PERSONAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11949, 25 April 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

PERSONAL.

It is announced that Mr. James Holmes, of Hokitika, has been called to the Upper House, vice the Hon. J. A. Bonar, deceased.

It is understood that Mr. James Marshal, of Totara Flat, Westland, has been allied to the Legislative Council vice the Hon. J. Kerr, deceased. It is rumoured that when Mr. Tom Mann visits Gisbome an effort will be made to get him to stand as a candidate for the Waiapu seat. A pleasing function took place on April 12 at the warehouse of Messrs. Wingate, and Co., ironmongers, when Mr. T. 1). Fearson, one of the firm's travellers, who is leaving by the next San Francisco boat on a holiday trip tfi England, was presented with a handsome gold sovereign case and matchbox.

At the annual meeting of the Auckland Camera Club, held on April 7, Dr. J. Logan Campbell was re-elected patron, Mr. E. W. Payton president, and Messrs. F. Wright, M. Trenwith, and J. Martin, vice-presi-dents; Messrs. Coomer, Rayner, Takle, and Wilkinson as committee ; and Mr. S. Griffiths secretary and treasurer.

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that Inspector Pender was on April 16 presented with a purse of sovereigns by the Wellington branch of the Law Society, on his retirement from the force after 56 years of military and police service. The presentation was made by Mr. Martin, president of the society, and the recipient was congratulated on the admirable manner in which he had discharged the duties of his position. Mr. Humphrey Berkeley, who recently lectured in Auckland on Fiji mutters, returned from Fiji on April 9 by the Taviuni, where he has been engaged in obtaining additional evidence in connection with the petition he is taking Home from the natives to the King. Mr. Berkeley leaves for England by the Ventura on her next trip to 'Frisco. The length oi his stay at Home will be regulated by the time the Privy Council appeals he is engaged in take in being decided.

It will be gratifying to the Home people to see in the ranks of the Maori Contingent at the Coronation Hokino Paraone Kawiti, a descendant of the famous Kawiti, who was the fighting general of Hone Hoke in the Northern war. Also, that a descendant of that Hone Heke is interesting himself in the Maori Contingent, and has himself a place in public life with the European colonists. The whirligig of time brings about strange revenges, and this instance is one of them.

A meeting was held in the Baptist Congregational Church, Thames, on April 10, for the purpose of wishing Godspeed to Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus J. Brown, who are about to pay a visit to the Old Country after an absence of many years. Mr. Brown was presented with a very handsome desk, bearing the following inscription:—"Presented to Cyrus Joseph Brown, by his Thames Christian friends, as a token of esteem. April 10, 1902." To Mrs. Brown a very useful handbag was presented. A very handsome dark blue marble monument has just been completed by Messrs. Frank Harris a- i Co., monumental masons, of Victoria-street Fast, to be erected over the grave of the late Professor Karl Schmitt; with the following inscription, cut and gilded:—"ln loving memory of Karl Gustavo David Schmitt, son' of Dr. Aloys Schmitt, of F :furl on Main, who died at Clevedon, March 22, 1900, aged 65 years; for 19 years conductor of the Auckland Choral Society, and first Professor of Music in the Auckland University College. ' The monument is to be erected at the Clevedon Cemetery, Wairoa South.

At a recent meeting of the Waihi School of Mines, Mr. Boyd Bennie, late of Coromandel, was presented with the Council's gold medal for having, at the last School of Mines' examination, obtained the highest number of marks in the four principal subjects. Mr. Bennie passed his examination for first-class mine manager at the interim examination last year. He also obtained a first-class colliery manager's certificate at the Government examination held in January last. When studying at Coromandel School of Mines, Mr. Bennie was working under Captain Hodge, in the Hauraki Gold mine, and later in the Scotty's. He is at .present working under Mr. Barry in the Waihi mine.

