PERSONAL MATTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 36, 11 August 1910, Page 7

PERSONAL MATTERS.

Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, M.L.C., who has been ailing for some time, is confined to his bed. Mr. H. A. Beauchamp, manager of the Australian Kodak, Ltd., returned from Australia by the Moana yesterday. Mr. C. M. Oram, of Abbott, Oram and Company, warehousemen, Wellington, returned from London, via Sydney, yesterday. The Rev. Father Ainsworth, parish priest at Hokitika, formerly in charge of St. Anne's parish, Wellington South, is on a visit to Wellington. The Hon. J. A. Millar is with His Excellency the Governor to-day. His Excellency and the' Minister will return to Wellington on Saturday mornJng. Mr. Leonard Stowe, clerk of Parliament, who is at present on a visit to i England, returns by the Ruahine, arrivi ing about 14th October, and will at once resume his duties. Mr. G. Gibson, of D.arlington, a wellknown agriculturist in the North-east of England, was a passenger by the lonic. He has sold out his place at Brettainby, near Darlington, and will settle in New Zealand. News has been received in Napier of the death of Captain Alexander Davidson, at Plymouth, England, on 29ih June. The deceased was well known in shipping circles, and for many years held the position of Lloyds' agent in Napier. The Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., President of the Methodist Conference, will arrive in Wellington on Saturday next to conduct the anniversary services of the Central Mission in the King's Theatre. As a speaker and debater his ability is marked, and his addresses on social conditions have aroused exceptional interest. At the Methodist General Conference of Australia in Adelaide, when the question of New Zealand independence was provoking an animated discussion, it was Mr. Laws's speech (said the Adelaide Register) that won the day for independence. The above journal described it as "the speech of the conference." Mr. Laws will speak three times on Sunday. His afternoon subject is entitled: "England to-day : a social study." At the carpenters' "social" last night, Sir Joseph Ward referred in most kindly terms to the retirement of Mr. E. Tregear from the Secretaryship of Labour. Mr. Tregear had filled a most difficult position, he said. When he was appointed there were no well-trodden paths which he might follow. He had himself to mould tile Labour_ Department — a department at its origin subjected to a vast amount of criticism, its intentions, ideals, and possibilities nut being understood by the public when it was established, under the presidency of the Hon. W. P. Reeves, then Minister for Labour. Mr. Tregear had a highly-trained intellect, and a sympathetic leaning towards the people. He had filled his office capably and well. Had he done nothing better on the literary side than those beautiful verses which wore recently published in the newspapers, he had done well. Loud applause followed these remarks by the Prime Minister. 'Mr. George Denton, a well-known citizen, died at his residence, Wool-combe-street, shortly before midnight yesterday. He came to New Zealand in 1856, in the ship China, and was in the employ of the late Mr. Thomas Mills, of Lower Hutt, and later of the late Mr. Edward W. Mills, of Wellington. In 1862 he went to England, and on his return in 1863 started in business in Willife-street. * Being of a quiet disposition, he took no part in public affairs : he did, however, deeply interest himself in the formation of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society in conjunction with the late Mr. W. T. L. Travers. With Mr. A. J. Rutherfurd he attended to and distributed the trout fry in the waters of this district, and persistently continued his efforts until, in spite of many drawbacks, fish, fit for the angler, actually made their appearance in the Hutt " and Wainui-o-mata waters. He had the first trout hatchery in his own grounds afc Fern Hill, Wooleombe-sireet, and used to distribute 5000 to 6000 fish annually. For ten years he was treasurer of the society, and only retired from the position on the amalgamation of the Masterton Society with that of Wellington. The late Mr; Denton was a great lover of birds. He cared for and superintended the distribution of all the birds imported by the society. The maimed birds always found a home in his own grounds, and became pets of the family; an aviary, which contained both native and imported birds, was his chief hobby and delight. He was also greatly interested ill the Maoris and their lore, and had a sincere admiration for the race, being on terms of close friendship with many of the natives of the past generation. Mr. Donton was a close resident in Wellington irom 1863 to 1895, when he visited England with Mrs. Denton. He was of an active disposition, and had been regularly attending business to within a fortnight ago, when he took to his bed. He is survived by his widow and seven sons and three daughters. They are :—: — Messrs. R. G., W. H., L. A. Denton, Wellington ; F. J. Denton, Wanganui ; J. M. Denton, Sheffield, England; P. N. Denton, Calcutta, India; H. Denton, Levin, and one married daughter, Mrs. W. G. Adkin, Levin. Misses Kate and Edith Denton reside in Wellington.