PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 100, 22 January 1926, Page 8

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Minister of Labour (Hou. G. J. Anderson) will return from the south this morning, and will proceed north at midday.

The Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr. J. G. Mackenzie) will leave for Dunedin to-night in order to attend the “Horticultural Week” which will commence on Monday with a conference of directors of parks and gardens from all parts of the Dominion. In connection with the “week” there will also be a three days’ flower show at the exhibition.

General regret will be felt at the news that Mr. W. A. Edwards, secretary of the Early Settlers’ Association, will be unable to attend the annual reunion of old identities to-day. Air. Edwards has been in hospital for some time past,' and has had* to undergo two major operations.

A notable birthday celebration took place in Auckland on Wednesday, when one of Auckland’s earliest and most highly-respected pioneer citizens, Alajor Benjamin Harris, of Epsom, celebrated his ninetieth birthday, telegraphs our special correspondent. Alajor Harris has lived a life unusually full of adventure and activity. He was born in Lisburn, Ireland, in 1836, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1847. His boyhood was spent at East Tamaki, and when about 22 years of age the young man went to Pukckolic and began to farm a 400-acre block of land, most of which was forest. When trouble with tlie Maoris broke out in 1861 he at once joined the Otahuhu Cavalry Volunteers as a trooper, under Colonel Nixon. He raised a troop of cavalry at the request of Colonel Nixon, and was appointed to its command during the progress of the Waikato War. The major was several times under fire, and subsequently received the New Zealand War Medal. He also holds the Long Service Aledal. Alajor Harris has taken a keen interest in civic as well as military matters, and served on the Auckland Provincial Council from 1874 to 1876. In 1879 he was elected to Parliament as member for Franklin, holding the scat until 1896. In 1897 he was appointed to the Upper House, and resigned his appointment only three years ago, after 26 years’ service

Commissioner D, C. Lamb, of tlje Salvation Army, arrived from the south yesterday inqrning,