PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10125, 7 May 1896, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Commander D'Albertis returned by the Upolu from the Islands yesterday. Mr. Malcolm Niccol returned from the South yesterday by the Mahinapua. Mr. R. Thompson, M.H.K. for Marsden, arrived from New Plymouth by the Gairloch yesterday. The Reverend Mr. McCrae Stewart, Presbyterian minister of Ascot Vale, has one of the finest private libraries in Melbourne. Sir William Macgregor leaves Queensland shortly for New Guinea, when an attempt will be made to punish the troublesome Tangai tribes. Mr. F. Percy, formerly teacher of the Patangata School, Hawke's Bay, died last week. He was well-known in Nelson, and was the first schoolmaster there. An old and respected resident of Picton, Mr. John France, died last week, aged 66 years. Ho was a native of Canada, and came to the colony when a young man. The Rev. T. F. Robertson proceeds South to-day for Chrietehurch, as one of the | deputation appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to confer with the deputies of the Otago Church in regard to a union between the two Churches. The Rev. Mr. Robertson has also been requested by the joint committee on the Scripture in Schools to consult with the Christchurch and Wellington committee in regard to joint action. Mr. J. A. Connell, of Wellington, has been appointed to the management of the Kelson Evening Star. _ Mr. Connell was formerly connected with the Lyttelton limes, and other newspapers in the colony, bac for some years he was debarred from either clerical or journalistic work in contequence of an accident, which nearly deprived him permanently of the use of bis right band. The Tongan correspondent of the Fiji Times Bays:— We hear that this is the last trip, at all events for the present, of the Upolu to the Friendly Islands. -We shall miss, all of us, the at-all-times good humoured and smiling countenance of Captain Beaumont, who by bis sterling good qualities has made friends here among all classes. We all wish h.ira every success on his new route, between New Zealand and Fiji' 1 ' The officers of the Sydney staff of the Bank of New Zealand entertained Mr. S. H. Batchelor at dinner the other evening at the rooms of Quong Tart and Co., Kingstreet, on the occasion of his removal to Cnristchureh, New Zealand. During the evening a handsome signet ring was presented to Mr. Batcbelo: by Mr. R. M. M'Anderson on behalf of tho staff, and with it were conveyed to Mr. Batchelor sincere regret at his departure and heartiest good wishes for his future success. Mr. Batchelor •Bitably replied/