PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1324, 30 December 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie travelled yesterday from Dunedin to Chrislchurch, and is due to arrive, in Wellington this morning. All tho other Ministers, except tho Hon. A. T. Ngata, who is at Port Awanui, arc in town. Sergeant-Major Artificer Toye, who has been stationed at Lyttelton for many years, and who has been member of tho Royal New Zealand Artillery (permanent forces) for over 31- years, is retiring on superannuation at tho end of this month. Mr, Edgar R, Waite, curator of tho Canterbury Museum, who has been seriously ill for several weeks past, is now convalescent, and is in a fair way to recovery. Tho Rev. W. Shircr and Mrs. Shirer left for Sydney by s.s. Mooraki last evening. They purpose visiting Melbourne, Launceston, and Hobart, and hope to return to •"Wellington on ■ February 9. Tho holiday is'the-result of the generous goodwill shown in a practical way by St. James's Presbyterian Church, Wellington South. . Mr. W. Wilson, of Messrs. George Thomas and Co., who has been, laid aside by illness for several weeks past, has so for recovered as to be able to visit his office. Tho Rev. J. Ketr, of Edinburgh, will fill the pulpit at St. John's Prcsbvterian Church during the absence- on holiday of the Row Dr. Ciibb. Tho death occurred on Wednesday at Invereargill of Mr. Richard Allen, who was for many years legal managor of tho Morning Star Gold Mining Company at Preservation Inlet. Latterly ho was secretary of the Invereargill Chamber of Commerce, the Hardware, Grocers', mid Employers' Associations, tho Navy League, and the Musical Union. He was also well known in bowliug circles. Cable news has been received by Mr. E. T. Phelps, of Carterton, of the death of his father Mr. Sydney Phelps, who was one of Cartorton s pioneer settlers, and lived there for eighteen years. Tho deceased leaves five ohildren and many grandchildren. Mr. Phelps was seventynine years of age. Mr. T. E. Wallace, secretary in the Wellington district of the A.1.M.E., relumed from Sydney by tho s.s. Manuka. Ho has been attending the four-yearly conference, of the Australasian lnstituto of Marino Engineers. A well-known business man.of this city I passed away on Christinas Day in (ho person of Mr. Charles Henry Jones, managing director of tho Champion Co., Ltd., of Tasmiui Slrcel, Wellington. Ho camo to tho colony about 1G years ago, and shortly after bis arrival started tho business of tho Diamond Confectionery Co., which eventually developed into one of the most important confectionery businesses iu tho Dominion. Two years ago the business of the Wellington Biscuit Co., Ltd., was acquired, and tho two were amalgamated, under tho litlo of the Tho Champion Co. The funeral of deceased look placo on Thursday morning, a service was held at. tho house by tho Revs. Chapman, Ward, and Blamires, ;i.ud at the grave the Revs. Clark, Olds, and Uanda assisted. Wreaths wore received from Ihe New Zealand Methodist Union, of which Church the deceased was a. prominent member, and from several merchants of (ho city, and from Ihe stall' of Tho Champion Co., Ltd. Tho deceased leaves a. widow, two son?, Mr. Lancelot Jonos (who was associated with his father), Mr. Donald Jones (on the staff of tho National Bank of New Zealand), and one daughter, Miss Ethel Jones. A , memorial service is to bo held in Trinity Church, Ncwtowii, on Sunday next, at 7 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Mr. Ward. Archdeacon Harper left Timaru for Dunedin yesterday, en route for England, where he will livo in future. A largo number of his lato parishioners and others farewelled bim at the station.— Press Association. Tho death is announced in a London Press Association message of Captain Henry 11. Torlesse. superintendent at the Shecr'ness Dockyard, and a sou of tho livte Rev. Henry Torlesse, Chrislehivrch, Two of Iho Gabriel's Gully pioneers have passed away lately. Mr. John Hugh M'Gregor, who died at tho Grey River llosmtal, saw service under Major von Toinpsky in the 'sixties, and after (he conclusion of hostilities he went to tho gold diggings down south with his uncle, the lato Air. John Calnoron. Mr. M'Gregor crossed tho Southern Alps from Canterbury to tho West t.'oast. At the TVrcmnkau they struck rich gold. Tho district Cameron* was called iiflor Mr. M'Grogor's uncle. Tho deceased resided at No Town for forty years. 110 was a very capable Maori scholar. Tho other pioneer, whose death has been recorded, was Mr. John Carlylo Irving,Who had had some stirring experience's in tho early day.?. At different times he was engaged in mining at the Arrow and at Welhorstones.

The Revs. W. T. Frasor and JI. Monro are cazotled. a= Maori chaplains to Iho Hawke's Bay forces.

Mr. 11. H. Jrviny, tiro vcll-ltnown Kiiklish actor, and sou of Sir Henry Irvinor, is due to nrrivo in Auckland from Svilncy to-morrow. The Mayor of Auckland is to hold a reception in'his honour, and next week he is to be banqueted bv. Iho local profession of that city. Mr. l'rvinii will play a'bi'icf season in Wellington at the conclusion of tbo run of "The Chocolate Soldier."

iho Kev. Dr. Gibb and his (amilv left. te V,'° Va \ mm , yesterday for Oiiapua (Marlborough), where they will spend a holiday of about a oiontk,