PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13872, 5 October 1908, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Sir George M. O'Rorke, M.L.C., came up. from Wellington yesterday. Captain Chrisp was ft passenger from Gisborne by the Wimoiera yesterday. Captain Seweli was a passenger from '*.'''■ the South yesterday by the Takapuna. The Rev. L. M. Isitt arrived from the South by the Takapuna yesterday. Ho ■will deliver a series of addresses on "Nolicense" in Auckland. Mr. E. Gallichan, general secretary of the executive and president's council of the Liberal and Labour 'Federation, left for Wellington, via the East Coast, on Saturday. The Rev. W. M. Cart-wright, tho new president of the Mew South Wales Baptist Union, is the youngest man who has ever occupied the chair in that State. His age is 30. Mr. C. P. Mark, secretary of the Auckland Trotting Club, left by the, Rarawa yesterday, en route to Christ-church,' to attend a "conference of tho New Zealand Trotting Association. A Tress Association message from Napier states that the announcement that SubInspector Dwyer had been promoted to the position of inspector of police hi charge of the East Coast district is premature. Our special correspondent in Wellington states that Mr. Hanaro Kaibau>, whose prolonged absence from his Parliamentary duties has been the subject of considerable comment, has arrived in Wellington. Captain 11. Crawford is now in command of the Union Company's' steamer Takapuna, Captain F. P. Evans, R.N.R., having gone to Australia, - preparatory to setting out on the Antarctic expedition. Captain W. F. Norbury, of the Northern Company's steamer Rarawa, was taken very ill after arriving at Onehunga, on . Saturday, and as a result could not assume control of the vessel yesterday, Captain E. Stephenson taking charge of her. Captain G. H. Wheeler, who has succeeded Captain Stubbs as master of the Houlder liner Hornby Grange, is an old employee of the Houlder line. He was at different periods an, officer of lie steamers Urmston Grange, Rippingham Grange, and other vessels of the company's fleet, but for some time past has been in the trade . between London and the River Plate. . There are few alive to-day -who can. claim to have first seen the light in Sydney back in the twenties. One of the rapidly-dwindling company died recently in the parson of Thomas XJtrick Whitfield, who was born in 1824, and lived to celebrate the 84th anniversary of his birthday. He was the second son of William Gibson Whitfield, a large landowner of ■ early Sydney. . . ' On the occasion of his retirement from journalistic work, after a connection with the NEwZEiiAND Herald extending over 40 years, Mr. W. C. Bruce; shipping reporter, was presented by his colleagues -> od the literary staff of that journal and of : the ' Auckland Weekly News with a ; handsome; silver-mounted . oak tray and silver tea set. The presentation' was made by the editor of the Herald, who referred in complimentary terms to the recipient's long period of service, to the efficient .'■ manner in which ■[ he J.had performed his duties, and to the cordial feelings entertained toward* him by his fellow workers. - Mr. Bruce, who was warmly received, made a suitable reply, and expressed the hope that though his . active journalistic career had come to an end, opportunities would occur of showing that his interest in the journal with which he had been so long associated was still as keen as ever. : The death occurrred yesterday of Mr. James Miller, ironmonger, late of the firm _ v of CruicHhank,\'M3l<ff;'(and~Co;^ Deceased : "" "' was born in near Stirling, :in 1830. His father was a farmer, and the same farm had been in the hands of the family for 16 generations. The late Mr. .Miller was apprenticed to Mr. Graham, an ironmonger in-. Stirling, ■ and afterwards .'■■ started in business for. himself, later deciding to come to New Zealand. Ho arrived in Auckland in the Ganges in 1863. For , 40 years Mr. Miller was a ■well-known figiVro in Queen-street. He was several years with Cruicksliank and. C 0... afterwards with T. and S. Morrin and Co., and ' subsequently, in partnership with the late Mr. Geo. :Craicksnank, he started the wellknown ironmongeiy business • of Cruickshank, Miller,' '■ and Co. * Some five years ago Mr. Miller retired from business and »enjoyed a well-earned rest, after being 60 years in business. The deceased gentleman was for many years a member of St. James' Presbyterian < Church," and was much re- ; spected by all 'classes in the community for his sterling worth. Ha was also ore of, .the oldest members of the Auckland Bowling Club. The funeral will take place tomorrow.