PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11806, 2 February 1904, Page 5

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Tlie Premier returned from the south by bst night's express, and went on to Wellington by the Rotomahana. Mr Seddon spent yesterday as the guest of the Timaru Harbour Board; and inspected the harbour works and the Board's quarries. Ho also received some deputations at Timaru yeeterday. Mr J. C. Blaekmore, Government Po-molo-gist, left for Wellington laet evening, en route for Nelson. •Mr J. T. M. Hayhurst left Temuka yesterday for London. Mrj F. M. Young and Miss Young (Winchester) and (Miss E. Shaw iTimaru) arrived in town yesterday, en route for Nelson.

At a meeting of the North Rakaia River Board, livid on Thursday last, the clerk (Mr T. W. Durant) tendered his resignation as secretary and treasurer, which was accepted -with regret. The chairman. (Mr Lockhead) made special reference to the able management of the- Board's business by Mr Durant, and much regretted that his removal from the district made liis resignation necassary. Mr Durant has also resigned the position of Eecretary to the Leeston Town Hall, and waa tendered a vote of tlianks for his conduct of the company's business for the last ten years. Mr and Mrs John Coventry, Mrs Montgomery (Little River), Mte Milne, and Mr A. R. Lyons arrived in town last evening. Sir Joseph Word left for Hanmer by the north train yesterday morning. Tomorrow he •will return by special train as far as Kaiapoi, where he will open the new railway station, and lay the foundation stone of the new post and telegraph office. Sir Joseph will return to town the same evening, in time to catch the Wellington boat. Sir Jooeph Ward has postponed lv« trip to 'EuTopa for a year, es the Postal Conference lias been postponed for a similar period. A JTelson telegram states that the Hon. C. H. Mills i 8 visiting the Takaka Show. Ht? then proceeds to Parapara to inspect the iron deposits. The Rev. Jasper Smyth was in town yesterday, on his wey to Quail Islaßid, to act as chaplain to the Burnham boye, who ara in camp there. Miss E. Bell was a passenger to Culvorden yesterday morning. Mr C. Dilworth Fox was a passenger to Waikari by yesterday morning'a north train. Master T.. W. Moore has been appointed a pupil-teacher at Kaiapoi School. Dr. Anderson and Messrs Wood and Ritchie, left for Wellington last night to attend the Conference of ochool inspectors. Professor Gregory, of Melbourne University, is visiting the Franz Joseph Gkcx'r. and has taken with him an equipment of scientific apparatus to investigate the phenomena of ke pressure, etc. Mr A. J. George. Mr E. Driver, Mr R. H. Stevens, aad Mr J. McKenzie, were passengers for tha south by yesterday mcriuttjj'a exp;vss. ■Sir Donald and Lady Roberieon and Colonel and Miss Pitcher left for the South yesterday mcrning. Recent callers at the local Tourist Bureau were- Colonel D. G. Pitcher, Sir D. Robertson, Mrs Rodda (WDliametowi:), Mrs C. A. Lawrence (Aberdeen), Mr and Mr» A. Urqnhari (Melbourne), Miss Amy Heslop. and Miss Dolly Hurchings (Wellington), cud M. Clement Thokt (Liege). The Bishop of North Queensland, Dr. Frodsham, who met with an accident in Auckland some time a.go, is expected back in liis diocese about Etiater. After a final examination, by specialists in England, they have advised the Bishop that all danger of permanent injury has paesed away, but that it will stiil be necessary for a considerable time to come for the Biahop to be careful to avoid overwork or strain.

Captain Harper (College Rifle*?), Captain Sandford (City- Guards), and Captain O.ikes (Native *RHM> have, it is understood, resigned the command o! the>r respective companies. Captaia Oakes, who has a record of twenty years ia the voluuforce of- the colony, has commended tho Native Riiks since the formation of the corps. Eβ haa been offered,, and has accepted the post of captaia, pay and quart>:rmzu;ter of the secund battalion of tha North Canterbury Infantry Volunteers. Eden Inglis Whyte, the dvi of the colour ia the National Scholarship examination, ha* taken her place with a fall year to spare, having been under 13 at the dale on which the was calculated. Sho is the eldest daughter of the Rev. Alexander Whyte, the granddaughter of Mr David Whyte, of Tiniroto, and a relative of tlie lato* Rev. Dr. Inglis, one of the earliest minivters of St. Andrew's Church, Auckland, and afterwards the Apostle to tlw New Hebrides. When she entered the Havelock North State School in June, 1838, sl*e ira* enrolled in the primer class. Under Mr JR. B. Holmes eh« passed her standards readily. She was recently dux of the HawkVs Bay examinations ■with a- lead of 25 marks and two years to spare; she was dux of the Queen's >—olarship examination with a lead of 39 marks and a year to spare; and now she is dux of the National Scholarship examination with a lead of 6 marks and a. year to spare.

itister Cuthbert Wilkins, of Papanui, end Miss Beatrice Gctes, of Southbridgti, have been appointed 'pupil teachers at. the Sprevdon Spliool. Mr P. M. Wallace will »*turn to town to-morrow.