GENERAL NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7937, 19 October 1904, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

Something over twenty years ago Mr Maughan Barnett, organist at St. JohnV Presbyterian Church, Wellington, who is known as the composer of quite a number of dainty pieces for the piano and organ, was boy organist and choirmaster at the Church of King Charleß the Martyr. Tunbridge Wells, He wrote for his choir eeyeral hymns which became popular, and whioh he left as a legacy when he departed from the old world for the new, and the tunes of which passed out of mind as the years rolled on. A month or two ago his recollection on the subject was revived by a request from the committee (which is undertaking the poblicatioD of va Universal Wesley an Tunebook) for his consent to include one of the long-for- ; gotten hymns in the book. In writing his consent, he asked how the tune had come into the possession of the committee, and by the last mail he received a reply from a well-known English organist that when he was at Tunbridge Wells some years ago he heard one of the hymns sung by the choir of the Church of Charles the Martyr, and secured a copy, afterwards introducing it to his own choir. Its popularity jed him to suggest its inclusion in the new tunebook, and the committee unanimously agreed that it should be done, with the consent of the composer, whose whereabouts was then sought out, and the necessary permission obtained.

Imperialists will read with interest the following, paragraph from a Home paper:—•• Having written .to •,.. Lord Knoll js, requesting him to subtn it to the King the fact that out of 250 waiters employed on tbe occasion of the visit of the King and Queen of Swansea in July, hot more than twenty were of British nationality, .Mr H. Sell, the secretary of the City and National Waiters' Labour Bureau, has received the following reply, dated Buckingham Palace, 28rd July:— * Bir,—ln compliance with your request. Lhave had the honour cf submitting your letter to the Ring, audi am commanded to inform you, in reply; that, whatever opinion his Majesty may entertain on the subject to which you refer, he feels core you will see that he could not, with propriety, interfere in the matter.—Knollys.'" "-'■■■'■'":■■'■'(

The will of the late Dr Mobre, Roman Catholic Bishop of Ballarat. has been lodged for probate at Melbourne. The estate is valued at £16,310. The furnishings of deceased's la.c residence are left to his successor in bis bishopric About £5000 is 'distributed among Roman Catholic institutions, and a nephew deceased, V the. Rev James McManamy, is made residuary legatee.