At Tuesday's parade of the No. 1 Thames Billes a very pleasing ceremony took place (our Thames correspondent telegraphs), namely, a presentation to ColourSergeant 11. McLaughlin, of a case of silver-mounted pipes, tobacco-pouch, cigarcase, and. another pipe, the present being from the members of the company, and the battalion band. Captain Shand made the presentation on behalf of the donors, and in doing so stated that Colour-Ser-geant McLaughlin was leaving the district for Auckland after 15 years' continuous service in the company, during which period he had proved himself to be a most indefatigable non-commissioned officer, and the present was to show the recipient in a small way the company's and band's appreciation of his services.

A good many friends of the Rev. Sidney Hawthorne gave him a send-off on. April 10 on the occasion of his leaving for South, in order in assume his new duties as chaplain to the Tenth Contingent, in camp at Trentham Park, About 50 communicants attended the early morning celebration on April. 10, when the vicar bade them good-bye, and bespoke their prayers for him and the contingent. During the morning a large number of parishioners and school children went to say good-bye at the vicarage, and a good number of friends assembled at the railway platform, many of whom gave Mr. Hawthorne keepsakes when taking leave of him. Prior to bis departure lie was presented by the vestry with a pocket communion service for use in the field. Mr. Hawthorne has obtained 12 months' leave of absence from his parish, and the Rev. I'hos. Eykyn has been appointed by the Primate as locum tenens. Mr. Malcolm Niool, who is leaving' Auckland shortly for Wellington in connection with his duties as Grand Secretary of tin;

New Zealand Constitution .Freemasons, was

presented on April 15 with an address and silver tea and coffee service by the Auckland Harbour Board, of which lie has been a member continuously for the last 25

years. The presentation was mado at the close of the business meeting of the Board. The Chairman (Mr. W. Gunson). in making the presentation, said Mr. Niccol had been connected with the Board for over aquarter of a century, and during that time he had done great service to the Board. They would all feel deeply the loss of Air. Niccol, but they knew he would always have the (best interests of Auckland at heart.

The chairman then handed a copy of the address, which is to be illuminated, and the tea and eoffoo service, which is to bo suitably inscribed, to Mr. N'. 01, amid applause. Mr. Niceol expressed his pleasure at receiving the address and souvenir, especially as in the course of 25 years he had succeeded in differing with a good many members of the Board. They had differed, but that had not broken their friendship. His ceasing to be a member of the Auckland Harbour Beard would be one of the biggest wrenches he would make, but if his advice or assistance could ever be of benefit to the Board, ho would be delighted to render it. At the office of the inspectors of machinery on April 11, Mr. Blackwood was the recipient of a marble clock at the hands of his brother inspectors, on his retirement from the service. On April 12 the Masonic Hall, Princes-st., was the scene of a pleasing function, the occasion being a farewell banquet and presentation to Mr. Blackwood, Government; inspector of machinery for Auckland district. Mr. Blackwood, who was leaving New Zealand for Sydney to join lis brother in business there, has been in the Government service for the past 17 years, and his departure was made the occasion for the engineers and steam users of the Auckland district to testify their appreciation of Mr. Blackwood's services during his term of oflice. The engineers also took advantage of the occasion to present to Mr. Hanson, manager of the Northern Steamship Company, the gold badge of the Institute of Marine Engineers. The banquet, to which about, 60 sat down, was presided over by Mr. Mclntyre, of Onehunga, Mr. Bansen being on his right, and Mr. Blackwood on his left. A telegram was read from Mr. Hall-Jones, Minister for Marine, regretting his inability to attend, and wishing Mr. Blackwood every success in his new sphere. After the banquet the Chairman called upon Mr. Campbell to make the presentation to Mr. Ranson, which was done in a few wellchosen words. Mr. Blackwood was presented with a handsome illuminated address appropriately framed, together with a valuable gold watch and chain to Mr. Blackwood, and a handsome lady's gold watch and albert to Mrs. Blackwood.

A pleasing function took place on the 11th April, when the staff of the Free Public Library met in the- Mayor's room at the Council Chambers for tL« purpose of predentin" a testimonial to Mr. Shilhagton, iibrian° who left on: 14th of April for * trip Home for the benefit of his health. : The ; presentation consisted of a handsome, carriage clock, and was presented by the Mayor (Mr A Kidd), on behalf of the staff. - l