PERSONAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 181, 16 July 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mrs. Mac-doneli left Hastings this morning for Wellington. Miss Jessie Crosse left Hastings this morning for the south. Mr. R. Natissh left Napier this morning for Wairoa. Messrs. A. E. O’Meara and T. Lawlor, of Hastings, returned from ] Wellington last night. 1 The Hon. James Bryce had a bril- ; liant reception at the Melbourne ‘ University to-day. ! Mr. Leslie Reynolds .engineer for j the Wairoa Harbour scheme, TelL j Napier this morning for Wairoa. I Mrs. and Miss Hutchinson, of RisI sington. are on a short visit to Na- ; pier. I Mr G. P. Donnelly was a passenI ger to Wellington by this morning’s | express. The Hon. J. D. Ormond left Napier by the mail train this morning for Wellington. Mr. Joseph Laclunan, for many years manager of Messrs. P. Hayman and Company. Wellington, died yesterday. He was aged 73 years. Mr. Suggate. consulting engineer to the Wairoa Harbour Board, left Napier for Wairoa by coactf. this morning. { Mr. J. H. Hemsworth, of Sydney, who was one of the judges at tlw Hastings Poultry Show, left Hastings this morning for Carterton where he is to officiate in a similar capacity. Mr. W. J. Hill, of the literary staff ■of the ‘'Evening Post,” has received ■ an appointment on the staff of the “New Zealand Herald,” and will leave for Auckland to take up his new duties about the end of this month. The Auckland “Star’s” Tonga correspondent writes: "‘The consecra- ; tion of Bishop Blanc was celebrated I by the Most Rev. Archbishop Redwood, of Wellington. New Zealand, in the presence of a large congrej gation of both clergy and lay people, lin the grounds of the Moaraga Cathedral. In the afternoon his | Lordship held a reception at his J residence, and two days during the I following week were given over to 1 sports and a big native feast.” i Mr E. Odium, who has held the ! position of head barman at the ’ Carlton Club Hotel. Hastings, for a 1 number of years, and who asrerftdj his connection with that hostel on , Saturday last to take over a hotel at Whangarei, wa» entertained at a smoke concert in the Carlton Club Hotel last evening. Mr W. Lane presiding. About eighty persons were present. Toasts were honoured and ' a number of valedictory speeches J made testifying to Mr Odium's many good qualities and wishing him a 1 successful career in business. Dur- ' ing the evening, Mr. Odium received presentations of a rosebowl front Mr. S. Harper on behalf of the hotel staff; a purse of sovereigns from the chairman on behalf of Mr. ! Odium’s friends ; a ■ ’gold sovereign lease from Mr. S. Charlton on behalf of his wife and family, and & valuabb* (piece of greenstone from Mr. Hare ( Nepi, presented by Maori friends. A I convivial evening was spent in vocal | and instrumental items, and the pro- * reedings terminated at 10 p.m. with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne’-’ ■ A characteristic message of optimism. in spite of a tragic note, ap- ; pears from General Booth in * re- ! cent issue of the “War Cry” on the I subject of his threatened blindness. I “If unexpectedly, the blow’ has not I actualy fallen upon me,” he says, “it is hovering painfully and dangerous!ly near. Instead of the restoration > of my sight, on which I had so long I ardently counted, the doctors tell inc that I am on the very eve of entire darkness. In a few hours my comrades may be under the painful compulsion of announcing that their General is hopelessly blind. In that event, what a loss —what an indescribably painful loss—will be mine. Never again to behold the countenI ancc of my friends. Never again to look into the sympathetic eyes of Imy comrades. Never again to witness that which for 60 years gone by has been to me the sight of sights—- ; men and women kneeling at the ; mercy scat.” The veteran adds that ’he has lost hope of being able to write a line with any facility, while it will be “absolute!}* impossible to read k book, even a page of the | Book of Books, the Word of God.” Yet he proceeds to enumerate all the i mercies that are left to him—h:s con- | fidcncc in God. the confidence and I love of his own dear people, and fiie j inestimable blessing of life.