SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 818, 16 May 1910, Page 3

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

A Presentation. On Friday afternoon, Miss Scott, of the Carterton District High School, who is retiring from tho service of the Education Board, was presented with a travelling rug, Mr. Miller, on behalf of the junior scholars, making the presentation. Mr. A. N. Burns, the headmaster of (he school, presented Miss Scott, on behalf of the secondary scholars, with a salad-bowl. On Thursday afternoon Mrs. C. Fairbrpther gave an afternoon tea in her honour, and many former pupils who were present made her the recipient of many little tokens of their regard. The death of Mrs.. Harper, the mother of Mrs. Mac Gibbon, of Hawera, has been announced. It was not so long ago that Mrs. Harper, together with her husband, the Rev. \V. Harper, minister of the Church of Scotland, were visiting Hawera after some years spent in church work in India, aiid made many friends while they were staying there. On their return to India , , the heat proved too much for Mrs. Harper, and both sailed for Home, which sho did not live to see. A bachelors' ball is to be given shortly at To Wliarau, arranged by the bachelors of the district. . ■ The Prioress of St. Dominick's' Convent, Dunedin, is a visitor to Auckland, the object of her visit being the inspection of the new property at Iluntly recently presented to the order. The prioress and her companion are the guests of tho Sisters of Mercy at Ponsonby. "God Save the King." A spontaneous tribute \va9 paid to Miss Amy Murphy by tho public of Christchurch on Tuesday (says a southern paper), when the proclamation of King George V was read. Miss Murphy had arrived in the city to sing for the Musical Union, but owing to tho postponement of the concert she had arranged to go on to Sydney. A unit in the big crowd started to sins "God Save the King," after the proclamation, and Miss Murphy took up the strain and led the crowd in its heartfelt singing. She was loudly cheered by. many people at the conclusion of the verse. Unique Recollections. A lady in the Forty Mile Bush (Mrs. John Vile, senr.) has the unique distinction of having lived under six British sovereigns. Although very nearly a centenarian, her health is remarkably well preserved, and she tells an interesting tale of her experiences when coming to New Zealand in the fifties in what was known as the "starved ship"—the Anne Wilson. Her late husband was a chief constable in London at the time of the coronation of the late Queen Victoria.' Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Wood reftrmed to Masterton on Friday evening after having had a very enjoyable time at Kotorua. Mrs. J. M'Greeor, of "Auckmore," Wαnganui, is visiting Ilikorangi.

Miss Salmond, of the Wellington Girls' College, is ' spending her holidays with her people in Dunedin.

Mr. and Mrs. A; A. Lucas, of Nelson, left Wellington on Friday by the ■Moeraki for Sydney, where they will spend seven or eight weeks.

Roller skating, with all its joys—and all its sorrows—will soon be with us again, and there is' no doubt- bnt that a very large number of people will bo following it up this winter.. Its fascination is irresistible, and'seizes young,-middle-, aged, and old alike. With its growing popularity is an increasing desire on the part of the managers to beautify the surroundings, and to have all the appointments as up-to-date - as possible. In the ; Olympia Skating Rink, ' which, opens next Saturday afternoon, great changes have been made. A new floor of Australian jarrah has been put down, tho interior has been transformed with branches and sprays of cherry blossoms instead of'tho multitude of flags that formerly decorated it, cloak rooms with someone constantly in ' charge of them have been added, and, above all, an attractive tea-room is now to be found in connection with the rink, a capable person being in charge. A good band has been engaged to play there, and nothing but new skates are to be had from the manager, so that every adjunct for pleasure-; aud comfort seems to have been thought of.

A very pleasant evening, given by Miss Barnett, at Mrs. Schoch's tea-rooms, took place on Saturday evening, a number of people 'being present, lied and gold chrysanthemums were to be seen placed in bowls about the room, and the same flowers decorated the supper tables. Various kinds of games entertained those present, among them being a guessing competition, which was won by Miss JJevonport.