PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 472, 2 April 1909, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

o—— His Excellency Lord Phinkct will to-day bo the guest of Mr. E. J. Riddiford, at To Awaite, wliere ho has gono for deer shooting. His Excellency readied Palmcrston North yesterday afternoon after his trip in tho Urowora Country. The Primo Minister will be at Featherston and Upper Hutt to-day. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar, the Hon. J. Carroll, and tho Hon. Dr. Kindlny, will remain in Wellington. Tho Hon. G. J''owkls reaches Auckland to-day, the Hon. A. W. Hogg is at Dannevirke, tho Hon. T. Mackenzie at Hanmer, the Hon. D. Bnddo at Rangiora, tho Hon. R. M'Konssio at Wcstport, and the. Hon. A. T. Ngata at Rotorua. Mr. G. Hogben, Inspecfcor-Gcnera] cf Schools, has returned from tho south. Mr. G. J). Dal!, Inspector of Post Offices, has returned from an official visit to tho South Island. Messrs. J. Ncilson and J. Cottrell, two well-known Napier residents, leave Wellington by tho Warrimoo to-day for Sydney, on a trip to tho Old Country. Mr. R. St. J. Beore, well-known in university ai:d athletic circles, has been elected to the staff of the Wellington City Rifles as a junior subaltern oilicer. Mr. Mouat was elected trustee at last night's meeting of tlio Wellington Trades Council. Tho other candidates were Messrs. Cotichie and Higgins. Mr. W. A. M'Leod, locker in tho Cus--1 toms Department, who retired on superannuation on Wednesday, was tho recipient of a presentation from the officers of the • Department, prior to taking his leave

At last night's meeting of the Wellington Hockey Referees' Association a voto of sympathy and condolenco was accorded tlio relatives of tlio late Mr. Herhert Bridge, who died recently. 'Die Hon. R. M'Kenzie, Minister for Public Works and Mines, leaves Westport tomorrow for Reofton. After Easter lie will go on to Greymouthj and formally open a railway at Ross, which has been running sinco Christmas. Mr. Alfred J. Johnston, of Harborne, England, brother of Mr. Arthur C. Johnson, of To Kuiti, is now visiting New Zealand. Ho arrived in Auckland by the Mokoia on Monday last, from and is proceeding to Rotorua for tlio fishing. Tlio Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, left far Auckland by the Main Trunk at midday yesterday. Ho intends to visit Rotorua, Waihi, and Thames, return to Auckland for the Easter holidays, and go to Tauranga before returning to Wellington. Amongst tlio officers of the Roads Department who have been retired from thft service under the age-limit rulo is Mr, J. W. Poynter. On Wednesday Mr. Hursthouso, on behalf of tho staff, presented Mr. Poynter with a farewell gift in the shapo of a handsome travelling bag. The Anglican Bishop of Waiapu has mado his farewell visit to Rotorua. Ho held confirmation services at Ohihcmutu and Rotorua, preaching farewell sermons at 'each place. On Monday evening ho was entertained at a farewell social. On behalf of tho Maoris the Rev. P. A. Bennett presented him with a chequo for £25 for any purpose—a farewell gift. Tho Hon. A. W. Hogg arrived at Danncvirko yesterday evening from his tour in j?e. backblocks of tho Pahiatua electorate. ? v ; i left Pahiatua on Monday, accompanied 'by Mr. Ross, M.P., and Mr. Nathan, assistant district road engineer. They journeyed via Malum, Pongaroa, Waione, and Weber, receiving numerous deputations. To-day Mr. Hog" leaves Dannevirke by the express for tho King Country.—Press Association. Mr. Oscar Asche, tho eminent English actor, who will arrivo in Australia in May next with his wife and a complete company, under the management of Messrs, Mcyncll and Gunn, is said to bo one of tho finest all-round amateur sportsmen in England. Ho is an enthusiastic golfer, cricketer, cyclist, motorist, oarsman, yachtsman, and walker. Ho is a man of commanding appearanco and powerful physique, with a strong personality. He is about 6ft'. 2in. in height, and broad in proportion. His appearanco as Othello is said to bo most awe-inspiring. Mr. R. H. Irwin, who has for some years been town clerk to tho Grey Lynn Borough Council (Auckland), has resigned that posi'uion. Mr. Irwin was recently appointed secretary to tho Auckland Drainago Board, and it is in order to tako up tlio duties of that office that he has resigned his present post. The council carried resolutions to place on record appreciation and thanks, and .appointing a committee to arrange for some tangible acknowledgement of Mr. Irwin's past services. Mr. A. 11. T. Haultain, for • some time Mr. Irwin's assistant, was appointed acting tewn clerk as from May 1 next. The Prime Minister goes to Pcatherston by the mail train this morning, to open tho new post office. Tho function will tako place at noon and will he followed by an informal luncheon. Tho Upper Hutt Post ■ Office will bo opened by tho Premier at 4 p.m., and in the Veiling ho will bo entertained at a banquet. In his speech on this latter occasion Sir Joseph Ward will announce his scheme for tho reorganisation of tho Civil Service. The speech is awaited with much interest, as it is understood that several of the Departments arc to bo amalgamated, and that some important appointments will he made known. Colonel Knight, officer commanding tho Salvation Army in the North Island, states that arrangements are now well forward for tho visit of Miss Ada Ward, the actress evangelist, which will tako placo in tho last week in May. Thero is, ho says, no truth in tho statement that Miss Ward intends to return to the stage. He thinks that what Miss Ward has said had been misinterpreted. They have known for a long while that Miss Ward has set her heart on doing something for the blessing of tlio theatrical profession, and they are of opinion that she simply stated that she intended to dovoto her life to this purpose. Mr. R. Tennant, the retiring Inspector of Coal Mines for the West Coast, Nelson, and Marlborough districts, is an officer ' whoso great experience will ho a loss to the Mines Department. From tho timo when he was a pit boy in .Scotland, Mr. Tennant has boon adding to his mining knowledge, and though ho has now reached the age limit, ho is capable of much work yot. If he had ono thought in lifo more than another, slate;; a brother officer, it was tho maintenance of good conditions in mines, and the prevention of accidents. In proportion to the mining population, there have been fewer mine accidents on the Const, perhaps, than in any other mining district of tho world. Mr. A. G. Skinner has been appointed to succeed Mr. G. Tattle as superintending overseer of the Government Printing Office. Mr. Skinner, who has been connected with the office for nearly 30 years, entered the service when quito a lad as a copyholder, and was indentured to the composing trade. In ISS9 lio was appointed to tako charge of the printing department in tho Lyttolton Gaol, which at that •time, used to do most of the printing for the Police and Prisons Departments. He remained there for five years, and on leaving was presented by (lie prisoners with a unique testimonial. Since IflOo ho has been overseer or foreman of tlio johliing-rooni at the Government Printing Office, in which position he has always performed his duties in a highly conscientious manner. Mr. Skinner was for five years president of the Wellington Typographical Society, and was deputed to an. pear for the trade lief ore the Arbitration Court, when it conducted an inquiry into trade conditions throughout tlio district, and on tile completion of the circuit at Napier, Mr. Justice Chapman took occasion to publicly compliment him on the manner in which ho had conducted the case for tho trade.