PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1236, 19 September 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader of the Reform party, returns from the north to-day. Mrs. Massey, whose illness was the cause of his woek-end trip to his home at Mangere, is progressing favourably, though still very weak.

Sir Joshua Williams caught a severe cold at Invercargill which will prevent him sitting all this week. The Supremo Court business at Dunedin is getting congested.—Press Association.

Mr. P. Holly, Conciliation Commissioner, has gone to Dunedin to preside at n conference of employers and workers in the seamen's dispute which has arisen there. Mr. JLally is not expected to return until the end of the week.

General Godley, Mr. AV. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, and Mr. T. M. Wilford (Mayor of Wellington) have accepted invitations to bo present at the Yorkshire Society's annual dinner on Monday next.

Mr. Leonard Borwick, the distinguished pianist, who is now in the South Island, will pay a rfturn visit to Wellington, and give a recital in the Town Hall next-Sat-urday night.

Mr. F. Billman, of Wellington, is a passenger from Sydney by the Ulimaroa, arriving on Wednesday morning. Mr. liillmau is returning after an extended tour through England.

, Delegates who have coino to Wellington to attend the annual meeting of the New Zealand Employer's' Federation, in addition to those whose names have beeji already published, are F. W. Hobbs (Canterbury Association), W. E. Fuller (New Zealand Shipowners' Federation), and W. G. Leadlev (Farmers' Unions).

Mr. Wm. G. Meddings, for many years an officer in the Telegraph Department", and who retired from the position of engineer for the Auckland district some 18 months ago, died at his residence at Oneliunga on Saturday, at the ago of G7. Mr. Meddings was born in Shropshire, England, in 1851. Ito was educated at private schools iu Christchurch, and joined tho Telegraph Department in 18"ill as an operator. Mr. Meddings was for some years employed in relieving and inspecting'duty, and w&s appointed Inspector ol Telegraphs in Canterbury in 1878. ITc was transferred from Christchurch to Nelson in 1599, and from there to Auckland in September, 1900. lie retired from the service in June, 1909, after a successful career, during which ho won the esteem of those with whom ho was brought into close contact. Mr. Meddings was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Ho leaves a widow, four married daughters, and one son, Captain Meddings, of Nelson.

Mr. William James Harland is about to retire from the position of organist I of tho Taranakj Street Wcsleyan Mct-ho--1 dist Church, which he has occupied for a period of thirty-two years, which probably constitutes a record for New Zealand. Mr. Harland has no particular reason for retiring beyond the fact that he is a little tired of the tie it imposes on his time. When he took over tho duties, during tho regime of tho Rev. Wm. Kirk, tho Taranaki Street Church was the only one with the exception of St. Paul's Pro-Cathodral which boasted a pipe-organ of auy size. The instrument was built by Coniger, of Iluddersfield, England, and though it has been kept well up-to-date (partly rebuilt at ono time) it is practically the same instrument that was brought to the Dominion over thirty years ago. Mr. Harland, who will retire three weeks from now, is being succeeded by Mr. Henry Wells, one of tho most cultured organists in New Zealand, who has been out of tho public eye for some time past. Mr. Wells was organist at tho Cliristchurch Cathedral before Dr. Bradshaw's time, and afterwards officiated at tho Cliristchurch Weslevan Church. Then ho essayed life on the land in tho south, and for somo years has "ploughed his lone furrow," so "to speak, but has been persuaded to take up the organ and city life onco more in Wellington, and musical circles will be tho gainer by his accossion, Mr. narland is to be honoured with a fitting farewell within tho next wesk or two.

| Captan Herbert Chudleigh, who retired last week after twenty-five years' official service at Sydney, and who since 1900 has held t.lio position of officer in charge of tho pilot station and commander of tho pilot steamer, Caplain Cook, holds tho record for navigating vessels into and out of the port, having dealt with 17,000, while ho hap also acted as pilot to 3000 others. Ho went to sea in 1803, and first visited Sydney in 18C5.' Besides the sailing vessels Forward, Adieu, Naird, and Iris, he commanded the steamers Lubra, Argyl, Helen Nicoll, and Australian, trading between Sydney and Grafton, in which trade ho carried over 50,000 passengers. In October, 1909, he rescued the crew of the fishing boat Red Bird, during a heavy south-westerly gale 18 miles east of 13ulli, and he has been instrumental in saving life on numerous other, occasions.

Mr. U. J. Carey, Labour candidate for Wellington North, has received tho following note from Mr. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth:—

"As a son of a father who took an interest in the welfare of his fellow-men, and as a native of Gympio, who lias followed in his footsteps, I liavo pleasure in congratulating yon 011 your selection as a Labour candidate for a seat in tho New Zealand Parliament. I wish you success in your appeal to the electors, and may tho time soon come when tho people of New Zealand and tho peoplo of the Commonwealth arc more closely related (halt the.v are now, or ever liavo been." Mr. C. E. I'raser, Honorary Minister of the Federal Cabinet, and M.P. for Kalgoorlie, W.A.. also forwarded his l>est wishes for Mr. Carey's success.

Two more deaths of very early Taranaki settlers are reported, namely, Mr. William Ilnnry George, aged "3, who arrived in the ship Oriental in .1811, and Mr. Oliver Cool; Spurdle, aged 70, who arrived in the ship Timandra in 1842. This makes four deaths of pioneers within a week.—Press Association.