PERSONAL ITEMS,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 257, 23 July 1908, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS,

The death is recorded in Ireland of Mr. Alexander Kay, father of the Rev. T. G. Kay, of Wadcstown. Mr. Henry Fielder, of Manners Street, returned from Sydney yesterday, considerably improved in health. Mr. Arthur Duncan, who was a competitor in tho Championship Golf Tournament at Sydney, returned to Wellington by the Ulimaroa yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Donnelly, of Hawke's Bay, arrived from Sydney by the Ulimaroa yesterday. Mrs. Donnelly, who was seriously 'ill in Sydney, is still in feeble health. Mr. Harold Cregson,'an organist who formerly held a position at Napier, and who gavo a scries of recitals at tho Town Hall yesterday, arrived from via Sydney, by -tho Ulimaroa. A Press Association telegraift from Napier states tlin.t Mr. Patrick Gorman, of Havelock North, well-known in tho North Island as an hotel-keeper and sportsman, died yesterday. at tho age/ of 81 years. Mr. and Mrs. Pharazyn and Mr. J. 0. Bidwill, of tho Wairarapa; returned from Australia by the Ulimaroa yesterday. They have been inspecting tho . much-boomed Queensland, but are understood to bo firm in their allegianco to tho valley of tho Wairarapa. It is authoritatively stated that Genera] Botha, Premier of the Transvaal, will visit | Australia next year, in time to attend tho 'Sydney shoep show and sales. The main object of his visit is in connection with the purchase of stud sheep. Before returning ho will inspect several flocks in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. A Sydney exchange reports that Mr. Jaclt London, the well-known novelist, who is making an extended cruise of the South Seas iii his little yacht the Snark, has safely reached the New Hebrides group from Fiji. In the course of a letter to Captain Wooley, of Suva, Mr. London intimated his intention of shortly leaving for tho Solomons. A Wanganui Press Association telegram states that Mr. "Walter Empson, for twentyono years headmaster of tho Wanganui Collegiate School, has resigned his position. The Itev. J. L. Dovo, M.A., has been chosen as , Mr. Empson's successor, and will tako over his duties at Easter next year. Mr. Keith Iz&rd, son of Mr. Chas. Izard, M.P., who has been at an English University for tho past year and a half, lias been distinguishing himself greatly this year at croquet tournaments. He won tho Hertfordshire and the Sussex championships, each of these carrying with it a gold _ challenge .cup. Tho "Croquet Association Gazette" in several issues speaks enthusiastically of the. young New Zealander's achievements. At Woking -Mr. Izard won a match arid. challenge cup against; Mr. C. F. Barry, the English champion. i

Another young musician of great [promise has come to the front at Wanganui in the person of Master Haydn Beck, whose violinplaying is said to be meritorious, far beyond his years. Of the boy, the "Wanganui Chroniclo" says:—" Master Haydn Bcck, who is only eight years of age, is a' charming little fellow, quiet and, unaffected. He possesses more than • ordinary talent. His playing is very accurate and he produces a good rich tono, whilst .his execution is simply marvellous in ono so yjoung. Ho plays everything from niemory, which never once failed him.". ,

The Newcastle (England) "Journal" of. Juno 8 states"Tho ilev. F. W. Pigott, who for tile past six years lias been one of the, curates of St. Aidan's parish, Elswick, has now severed his connection with Newcastle, and leaves tho city to-day to tako up mission, work under tho. Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand.* During his connection with St. Aidan's lio has shown great earnestness and diligence, and he has endeared himself to both young and .old by the conscientious djschargo of his duties. To mark their appreciation of his services the members of St. Aidan's Brass Band have presented tho rev. gentleman with a kit bag, which will prove useful in his journeys at the Antipodes. The .presentation ceremony was presided over by the Rev. Herbert Bott, vicar, and tho hag was handed over by Mr. John Shotton, bandmaster." Mr. G. H. Rolleston, who has been appointed by tho British Board of Trade to the position of British Trade Commissioner for New Zealand,. is well known throughout the Dominion. He is tho secoiid soil of the lato Hon. AVm. Rollestou, who was Minister 'for Lands in the last Atkinson Government, and is about 35 years of age. Upon tho completion of his studies at Christ's College, Christchurch, he entered tho service of tho Bank of New South Wales and was, for some years, stationed in Wellington. ,Ho went to South Africa as an officer of one of the Now Zealand Contingents, and, at tho close of the war, was appointed by tho Colonial Office one of the commissioners' of the fund expended in the repatriation of Boors. 'When his duties in that connection wore completed ho • was appointed by tho Colonial Office to tho magistracy of Leichtenburg, Transvaal Colony,, and ' Commissioner for tho greater part of the'district lying between Johannesburg and Mafoking. Upon tho' granting of the Constitution to the Transvaal and tho advent to tho office of Premier of Gendra.l Botha most of the Colonial Office officials who had been officers in arms ill tho war wero removed from their positions bv the Government, and. .among them was Sir. Rolleston. About two yoars ago ho went to London by direction of the Colonial Office, and has now been appointed to bo British Trade Commissioner for New Zealand.. Mr. Rolleston is a son-in-law of Mr. H. D. Bell, K.C., of Wellington.

Yet anotiler of the Nelson College Old Boys has achieved University distinction iii Great Britain. Dr. Gerald Lcighton, M.D., F.R.C.S., son of the Rev. James Lcighton, formerly of the Nelson Cathedral, has been appointed to tho Chair of Pathology and Bacteriology at tho Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, Edinburgh. -Dr. Gerald Leighton has been interim Professor at the Dick Collego in tho afiovo subjects for tho past six years. He is well known in tho scientifio world, both as a lecturer and a writer of books on various phases of animal life.' His books on this subjcct are standard works. Professor Leighton received his early education at Nelson College, and his scientific education at Edinburgh University. For many years past Professor Leighton lias been prominently associated with tho colonial students in Edinburgh, parin connection with tho Australasian Club, of which ho is a vice-president. The Chair has'been endowed through tho munificence of Mr..A. I. MacCallum, M.R.C.V.S. Four old Nelsonians now lii! important University appointments. In addition to tho, subject of this notice, tliero is Professor Rutherford, tho eminent scientist, who is Professor of Physics at Manchester University; Professor Evans lias tho Chair of Chemistry at Christ's College, Canterbury, and Professor Richmond is ono of the law lecturers at Victoria, University College, 'Wellington. Professor Leighton, "Jerry Leighton" to his contemporaries of his Nelson days,'is a remarkably small man, being not much more than 4ft. Gin. in height—ono of tho world's great little men. in fact. '