PERSONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr. D. J. Nathan, of Wellington, is at present spending a holiday at Kotorua.

Mr. J. B. Heywood, ossistant-Auditor-General, retires at the end of the month, and leaves a few weeks later for England.

Bishop and Mrs. Neligan left Wellington on Thursday evening by the s.s. Victoria, and arrive in Auckland tomorrow morning.

A testimonial is to be presented to Mr. J. H. Mentiplay, who ie retiring after acting for 15 years as secretary of the Northern Bowling Association.

Mr. John Rowe, Mayor of Onehunga, will be presented with a largely signed requisition on Monday night, asking him to again accept nomination as Mayor.

Miss Eri Thomson, who has been studying witli Madame Melba* returned by the Mamma on Monday from Melbourne for a short holiday with her family at Stewart Island.

Mr. J. H. McAlister will succeed Mr. C. E. Matthews as private secretary to the Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister for Public Works. During the last twelve months Mr. McAlister has acted in the same capacity for the Hon. A. T. Ngata. He was formerly one of the late Mr. Seddon's private secretaries.

Mr. Anthony Wilding, tennis champion, leaves Christchurch to-day by the Ulimaroa en route for South Africa, whither he travels from Melbourne by the Geelong. After taking part in the Johannesburg tournament, Mr. Wilding proceeds to England, to compete in the championship meeting at Wimbledon.

The Colonial Auxiliary Forces longservice medal has been awarded to the following:—Lieutenant-Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., North Canterbury Mounted Rifles (twenty-one years); Lieutenant-Colonel G. S. Clayton, N.Z. Medical Corps (twenty-three years) j Lieutenant-Colonel Rochfort Snow, active list, unattached (twenty years).

Another old colonist passed away yesterday in the person of Mr. Edwin Bennett, of Lawrence-street, Ponsonby. Mr. Bennett arrived in Auckland from Kidderminster, England, by the sailing ship William Miles in 1861, and was one ot the pioneers of the Thames goldfields, where he shared the ups and downs and excitement of gold-seeking with the early prospectors. He returned to Auckland about 27 years ago, and has since led a quiet, unostentatious life, making many friends throughout the Dominion. Some four years ago he was seized with a paralytic stroke, and lingered on till yesterday afternoon. The late Mr. Bennett is survived by a widow and four sons— Mr. G. H. Bennett, a well-known member of the Wanganui Education Board; Mr. A. E. Bennett, managing director of the Union Timber Company, Palmerston North; Mr. W. E. Bennett, of Rotorua; and Mr. C. F. Bennett, of this city.