Personal Items.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16933, 7 September 1920, Page 6

Personal Items.

Tho Rev. F. Rule is recovering from his recent operation, and hopes to be. able to take up his work again towards the end ot tho month. Tho Rev. A. C. Lawry left for Auckland on Saturday to attend a meeting of the Central Committee of the Methodist Centenary Celebration. Mr F. W. Furkert has been appointed Encincer-m-Chief and Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department. Mr C. J. McKenzie has been appointed Inspecting Entrneer for Wellington, and Mr J. T. Mair School Architect of the Education Department. Miss F. E. McMillan, who lias held the position of chief clerk at the Christchurch Lands and Deeds Registry, and I latterly has been Assistant Land Registrar, has been transferred to Auckland to take nn the position of Assistant Land Registrar there. Miss McMillan has been twenty years in the Christchurch Lands and Deeds Registry Office, and leaves in a week or so to take up her duties in Auckland. Mr W. F. Siddall. who has resigned 'his position ,ns Town Clerk to the Woolston Borough Council to beoome clerk to the Sumner Borough Cotm°il, was the subject of oulnpistip remarks by the Mavor (Mr C. Hill) and councillors at Inst night's meeting of the Council. They congratulated him on tho success with which he had carried out his duties during his term of service, and wished him equal success in his new sphere. Mr Siddall suitably responded. Tho occasion was also tit ken to vrelcomc the new clerk, Mr O. Machattie. At the conclusion of its meeting on Thursday evening last, the Auckland City Council dealt in committee with a letter from Mr H. W. Wilson tendering his resignation as Town Clerk of Auckland. The resignation was accepted as from September 30th, 1921, leave of absence being granted from to-day till the expiry of his term. Mr Wilson is a native of Dunedin, in which city he snout twenty-two years on tho municipal staff, beginning as a cadet and rising to the position of Aotincr-Town Clerk. He succeeded the Into Mr P. A. Phillips as Town Clerk of Auckland in lfiOO, taking un his duties in March of that year. A Press Association message statesthat the Mayor reported to tho Council, when in committee, that there were several staff matters requiring consideration, and it is understood that tho Council has under consideration further changes in and rearrangement of the staff. BAY OF PLENTY SEAT. « ME K. S. WILLIAMS A CANDIDATE (SPECIAL TO "toe press.") GISBORJSTE, September C. Mr K. S. Williams, chairman of the Waiapu County Council, has announced his candidature for the Bay"of Plenty seat in the House of Representatives, the vacancy being caused by the death of the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. [Mr Williams, who stood in the Reform interests, was defeated by Mr Mac Donald for the Bay of Plenty seat at the last general election. Ho is. president of the Christ's College Old Boys' Association.] (PEESS ASsqCIATIOX TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September G. In announcing his decision to contest the Bay of Plenty seat, Mr K. S. Williams expressed regret at the occasion which had arisen for an election, and paid a tribnto to the late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald's public services. PIANO-PLAYING RECORD. — * By Cablo—Press Asscci&'ion—-Copyright.) . (Kouter's Telegrama.) (Roceived September 6th, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 5. Professor Kemn played the piano continuously for 110 hours, beating the "world's record,"" held by the New Zealander, Albert Steele. AUCKLAND'S GAS SUPPLY. 1 . (PKESS- ASSOCIATION TKUECKAM.) AUCKLAND, September 6. The gas supply of t'he city returned to normal this morning. In consequence of anticipated supplies of soft coal having reached the Auckland Gas Company, sufficient coal to last for several weeks, is now in hand. N.S.W. STATE ORCHESTRA. ♦ A representative gathering assembled at the Hotel Australia, Sydney, a few dayb ago, for the complimentary dinner to Mr Henri Verbrugghen, in. connexion with the honour recently conferred upon him by tho King of tho Betjijiaiis. Prominent citizens and musicians were present, also Mr Sproule, as representing the Government. ' The chair was occupied by tno Lord Mayor, Alderman Fitzgerald, who, with otner speakers—Mr Sproule and Mr W. A. Iloiman—dwelt upon the important work achieved by Mr Vcrbrug-. ghen, more particularly as regards the establishment of tho orchestra. Mr Verbrugghen, in reply, disclosed the fact that the orchestral position was somewhat critical. Owing to the higher cost ot living, salaries had to bo increased, and those who had entered the orchestra in the beginning as students had graduated as fully-fledged players, who had. also to be paid. "If we wish to keep the orchestra, it must be worthy of the Stat© of Australia. If less than this, it must be without me." Hence Mr Verbrugghen, in order to niako the orchestra pay its way, finds it necessary to devote twenty-two weeks in the year to touring the other States. This decision has obliged several of tup orchestra who are on tho Consorvatorium staff to resign, on the principle mutually recognised by them and Mr Verbrugghen, that tho interests of tho Consorvatorium come first. Tho new adjustment, Mr Verbrugghen indicated, was not satisfactory; it could only be regarded as temporary, and he, therefore, made an appeal to those present to place the orchestra beyond political considerations -and the conditions of a commercial enterprise. Not only the Government, but the Citv Council and the citizens, should evolve a scheme wherebv the orchestra should be made independent of such considerations — just as for tho othpr embellishments of oui life like art galleries, and libraries. "If this cannot be done," continued Mr Verbrueghen, "it would bo just as well to make up our minds to disband the orchestra." _ Tn support of his. appeal Mr VorbrugL'hen cited the case of Brussels, which, within a fortnight after the armistice reopened the House with an ample subsidy provided by the public purse. Similarly Antwerp established an orchestra of 120 performers, and various English cities are also considering permanent orchestras. i