PERSONAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16193, 20 March 1913, Page 8

PERSONAL.

Mr W. B. Clarkson, sen., left Christchurch last night on a visit to Great Britain.Messrs A. Boag and A; Pearce loft ; for Wellington by the Ulimaroa last evening. 1 Messrs R. Forbes, juii,, H. W. lteid, 11. C. Benson, T. lti. Quill and G. Clarkson left -by tho ■ Ulimaroa for Sydney yesterday. Mr H. M. Hay, a well-known Sydney swimmer, arrived by the Maunganui yesterday to take up his permanent residence in Wellington. Mr H. Reid, who had been teller at tho Rangiora branch of the Uuiqn Bank for about a year, left last evening by the Ulimaroa on a holiday trip to England. Tho undermentioned members of tho detective force have boon promoted to the rank of dctectivo sergeants, as from March I:—Detectives Fahey (Timaru), Ward (Dunedin), Connolly (Dunedin), Cameron (Invercargill), Hollis (Auckland), Kemp (Napier) and Hunt (Dunedin). Mr E. A. Turner, of the Ashburton branch of tho Union Bank of Australia, left Ashburton by tho last express yesterday for the north on a prolonged trip to the United Kingdom. Mr Turner will go to Sydney and join the Osterley. Among the arrivals in the city yesterday wore Mr and’ Mrs E. J. Matthews (Sydney), Mr and Mrs F. Cohen and Mr R. Montgomery (London), Messrs B. B- D. Collins and it. Humphries (Melbourne) and E. A. Moody (San Francisco). A Feilding telegram says that Mr C. Ile3, who has been railway stationmaster there for the past four years, has left for Addington, to which station he has been transferred. He received presentations from the Auctioneers’ Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the railway staff. Messrs J. Stewart (Hanracr Springs), A. H. Haslam (Dunedin). G. J. Black (Gisborne), E. Ellison and H. M. Saunders (Auckland), It. V. Elliott (Fortrose), and H. P. Gluey (Motunau), Mr ancl Mrs F. C. Wade, Messrs J. F. Roberts and R- F. Steele (Wellington), Mr and Mrs White (Kowaka), Mr and Mrs Cano (Waiwera) and’ Captain Bell (Wellington) arrived in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Herbert O. Pilcher, manager for South Africa for the South British Insurance Company, arrived in Yy’ellington from Capo Town by the Tainui on Tuesday afternoon, after an absence of twenty-two years. Mr Pilcher, who is on holiday leave, was transferred in 1895 to the Cape, where he has remained ever since. During tho Boer war he served as honorary agent for Now Zealand in connection with the contingents, and was made honorary major, a rank which he continues to hold. He still represents the dominion at Cape Town in an honorary capacity. Mr IJ. T). Broadhead, whose success in winning the high distinction of a Senior Foundation Scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, was announced by cablegram on Monday, was educated at tho Christchurch Boys’ High School and afterwards went to Canterbury College. On obtaining his B. A. degree he went to Cambridge in 1911, and won an open exhibition at Trinity College. It is an unusual honour for an exhibitioner to win a Foundation• Scholarship after eighteen months’ residence, considering the keen competition of the best men in the College as well as outsiders. Regret aud surprise were expressed at a meeting of the Auckland University College Council yesterday when it received the resignations of Professor F. D. Brown, who holds tho chairs of chemistry and physics, and Professor. A. D. W. Thomas, who holds the chairs of biology and geology. Both have been professors at the College since its establishment thirty years ago- Professor Brown explained that tho increasing effort he found' necessary to carry out his duties warned him that it was time to retire. He gave notice that he intended to resign at the end of February, 1914. Professor Thomas said he intended to resign owing to the heavy and increasing duties, which imposed a great strain on him, while his sight had suffered. The Council expressed very great regret, and carried resolutions recording appreciation of the work ddne by both professors ■for so many years. Mr Bradley Martin, an American millionaire who died in London recently, was a well-known 'figure in “smart” society. He made his fortune by marrying a daughter of Mr Isaac Snerman, the American “Lumber King,” who left some tens of millions of dollars. Mr and Mrs Martin became the leaders of an exclusive fashionable set in New York, where their entertainments were conducted on a scale of unprecedented splendour. One function in particular was of so luxurious a character that protests were made in many pulpits against such a waste of money oil social pleasure, and Russell Sago declared in his blunt way that it was enough to make old Isa.ac Sherman, who made the money, ’turn in his grave. Going to London, Mrs Bradley Martin gave, in the year 1906, what was described as a “ £200,000 ball.” Mrs Bradley Martin appeared in fancy dress costume as the Queen of Sheba, and her dress was picturesquely described as “ a garment of light,” so lavish was the display of diamonds and other gems which decorated it. The late Sir Gordon Sprigg, who was four times Premier of Cape Colony, went to South Africa as a young man some fifty years ago in search of health. Ho had to bo carried on board the ship at London docks, but he became an active and prosperous farmer in Cape Colony. Then ho was drawn into politics, and eleven years after his arrival he was elected to the Cape House of Assembly. Ho quickly came to the front, and a decacle later was made Premier. During his first term of office tho Basuto war occurred, and Sir Gordon did his best to bring it to a successful conclusion. He wonted energetically in raising scratch volunteer regiments, and lie was to be seen standing on tho bridge of coasting vessels, addressing in magniloquent terms tho very mixed body of recruits. During the Boer war Sir Gordom as Premier and Treasurer of tho Capo Colony, had a difficult task. His physical and nervous strength he attributed chiefly to the fact that he was Suffolk-born. He did not agreo with tho theory often proclaimed during tho pioneer days at the Capo that it was necessary for tlio nervous system that a man should drink. “At one lime I thought myself I line! nerves,” ho said some years ago. “ but when I reflect upon what 1 have gone through I begin to doubt whether 1 really have any at all. That, T suppose, is tln> reason I do not find it neoessarv to take any alcoholic liquor. Either ! have no nerves or else they are strong enough to sustain me without tne adventitious aid of liquor.”