PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 469, 30 March 1909, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

With three exceptions, all tho Ministers are still in town. Tho Hon. R. M'Konzio is at Nelson, tho Hon. A. W. Hogg is duo at Pongaroa to-day, and tho Hon. A. T. Ngnta is with tho Governor in tho IJrewera country. Mr. A. K. Hayward, editor of tho "New Zealand Farmer," returned from tho south on Sunday, and goes on to Hawke's Bay today. Lioutenant Shackleton will arrive- from Christehurch by this morning's ferry boat, and will call upon Sir Joseph Ward during tho forenoon. Miss Siccly, who ha? boon mistress of the Mangatainoka School, Pahiatua, for tho past fifteen years, will bo transferred to tho Hutt School on April 3. ■ Messrs. W. and S. F. Dunning, of Pahiatua, will leave Wellington by the Manuka on April 8. They are proceeding on a sixmonths' tour to Groat Britain. Mr. John Cunninghamo, of Palmorston North, left Wellington on Thursday last, per s.b. Athenio, for London and Ireland, and will return to New Zealand at the end of tho year. Mr. E. J. Rodger, of the Wellington office of the New Zealand Express Company, is relieving Mr. E. G. Skelton as managor at New Plymouth, tho latter being on a six months' visit to England. Mr. J. R. Palmer, town clerk, commenced his annual vacation yesterday, which ho will spend m tho Marlborougli Sounds. During Jus absence, Mr. R.' Tait, assistant town clork, mil perform his duties. Mr. George A. Gates, president of Pomona College, Glaremoni, 'California, who is studying the labour conditions and advanced legislation of tho Commonwealth and Now Zealand, left Wellington, for Christchurch last evening. A Press Association messago states that the Governor arrived at Whakatano on Saturday, ant* yesterday, morning thp.party wero to havo 'attended a big Maori gathering at Ruatoki, but, oiling, to, hpavy ,rain, ,tho Governor had to cancel'his arrangements. Ho will return to Rotorua to-day. Tho Canterbury College Board of Governors yesterday (says a Pross Association telegram) appointed Mr. Norman Murray Bell, M.A., to hold tho first Trinity Collego Cambridge scholarship, tho institutidn of which was agreed to by tho board recently on representations mado by Professor Haslam.

A Press Association mossago states that tho Hon. A. W. Hogg, Minister for Roads and Bridges, visited Pahintua yesterday, and, after receiving deputations from tho Chamber of Commerco and County Councils, proceeded to Makuri. Ho proceeds to Pougaroa to-day, and to Wobor on Wednesday. Tho death of Mr. Frank Gibbons, proprietor of the Gretna Hotel, Taihape, is reported by the Press Association, Mr. Gibbons, who was 39 years of ago, was the eldest son of tho late Mr. S. Gibbons, for many years proprietor of the- Whito Hart Hotel, Marten. Mr. Frank Gibbons was formerly well known in sporting circles, especially at Hunt Club contests, in soveral of which ho rode his own horso Snddon to For soino years past, he had resided at Taihapo, as licenseo of tho Gretna Hotel, tho freehold of which ho purchased somo timo ago. Tho deceased, who was a brother of Mr. S. J. Gibbons (who races under tho name of "Mr. F. Preston"), was a member of the Taihapo Borough Council, and treasurer of tho local Masonio Lodge. At , a mooting of tho Canterbury Collego Board of Governors yesterday afternoon (says a Press Association telegram) .1 letter was road from Professor Rutherford, thanking the board for its congratulations on tho award of tho Nobel prize. Tho professor wrote that, ho was pleased that those connected with his Alma Mater wished him well on this occasion. Ho had a happy remembranco of his old collego days, and of his first researches in the basement of 0110 of tho lecture rooms. "I loarnt moro of rosearch methods in tbosp first investigations under somewhat difficult conditions than in any work I havo done sinco. If thoro is any credit to bo apportioned for winning tlio Nobel prko, I think that Canterbury Collego may t-ako a fair share, for it was thoro that I was well trained in mathematics and physics by Professor Cook and Professor Bickerton. Doth . wero excellent teachers, and Professor Bickerton's genuine enthusiasm' for science gavo a stimulus to 1110 to start investigation on niy own. I may mention that the Nobel prisso was awarded to mo 111 chemistry and not. in physics. I was rather startled at first at my sudden transformation, but work I havo been engaged u)>on the last ton years may bo called physics or chomistry at will."