PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 283, 24 August 1908, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr. Justice Sim, president of tlio Court of Arbitration, arrived from tho South yesterday. The Prime Minister is to open the new premises of tho Civil Service Club at 4 o'clock this afternoon. Mr. A. T. Maginnity, of Nelson, who lias been on a visit to Wellington, returned home by tho Rotoit-i last night. Mr. Justico Chapman loft Wellington this morning for Waliganui, where lie will preside over sittings of the Supremo Court in its criminal and civil jurisdictions. Subsequently his Honour will hold sittings at Pnlmerston North and Napier. ' ( Mr. W. 13. Bonnett, i»f Karon, who a year ago loft Now Zealand to talio ehargo of tho llelbourno office of tho National Cash Register Co., now occupies n position on tlio permanent stall in. tho foreign department at the company's headquarters, Dayton, Ohio, ilr. Bennett is a son of Mr. F. ; Bennett, headmaster of tho Karori School. Mr. R. Moore, of Kaiapoi, is at present in Wellington. Ho will bo a candidate for tho Kaiapoi seat at tho coming general election, and his prospects of election aro considered very good. Ho represented Kaiapoi in Parliament in 1890-93 and 1896-99. Ho has been Mayor of Kaiapoi, and has dono good work for the district in other public positions.

Mr. Malnchi R. Taylor, who has been connected with, tho browing business in Wellington for a number of years, and who formerly resided tit Kumara, died at his residence, No. 3 Collego Streot, on Friday, after a long and painful illness. Tho deceased, who was in his seventy-eighth year, leaves an adult family, of which Mrs. -A. H. Hindmarsh, of Island Bay, is a member.

Mr. R. Darrell, who is now filling tho placo of Mr. Bert. Gilbert, in the pantomimo "Humpty Dumpty," is a soil of Mr. Geo. Darrell, well-known on tho Australian stago a few years ago. Mr. Darrell, whoso performance of tlio doleful'monarch'is very good indeed, is the second substitute tried in tlio part in Wellington, tlio voice of the first, Mr. Oswald Gushing, having broken down.

Tho death is recorded of Apaekari Taotao, widow of tho late Mawheno Holwu, and a well-known and respected Native of tho Hutt district. The late Mrs. Hohau, who had rcachod tho ago of 87, had a vivid recollection of tho arrival of tho first settlers, and could relate many interesting incidents of tho early -days, She resided at the Lower Hutt for nearly tho wholo period of her eventful life.

Mr. Harry Norman Liardct, of Stratford, has been appointed chief of tho office in Wellington for tho Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, Ltd. Mr. Liardet has been resident in New Zealand for over twenty years. He has been. Mayor of Stratford threo times; member of tho county council; member of tho borough council; chairman of the Farmers' Co-operative Association ; secretary of tho hospital board; Deputy Official Assignee; secretary of tho building society; president of the Horticultural Society; president of tho football association, and has held other positions too numerous to mention.

A pleasant incident occurred recently at tho D.1.C., when a farewell presentation was made to Mr. W. J. Smyth, who is leaving tho firm, in whose servicc he has grown up from boyhood to manhood. The presentation was madri by tho manager, Mr. A. A. Corrigan, who referred to tho loyalty of Mr. Smyth as an employee, whose loss all would regret, whilst wishing him ovory happiness and success in his new venture Me Smyth was thon presented, on behalf of the staff, with'a set of carvers and a set of silver frui| knives and forks. Tho recipient mado a suitable reply, expressing his gratification at tho manner in which lie had always been treated by cvoryono in tho firm with whom his duties had brought him into contact.

Mr. W. B. Scandrett, Mayor of Invercargill, and a very old and respected resident of that city, is spending a few days with relatives in tho To Horo district. Ho-has been leisurely returning from Auckland, whero ho represented Invercargill during Fleet week, and ho expresses himself as being greatly interested in the go-aheadness of some of tho North Island towns. Being an enthusiast in municipal matters, ho has closely esamined tho "show" features of the various cities and towns which ho has been able to visit. He is delighted with Auckland, whilst the enterprise of tho citizens of tho Empire City has very strongly appoaled to his municipally trained faculties. Altogether, Mr. Scandrett has been charmed with his trip, and no doubt his observations will prove of bonofit to the Southern city.

Mr. Arthur S. Balhluco, tho gifted baritone singer, who during rccent years has become a figure on the local concert platform, intends to proceed to London early next year for the purpose of completing his vocal "studies under the best masters. Mr. Ballanco camb to Wellington from tho Auckland district eleven years ago, and though gifted with a fine natural baritone he did not take up singing as a study until four or five years later. Sinco then ho has mado undoubted progress, as is 'evidenced in tho treatment of his songs, which would be excellent were his enunciation a little clearer, a slight fault that should disappear under good tuition. Mr. .Ballanco has the advantage of a prepossessing stago presence, and his performances with the Wellington Amateur Operatic Company, notably as Strephon. in "lolantho" and Sherwood in "Dorothy" would have been received favourably oven if associated with professionals. That ho is capablo of weightier work was proved when ho sang Mephistophcles in a, concert performance of "Faust" with tho Wellington Musical Union three years ago, a performance of tho role that lias not been equalled on tho platform since, though tho work lias been reproduced. Mr. Ballanco was solectcd to sing the baritone part in the opening ode at the Now Zealand Exhibition, and as a member of the local Savage Club is a singer whoso songs are. always welcomo. Sirs. A. S. Ballanco and her mother, Mrs. Homcwood, will accompany Mr. Ballanco to London. Tt is probable that tho musical people of Wellington will show their esteem and regard for Mr. Ballancc before lie leaves.