Personal Items.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16881, 8 July 1920, Page 6

Personal Items.

The Earl and Countess of Liverpool left Wellington for England by the lonic shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday morning. His Honour the Chief Justice (sir Robert Stout) will act as Administrator until the arrival of the new Governor-General, Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Jellieoe.

Mr Claude Haigh arrived in Christchurch yesterday to make arrangements lor the "linal appearance in Christchureh next week of Miss Gertrude Johnson and her concert party.

Mr J. T. M. Homsby, ex-M.P., of Carterton, who has been seriously ill for tho past six months, but was recently appnrently making fair progress towards recovery, has suffered a relapse and is again confinrd to his bed in a very precarious condition.

Mr 0. W. H. Strettell, who recently severed his connexion with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., Invercargill, after many years' service, was entertained at a social evening at Invercargill, and presented with a cheque for £600. From all parts of Otago and Southland, and from as far north as Christchureh, practical evidence of his popularity -n-as forthcoming. Severa] speakers testified to the esteem in which Mr Strettell is held, and extracts from numerous appreciative letters were read.

Our London correspondent writes under date of May 20th : The many New Zealand friends of Mr Frederick Hobbs,

-ie popular Christchurch singer, will be interested to know that he is to sail for Australia by the Orontes on Juno 19th, under an engagement -with Messrs J. C. \Villiamson, Ltd., to appear in a season of Gilbert and Sullivan operas. It is noped that New Zealand will be included in the tour. Mr Hobbs, who has had a very successful professional career ui this country, is looking forward keenly to the opportunity of meeting his iNew Zealand relatives.

Under date of May 20th our London correspondent writes: —An interesting Appointment which has just been made for New Zealand is that of Mr J. B. Garnett as agricultural instructor for Ohristchurch Technical College. Mr Garnett is a. young man of 23, a .Bachelor of Science, and he holds the diploma of N.'D.A. At present lie is assistant-lecturer at tho_ Harper-Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Salop, and he is also practical instructor in agriculture. He took his course at the University of Leeds, under Professor R. s>. Seton. In 1916 Mr Garnett joined the Royal Engineers, and served until the armistice. Last year ho went to Cambridge University, where bo took a special course in agricultural chemistry, and he was teaching at the agriculture winter classes in County Cavan, Ireland, a few months ago. fie has a good record, and Has done very valuable experimental work. Mr Garnett is a son of a farmer, and Iris life interest has been in association with agriculture. Anart from his profession, he is very Keen on games, his specialties including nockey and lawn tennis. It is considered that he is a man who will interest himself in the social life of the College, and 'will promote its sports.