PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

All tlie Cabinet Ministers arc in Wellington (ibis morning, with tho exception of tho Hon. .T. Allen, who is at Duncdin, and tlio Hon. R. H. Rhodes, who is at Cliristcliurch.

Tho Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, is now paying tlio penalty of overstrain, <m tailed'by tireless attention to duty in a long and arduous session. He is at present indisposed, not seriously, it is' believed, but ho is doing no work for the present, and ho is confined to his house. * It is admitted that Mr. Massey, even moro than other members of tha Government, has had a very strenuous time this session, and. I:ss present temporary indisposition is scarcely matter for surprise. Rather it is a wonder that ho was able to attend for so long to tiio duties of his office, complicated as they wero by the strike disturbance, and keep liis health and good humour,

The Hon. P. M. B. fisher, Minister' of Marine, returned to Wellington from Christcliurch yesterday. Ho learn for Auckland by tlio first express to-day.

- Tlio Hon. W. 11. IlerrioSj Minister of Railways, leaves for Auckland by the 9.10 p.m. train to-day. Ho will spend the Christinas holidays in Auckland, and after that it is his intention to accompany the Prima Minister on his projected trip through tho Bay of Plenty district to Opotiki.

Mr. J. Darling, manager for the Relbui'iie Tramway Company, rec-civcd a. very handsome Christmas-box from. a number of his friends of the Marino Knaineers' Institute, who called upon. him at his hotiso at ICelburno for tho purpose, of making the presentation The gift was a fine gold watch, a hunting lever, inscribed as follows"Presented to J. Darling, Esq., by_ a few friends, to mark their appreciation of bis efforts on hohalf of marine engineers in New Zealand." The speakers of tho party, making the presentation, said that of all tho engineers in New Zea» land, none had done more for marine engineers in the Dominion than Mr. Darling, and they hoped lie would long vemain here to give them the benefit of his experience -and advice. Mr. Darling docs hot hold office in the Marine Engineers' Institute, but he was president of that body for a number of year*,

Mr. Tlieo. Quereo, of Wellington, who' has been on a visit to England and tho Continent, is leaving London for Wellington on January H, and will bo here towards the end of February. His niece. Miss Reno Queteo, is now encaged professionally as a solo pianist in London avid t.hn provinces. When the host mail left Miss Queroa was stayins; in London with Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stockwell. Mr. Stock-well was not- unknown in Now Zealand twenty years ago as a tenor.

■ Constable J. Nash, who has for a number of years been on tho staff of the Auckland police, ill the district office, has accepted an appointment A3 sornennt in the liaratongan police, and is duo to sail for tho Cook Islands from Wellington on January 2..

Miss E. M'Gregor has been appointed matron or the Riverton Hospital out of twelve applicants. Miss jd'Grep*of was for ydiirs uitttron of t-lio Waihi Hospital.

Ilio lato Sir Arthur Percy Douglas, some time Under-Secretary for Defence to tlio Government of New Zealand, who died from injuries received in t.ha Aisuill railway disaster, left unsettled property of the gross value of £3581, of which the net personalty has been sworn at £2932.

Mr. Horace Lane, who has been appointed to a. mathematical mastership at Christ's College, ChristcluiTch, is a passenger by the Himpehu, which is due to arrive at Wellington on February 2. Mr. Lang was educated at Christ's Hospital., where ho was head of his house. ITo gained a mathematical scholarship at Cftius College, Cambridge, in 1003, and was Barnes University scholar in 1011.

Mr. Purcoll Webb, of Masterton, has been appointed organist and choirmaster at Trinity Cluireh. Timarti. and commences duty 011 Hie third Sunday in January.—Press Association.

Mr. Stanley Drown, of Messrs. 8. Brown and Co., WrUinfiton, niut Iris mother (Airs, Sannwl Brown) Imiyo ar» riml buck in Woliiiißton after a visit to the Old Worldr .

To fill the vacancy in the Board of Governors'ot tho New Zealand Institute tho Government liiis ohVred tho appointment to l'rofossor K. \V. Von Zediitii, svi'io lias accepted the office.

Mr. .7. .'Johnston, Biationmaslcr at Waverloy, has been transferred to Marton. ami lio is succeeded by Mr. Mon» tcith, of tlio railway stair.

Dr. A. BernsMn, wire arrived from England by the Tiiimii yesterday, it taking up ft liospital appointment in tlio Auckland district.

Mr. L. It, Hamilton, of tlio National Provident Fund and Friendly. Societies' Department, Government Buildings, was presented with a easo of cutlers', suitably inscribed, and other useful articles, yesterday alto-moon, by members of tho staff on tin's occasion of his approaching marriage. Mr. I!. 10. Hayes mado tho presentation on behalf of t.ho staff.

Mr, Frederick T, Elynn leaves by tho Main Trunk train to-night and will spend tho Christmas holidays at his homo at To Aroha.

Mr, and Mrs. 0, W. Goodson, of Auckland, returned from Eiiglaiid by tho Tainui yesterday.

Mr. S. F. Haszard, postmaster at Hastings, who lias been notified of his promotion to tho position of Inspector of tho Otago district, lias spent 21 years of tlio 40 that lio lias been in tho Service at Hastings.

Mr. W. Morant Bayly, who has recently left ihij service of tho National Bank at Stratford, after a continuous) service of twenty-nilio years, nineteen years <?f which ho was manager of tho Stratford branch, was on Saturday last tho recipient of an illiif-Wmited ad" dre-ss, and a pijrso of sovereigns. Tho .Mayor (Mr. W.P. Ki.rkwood) made tho prc'SeiitatioiiSj aid many spccche.s eulogistic of Mr. Bayly work made by prominent business moil and settlors of tho district,

A voty old colonist, in the person of Mr. A, S. Hobbs, died on Friday morning at Stratford. .He was born in 'Tasmania, and cuibo to Otiigo in 1881. After two years' residence there he went to Australia, Wt returned to New Zealand ifi 1877, settling at Haivera. A toy years ago he gave up his farm, and latterly has been living with one of bis sons, Mr. J. 11. Hobbs, at Stratford. Ho leaves a family of six daughters and three Sons—Mrs, D. Wilson (Eklram), Mrs. W. Cavei'mll (Elttoufl), Mrs. G. Wilson (Papftkura), Mrs. A. Babbago (Kaii'liia)., Mrs. A. AJlbnsew (Knponga), and Miss llobbs, Messrs. Harry Hobbs (Stratford), Jack Hobbs (Eltliam), and George Hobbs (Inglowood).

Mr. <T. K. Harte, late stationmaster at Lower Hutt, who lias just retired on superannuation, alter occupying that position for seventeen years, was honoured last evening by a number of prominent liutt residents. Occasion was-taken to present Mr. Harte with a tea and eeu'eo service, Mr. £. Bunny (Mayor of Lower liutt) making tins presentation on belUiTf of thoso present. Mr. Orten Kicveiii, ail exMayor of Lower Hutt, Mr. fi. Batdwiii, chairman of the Hntt Hirer Board, and Mr. A. M. Samuel wero amongst, thoso present. Speeches eulogistic of the stationmaster we.re Riven, and special . reference ma do to his courtcsy to tho travelling public.