PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13928, 9 December 1908, Page 8

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Rev. Dr. Gibb has been elected Moderator of the Wellington Presbytery.

Mr. R. H. W. BUgh, White Cross lecturer, was a passenger by the Manuka to Sydney on Monday.

Mr. McMaster, late chief engineer of the raieri, has joined the Atua in a similar rapacity, in the place of Mr. Mclntyre, who Is on holiday leave.

Mr. Clement Wragge, the well-known, meteorologist and astronomer, has (according to a cable received in Wellington) left Calcutta for New Zealand.

The Scottish evangelist, Rev. Hugh Payton, is expected to reach Auckland in February next, and will conduct _ services in rarious churches here during his stay.

Mr. Robert T. Heape, of Rochdale (Eng>md), who arrived in Auckland on Monday, and who intends to make a tour of «'.ie Dominion, proceeded to Rotorua yos•irday.

libs Irene Ainsley the Auckland conalto, was a passenger by the Manuka or Sydnoy on Monday. Miss Ainsley is to "join* Madame Melba on tho diva's orthcoming Australasian tour.

Miss Berynase and Miss Lennone, of Sydney, have arrived in Auckland, and *re about to commence a tour of the Dominion, making Rotorua their first objec«ive. They axe staying at Glenalvon.

The Rev. T. A. Norrio, Presbyterian' minister at Pokeno, forwarded his resignation to last night's meeting of the Presbytery. The Rev. J. B. Smellie, of Papak'ura," ha« been appointed moderator of the charge.*

Dr. Farrington, of the Ra district, Fiji, arrived in Auckland by the Manapouri, on Monday nizht. He leaves for Sydney, en route for England next week. After spending a holiday in the Old Country, he ■will return to Fiji.

Mr. Alfred Hill, the well-known musician, who has been seriously ill in Wellington during the last few days, with pneumonia, has been operated upon, and he is now progressing favourably. He is, howfiver, in a, verv low state.

A call to the Mahuiangi charge to the Rev. Samuel Entrican, M.A., was sustained by the Auckland Presbytery last night, and the induction will take place on December 50. The charge has been vacant ior gome considerable time.

Captain W. J. Collin, of Brisbane, and Mrs. Collin, who are at present in Auckland, are about to commence a tour of [New Zealand. They will visit Waiwera and Rotorua, and afterwards proceed to Wellington and the South Island.

Mr. J. H. Thorburn, foreman, of the Waihi Grand Junction Gold Mining Co.'s battery, who has left Waihi to take up the management of a tailings plant at the Thames, was presented with a silver tea set by his fellow employees before his departure..'

Mr. Horneby, late member for Wairarapa, is to be entertained at a complimentary social at Carterton, on the lYth inst., when lie will be presented with a purse of sovereigns in recognition of his services. There will also be a special presentation on behalf of railway men ail over the Dominion.

Mr. E. Newman, the successful candidate for Manawatu at the recent general elections, will be entertained at a banquet at Marton on the 18th inst., by the Opposition : supporters in % tie electorate. Mr. Maseey.. .{Leader of the 4 Opposition) has expressed his intention of being present it possible, and other prominent members of the Oppoestion will be invited. «««&&«

Ar^eawn ri , who 'went to England some nine, months ago, for the purpose of attending the Lambeth Conference, returned to Auckland last evening, having travelled . from Wellington by the Main Trunk line. The "archdeacon, who is in the best of health, spent about four and a-half months in the Old Country, and during the coarse of 'that time he visited - over '50 places in England.

Mr. George Schmidt, who has for several years acted as private secretary to the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, has re-entered the Public Works Department, which he left to join the. Ministerial secretarial staff about seven years ago. Mr. Schmidt had the opportunity of going to London with Mr. Hall-Jones, but he decided to stay in New Zealand. His new position will be that of assistant-chief clerk in the Department. .

Mr. S. Houghton and Mr. E. F. Hopkins, of Dublin, arrived in Auckland on Monday, from Sydney. They intend having a. season's fishing in New Zealand, and went to Rotorua . yesterday, for the purpose of commencing thefir sport. They were stayimr'at the Star Hotel whilst in town. Mr. Ha ugh *ne.rt list season at Rotorua, and was so well satisfied with the sport obtainable that ha ha* repeated the visit c

Mr. D. Lundon, Independent candidate at the recent election for the Bay of Plenty, was presented on Monday night by his supporters and townspeople differing from him in politics with a purse of sovereigns, as a token of the esteem in which he' is held by bis fellow citizens (telegraphs our Rotorua correspondent). The presentation was made by Mr. Gardner. In reply, Mr. Lundon expressed hearty thanks for the presentation; and the good feeling it typified.