PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 823, 23 May 1910, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, has been invited to deliver a politicaladdress at Hokitika on Wednesday ovening.

The Hon. J. Carroll, Minister for Native Affairs, will leave this morning for Wanganui, where he will confer with the citizens' committee in connection with the reqnest for the preservation of the scenery ( along the Wanganui River. .

The Hon. T. Mackenzie will attend tho Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union conference at Mai-ton nest week. On May 27 he will open a drill hall at Catlin's River, and on May 31 he will open the Dunedin Winter Show.

The Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Internal Affairs, is Minister in attendance upon his Excellency the Governor on his trip to Wanganui and. other West Coast centres. He expects to return to Wellington to-morrow.

Still halo and hearty at ninety-seven summers is Mr. Thomas Woolford, of Cambria Street, "The Wood" (says the Nelson "Evening Mail"). The gospel ho preaches is that of hard work, and what ho regrets most now is that he is beginning to feel a little .old. Mr. Woolford has seen Hnlley's Comet shining in the heavens on two occasions, a distinction that few people can claim, and, not only that, he is one of the few people who have lived in six reigns, and he can remember very well the death of George 111, and some years after, when, the Coronation of Queen Victoria took place, he was in London itself and saw a good deal of what was going on. When he saw Hallev's Comet 75 years 1 ago he did not think so much of it. There it was, shining in the sky much the same as it could be seen at present, but there was nothing like the talk about it that there was now. People used to keep a fairly keen look-out for it,_ of course, and there was some talk of its meaning bloodshed, famine, or something of the sort, but 'little more was said. Mr. AVoolford naturally made a special effort to see the comet when it came due this time, and so far as he could remember he could see very little difference in it. Mr. Woolford journeyed from Auckland to Nelson in the days when there was no Main Trunk railway. The trip waa made in a little 18-ton steamer, and occupied no less than three months. Mi..Woolford has not been away from Nelson since he landed there—having had enough of the sea then.

An exchange of pulpits has • been arranged between the' Rev. W. 6. Muslin, 8.A., of Featherston, and the Rev. H. Keck, of Westport, the change having been rendered necessary by the ill-health of the Rev. H. Keck.

Mr. W. J. Napier, barrister, of Auckland, is in town. He is to appear with Mr. Skerrett, K.C.', on behalf of ■ Mr. Peter Heyes, Commissioner of Taxes, at the Civil Service Commission, which opens this morning in the Parliamentary Buildings.

On Saturday afternoon last the staff of the Tramways and Electricity Department met to bid farewell to Mr. A. J. Geary, chief clerk, who has 'recently been appointed Town Clerk at Feilding. In making the presentation of a solid silver afternoon tea-set, mounted on an oak tray, Mr. Cable, the assistant engineer and manager,, in the absence of Mr. Stuart Richardson, general manager, referred to the good work Mr. Geary..had done for the Department and to his kindly nature; and also said that he would be greatly missed by the staff. Mr. Geary suitably replied. The staff then sang, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Mr. Goary is to ta entertained by the staff at a dinner on Tuesday evening next at' the Hotel Windsor, and leaves the following day. for Feilding. Mr,' Burling, the centenarian of Waikanao, has lived under six sovereigns, and lias over 600 descendants. Tho old fellow (writes our correspondent) continues halo and hearty, and fully oxpectsf to outlive a number of his descendants.

News has been received in Christchurch that the Rev. John Hoatson. died at the manse, Leelc, Staffordshire, on March 30. Mr. Hoatson ws.« a wellknown figuro in Congregational and athletic circles in Christchurch nearly twenty years ago. He was one of the first pastors of Trinity Church, and his labours thero earned him. the esteem and respect of many Congregationalists in New Zealand. Mr. Hoatson was particularly interested in football, and was for several years among the leaders of tho Rugby game in Canterbury, acting as referee in many important matches. The Rev. W. A. Heighway, of Fiji, who is touring New Zealand on deputation work, arrived in Wellington from tlie south on Saturday. He preached at tho Thorndon Methodist Church yesterday morning, and at Wesley Church, Taraualii Street, in tho evening. Mr. ' Heighway will give missionary addresses in the various Methodist churches during tho week.

The Rev. Father O'Conncll, S.M., who has been on a week's visit to Mosgielj arrived in Wellington by tho Maori yesterday, and leaves this morning for Wanganui.

Daniel Bayly, a very old resident of Taranaki and Wanganui, died suddenly at Wanganui as a result of apoplexy early- on Sunday monung. A Press Association telegram states that deceased, who was 75 years old, camo to New Zealand when about five years of ago, the family residing m Taranaki. He had been a settler in the Wanganui district for over thirty years.

At tho Napier Anglican Cathedral yesterday, the Rev. 11. H. Robjohns was ordained priest, and Messrs- 11. G. Coates and H. Collier were ordained deacons.—Press Association.

Tlie "Guardian" (London) states that the Rev. J. J. Cr. Stockley, Vicar of St. Paul's, Burton-on-Trent, has been unavoidably prevented from proceeding to New Zealand as missioner. His place will be taken by tho Rev. Hubert ■\y. Jones, Rector of Guarlford, Malvern.