PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14759, 1 September 1913, Page 7

PERSONAL ITEMS.

1 Arrivals in town on Saturday included:—Mr and Mrs H. Hill, Mr and Mrs A. G. Wilson, Mr R. G. Grace, Mr G. D. Lockhead, and Mr R. Smith (Wellington). Mr P. A. Hadley (Auckland), Mr E. M. Macfarlano (Coldstream), and Mr and Mrs Moody (Waimate). The Hon. J. It. Sinclair. M.L.C., left for Wellington on Saturday night. Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., arrived from Wellington on Saturday morning. Mrs J. Rolleston, of Wellington, who has been on a brief visit to Christchurch, returned North on Saturday evening. Mr F. Muir, of the "Gisborne Herald," is on a holiday visit to Christchurch, accompanied by Mrs Muir. The Roy. W. Douglas, M.A., who is retiring from the active ministry, received a presentation of a purse of sovereigns at the annual meeting of the Evans Bay Presbyterian Circuit. Mr Douglas was in charge of the Evans Bay Circuit for six years, and prior to that was stationed nt Hokitika. He was the oldest active minister in the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand. Mr G. D. Gray, member of the New Zealand Rugby football team for California, was the recipient of a serviceable portmanteau, with silver plate and inscription, from his fellow-em-ployees at Wm. Goss's. Limited.. Mr Barnes, in an appropriate speech, congratulated Mr Gray on his inclusion in tho team, and testified to tho esteem in which bis fellow-workers held him. Mr, Mrs. and Miss Ballin havo returned from Sydney, where they had been spending a couple of months. Mr and Mrs Maurice Harris, who have been travelling in tho Commonwealth for throe months, have returned to Christchurch. Tho Hon. D. Btiddo, and Messrs G. J. Anderson, C and W. J. Dickie, M.P.'s arrived from Wellington on Saturday morning. Our Otira correspondent writes::—A very pleasant evening was spent in tho schoolroom, when tho stationmastcr, Mr E. Greatbatch, was entertained on the eve of his departuro for Shannon. Several gentlemen expressed the general regret at losing such a good and obliging officer, and Mr M. Fitzgerald handed over a purso of sovereigns on behalf of tho people of Ot.ira. After Mr Greatbatch had responded, Mr Pitagt presented Mrs Greatbatch with a gold' bangle on behalf of the ladies of Otira. Both were received with "musical honours." Dancing was kept up till tho small hours of tho morning. I On Saturday morning a presentation of a handsome barometer and ther- | momcter combined, from tho office staff and factory employees, was made to j Mr T. R. Joyce, accountant of tho Tex- | tile Bag and .Sack Company, Ltd., who is severing his connection with that company after a long period of service. At Foxton on Friday evening, according to a Press Association mcssagOj Mr Pirani stated that he was giving tho matter of standing against Mr Guthrie for Oroua favourable consideration. ' Thoro was a largo gathering at n j social tendered to Miss Amy Dixon at I tho Ashburton Baring squaro Church. ' Tho Roy. W. J. Elliott referred in terms of high praise to tho good work Miss Dixon had dono ns president of ! tho Methodist Junior Christian Endeavour Society, and on behalf of the members presented her with an enlarged framed photograph of tho members of tho Society. Tho organisations of Sumner,- with which Ex-Superintendent Charles Phillips of the local Firo Brigado has been connected, aro not allowing him to depart without showing in a tangible form the respect and esteem in which he has been held. On Friday night the members of the Sumner Brass Band, of which Mr" Phillips ha« been i Chairman of Committees since its inception, presented him with a gold medal suitably inscribed, and Mrs Phillips with a gold cameo brooch whilst Miss Phillips was the recipient of a gold brooch set with pearls and emeralds from her Sumner friends. On Saturday night the members of the Sumnor~Fire Brigade held a farewell social in honour of their Ex-Superin-tendent, when there was a full muster, the Mayor of Sumner (Mr G. W. C. j Smithson). also being present. On be- | half of the brigado, Branchman J. Carter who presided, presented ExSuperintendent Phillips with a silver watch as a mark of respect and goodwill from the men. A'silver teapot, suitably inscribed was also presented to Mrs Phillips. Ex-Superintendent Phillips has presented the Brigado with a large portrait in oils of himself, taken in uniform by Mr Sidney Smith, of Sumner. Ex-Superintendent and Mrs Phillips have taken up land in the King Country where they intend following tho fruit industry.