunting crop by the Waiuku followers Of the Hunt Club. The presantation Was made at a dinner given in his honbur at Waiuku last Friday. Mr Boyd Bennie, a Wai hi miner, who -Yon Mr T. Gilmour's gold medal last year at the Waihi School of Mines, and passed his examination as mine manager, has been appointed mine manager of the Mokau Coal Company. He left iWaiki on Saturday to take up his new duties. Mr Benuie had considerable experience as a coal miner in Newcastle. Mr John O'Shea, the new City Solicitor for Wellington, is an old Otago University student, and is only 2G years of age. lie obtained his legal degree iat tlie Southern University at a very early age. At the same time he attained a considerable celebrity as an all-round athlete, and in football has represented the province frequently. , -Mr. John Tucker, who was buried in iWaikumete Cemetery on Sunday, was ione of the fast diminishing band of pioneer settlers. Arriving in the ship iWiUiaro Bryan at New Plymouth with liis parents in 1841, he saw the foundation laid of that now prosperous town, and left for Auckland in 1849, where he Jias resided ever since. Of a quiet unassuming nature, he Mas respected by all who knew him. Ite leaves no family, ihis wife and only son predeceasing him (some years ago. Tne Rev. Joseph Clark, pastor of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, will leave Shortly with JNTrs. Clark upon a month's visit to Brisbane, where he will fill the pulpit of the City Tabernacle during that period. The pastorate of this important church, formerly held by the Rev. William Whale, is now vacant, and an effort is being made to secure one of the leading English or American ministers. Meanwhile the leading Australasian pastors are being invited to conduct the services. General regret is expressed in Paeroa fet the enrly departure of Mr and Mrs H. L. Hars'ton, so long and favourably known in musical and other circles. Mr Harston has been conductor of the Church of England choir for many years, and also conductor of the Paeroa Choral Society for the last three years. It Mas to Mr Harston's energy and ability that the Paeroa Choral Society owe-; not only its existence, but its prosperity and present efficiency. Mr Harston is also conductor of the Paeroa Banjo, Guitar and Mandolin Club, and his loss from this and the other societies will be keenly felt. On Friday evening Mr Uar.ston was presented by the church choir with a very handsome sil-ver-mounted baton, and on Sunday ieverting, after the performance of "The Messiah' , by the Choral Society, he was presented with an illuminated address by that body. On Saturday afternoon a representative gathering of Paeroa ladies tendered Mrs Harston a most Successful farewell at an afternoon garden party at Mrs McAndrew's place, whirh was kindly lent for the occasion. Mr- Harston was presented by the leaders present with a set of * afternoon cake forks and a pair of silver salt Bpoons, with greenstone handles.