PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13108, 6 May 1908, Page 9

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Sir Joseph Ward opons the new Post Office at Greymouth to-day. Afterwards he will pay a visit to Uio State ooa.l mines. Ho will prdbaMy spend a few days on Oho coast.

The Hon. R. arrived from WeUrngton by- tho Maori yesterday morning and' left by ihe first express for the South to attend tire .funeral of the lete Mx J. Boimet, M.P.

Mir W. F. Massey, Leader of tho Otpposition, addressed a crowded mooting α-t Gisborno last evening, and received an excellent hearing. He" leaves Gisborne, for the Soiuth Uide morning, in company wrth Mr W. H. Hemes, M.P.

Mr A. L. D. Fraser, M.P., Dr. Chappie/ Captain McLeur, and Captain Turpy arrived from Wellington yesterday morning. In the course of his speech at "the Arthur's Pass tunnel ceremony day, Sir Joseph Ward referred to tho regret he felt at the untimely d«ath of Mr Joseph Petrie, Mayor of GroymoUith, who, he said, had he been alive, would havo been present taking part in the ceremony. Mr 0. B. Pomberton, secretary of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, returned on Monday evening from his annual holiday, spent at Owaka, in Otigo. Inokided among the orrivsils- in town yesterday were Messrs Goo. Morrison (Brisbane), J. Neodman (Belgium), Mallinson (Ashley), C. Mark (Auckland), and F. Rutherford (Mendip Hffle). , ' „ A prcscwrtet'ion was made on Monday by the combined , staff of officers and workmen in the Christohureh Public Works Department, to Mr A. Schwartz, who is retiring under the siiperannnation scheme from the position of overseer. , The presentation, which was made by Mr Denton, comprised a handsome case of pipes, matchbox and tobacco pouch. Reference was made to the long ojnd faithful service rendered by Mr Schwartz to tihe Department. Sirbsequemtly a presentation was made to Mr Schwartz by Mt Tißman on bdiaJf of the working staff only. This oansisrbed of a handsome walking-stick, suitably inscribed. The health of Mr E. C. Fair, who is siKXKoding Mr Schwartz, was duly honoured.

]Slr A. l>. Cox, tho CbriKtclnirch tennis player, left "Wellington on Monday, for Brisbane. ~Mr Cox lraa been transferred to the Queensland capital. Tho dojwrture of this young player as a <i<ecidied loss to New Zoukjid (says the "New Zoa'nnd Times"), as ho had bison looked upon as ono of the most likely players in tho near hrhiro to challenge ajl-coniers foT the Dominion championship singles.