PERSONAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10013, 27 December 1895, Page 3 (Supplement)

PERSONAL.

It is reportod that Mr. H. S. Fish, of Dunedin, has been left £30,000, by a brother who recontlydied at Liverpool. The Hon. E. Blake, M.P., Q.C., will address a public meeting in Auckland, on Friday evening, January 10th. Mr. Gourley has been presented by the St. Kilda Borough Council with a marble clock, after thirteen years' continuous service as Mayor. Judge Williams of Dunedin has been presented by tho profession with an enlarged portrait of himself. Another was presented to the library. Mr. H. U. Seth-Smith has boon appointed Honorary Corresponding Secretary of the Royal Colonial Institute, in succession to the late Mr. Render Wood.

Mr. 11. S. Fish, tho retiring Mayor of Dunedin was presented with a purse containing 100 sovereigns. The presentation was mado by Mr. E. Cargill. It is stated that in the event of the Hon. W. P. Reeves retiring from the Christchurch seat the National Association will bring the Hon. W. Rolloston forward. On December 7, the tradespeople and other customers of the Otahuhu branch "f the Bank of New Zealand met at the bank, and presented an illuminated address to Mr. Bickford, the manager, who was promoted to another bank.

A young lady in Christchurch, IS years of age, has just received tho first cortificato gained in Now Zealand for writing 150 words a minuto. She has been studying shorthand for two years. Tho ladies of Christ Church (Wanganui) guild have presented tho Rev. T. B. Maclean with a put so of sovereigns, accompanied by an intimation that the money should bo devoted to tho purchase of a bicycle. A handsomo brass tablet in memory of the lato Mr. W. B. Williams, 8.A., has been erected in the entrance hall of the Boys' High School, Dunedin. Tho tablet was subscribed for by his colleagues and former pupils, Mr. W. W. Bird, M.A., a«istant master at the Mount Cook Boys' School, who is about to be married, has been presented by his follow teachers with a handsomo set of ivory-handled carvers in a Morocco caso, as an expression of their good wishes, His Excellency has been advised to appoint the following gentlemen to the Legislative Council Mr. W. ('. Smith, Hawlto's Bay ; Mr. George Jones, Oamaru ; Mr. R. H. J. Reeves, of the West Coast; an l Mr. F. C. Arkwright, Rangitikei.

Tlio Wellington Telegraph Ollice stuff has pre*onted a beautiful salad bowl and service to Mrs. F. G. (iannaway, and an aneroid barometer to Mr, Gannaway, who 1 has been transferred to Christchurch on promotion after '.'3 years' service in the Wellington office. After the performance of the " Messiah," on Dec. 22, by the Choral Society, in tho Choral Hall, a number of members assembled, ami Mr. H. J. Edmiston (secretary), on behalf of tlio president, (Mr. H. Brett), presented Miss Reeve with a purse of sovereigns, prior to her departure for Germany. On Friday evening, Decern Iter 6, the Rev. J. Mclvirland took advantage of the large dithering assembled in the Bombay Hall to present to Mr. W. K. Corntlnvaite, 011 behalf of the residents of the district, a stun of money which had been collected in shilling subscriptions us a mark of the great esteem and alfoction with which that gentleman is regarded by his fellow-settlers. The marriage of Professor Egerton, of the Auckland University, to Miss Annie Fenton, daughter of Judge Fenton, of Cmsland, Kaipara, took place on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Bishopscourt. Bishop Cowie (Primate) officiating. Tho marriage was a very quiet affair. Tlio bridesmaids wore Miss Lewis (niece of the bride), and thy youngest Miss Pierce. Professor Tubbs was best man.

On Pec. 18a number of bowlers went to Mr. Kirkcr's lesidence, where Mr. Wlll. Gome, president of the Northern Rowling Association, in tho absence of Mr. Holland, the president of tho Auckland Bowling Association, who was unavoidably absent owing to his Mayoral duties presented Mrs, Kirker with a full set of ladies bowle for a rink in a case, manufactured at Messrs. Winks and Hall's establishment.

Mr. A. 1). Lubeeki, who has just retired from being the officer in charge of tho Tolsgraph Oflico, Dunedin, was, at a representative mooting ot citizens in tho Chamber of Commerce, presented with an illuminated address and a travelling trunk. In tho evening tho l'o-tmnster-Gonoral on behalf of the telegraph staff, presented him with a photographic album of members of the staff, bearing a suitable inscription. Mrs. O'Cillau'lian, wife of the incumbent of St. (Jeorite's Church, Thames, was presented with a handsome piano by a number of her lady friends. Tin; gift came as a completo surprise, .Mrs. O'Calhglmn being: absent from her home when it was conveyed to tho house, and on her being sent for she was met by about 40 ladies, who handed her an address.

At the invitation of Mr. Dawson, local manager for Messrs. A. Clark and Sons, Auckland,a number of gentlemen assembled in tho commercial room of the Masonic Hotel, Gisborne, recently, for tho purpose of making a presentation of a handsome silver tea and coffee service, etc., to Mr. K. \V, Kern, on behalf of tho employees of the firm of Messrs. A. Clark and Sons. His Worship the mayor presided. A very pleasing inci lent took place at Thames at tho School of Mines, after the conclusion of tho annual examination, viz , the presentation of a valuable box of mathematical instrument* and a handsomo Clad-s-fcono bag to Mr. F. B. Allot), who for the past throe years has been tho assistant lecturer at tho School, and who is now severing his connection with tho objoct proceeding to South Africa. The Hon. Walter Johnston, Wellington, having resigned his sent on tho directorate of tho Bank of Now Zealand has been offered the soat on tho Board under tho Act of last session as representative of the Government. Tho soat on tho Estates Realisation Hoard to represent tho Bank of Now Zealand has been offered by tho Bank to Mr. William Fraser, M.H.R. for Wakatipu, Mr. Georgo Todd, assistant) general manager of the Mutual Agency Company of Otago, has been offered and has aceeptod the appointment as Chairman of the Board. Tho third soat on the Board will bo filled by tho Premier.

Wo notice that by the last mail the Rev. Shirley W. Bakor, D.D., receivod hii' diploma ofLL.D. from tho University of Chicago in appreciation of his work in Tonga. Wo are all cognisant of the fact that the late King of Tonga asked Dr. Baker to draw out a Constitution for Tonga which has been the admiration of many. Tho Secretary of State of the United States, tho late Mr. Blaine, very freoly expressed his admiration of it, and also the code of laws which Dr. Baker gavo tho Tonga Islands, and from time to time tho Department of Intelligence in connection with the United States has sent very flatter ing reports of the results of Dr. Baker's labours in Tonga. Dr. Baker was a young man when, in ISIV2, he first induced the lato king to set his peoplo free from serfdom, an act which is commemorated every year on the 4th of June and called ' Liberty Day,' and held as a public holiday. It was then ho introduced the singlo tax, and that each native should have a tax garden, so that he should be in a position to pay his taxes and support his family. The wisdom of this course is seen in the advance of commerce and the prosperity of the islands. In 1875 Dr. Baker drew out tho present Constitution, nationalising the land on a firmer basis, introducing one-man-one-vote, and manhood suffrage with an educational qualification. So firmly has tho Constitution grounded itself in the national mind that the natives have been charged with worshipping it as a kind of fetish, and the lato Mr. K. L. Stevenson whon in Auckland said that' Mr. Baker was tho only man that had lastingly impressed his mind on any nation in the South Seas.' Dr. Baker has printed many educational works which aro used in the Government schools, and ho has several now in the press. \V o congratulate Dr. Baker on tho hououra which ho £-0 richly deserves.