PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13938, 21 December 1908, Page 8

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr. P. M. Hansen returned from a visit to Wellington yesterday. Mr. W. J. Napier returned from New Plymouth by the Rarawa on Saturday. ' Dr. Chesson left by the Rarawa yesterday, en route to Wellington. Mr.V.'A. Sproul returned to Auckland yesterday, from Apia by the Foreric. Major G. W. S. Patterson arrived from Wellington yesterday morning, via the west coast. Mr. J. K. Logan, superintendent of electric lines, is at present on a visit to Auckland. Mr. Murdoch McLean arrived by the Botoiti yesterday on a holiday visit to Auckland. Dr. R. H. Makgill, Government bacteriologist., arrived from Wellington by the Rotoiti yesterday. Mr. Justice Sim. President, of the Arbitration Court, left for the South yesterday by the west coast steamer. Mr. E. Gallichan. general secretary of the Liberal and Labour Federation, arrived in Auckland by the Rotoiti yesterday. ..Captain F. A. Stenbcck, late master of the barquentine Silver Cloud, was a passenger from Sydney yesterday morning by the Manuka. The death took place yesterday of Mr. John Patrick McCieland. barrister at at his residence. Mount Eden. .He was in his 58th year. Mr. J. Brindle, late chief officer of the mission steamer Southern Cross, has been appointed chief officer of the New Zealand Government training-ship Amokura. ■ Dr. R. M. Coulter, Deputy PostmasterGeneral of Canada, arrived in Auckland from *Ro'torua" on Saturday night, and is staying at the Star Hotel. He leaves for Sydney by the Mokoia this evening. Messrs. F. M. B. Fisher. M.F., A. F. Wilding, and H. A. Parker, who have been attending the recent "tennis competitions at Melbourne, returned to New Zealand by the Manuka yesterday. They leave by the Main Trunk express to-night for Wellington. Mr. J. E. Fitagcraid, who unsuccessfully contested the Wellington Suburbs seat at the general election, was entertained by friends on Saturday night (says a Press Association message), and presented with an illuminated address and a purse of 100 sovereigns. The presentation was made by the Hon. J. A. Millar. 'Mr. Walter Everard, who is well known in connection with several theatrical companies, that have visited Auckland in the .past, arrived from England, by way of Sydney, yesterday for the purpose of a season's fishing in the* Rotorua district. He is being joined by Mr. Lowson Pott 6 and Mr. W. Sylvester (both of Yorkshire), who also arrived by the Manuka yesterday. Messrs. , Cyril . Scobell and French were the recipients of presentations at St. Paul's Parish Jail on Friday evening, on behalf of the workers connected with the recent "Church Pageant." The vicar (Rev. C. A. B. Watson) in presenting Mr. Scobell with a solid gold cross, and Mr. French with a cheque said that the great success which had attended the pageant was mainly due to their efforts. ' .-..;'

, A presentation from the members of the St. 1 } Patrick's choir, to Mr. Thos. Gusscott, , the leading tenor. <•-,. made on Saturday. . The Rev. Father Meagher, on behalf of ' the choir; handed to Mr. Gusscott a silver ; salad bowl . d service, and a set of silver.backed' hair brushes. ') .The gifts were a mark of esteem on the occasion of the recipient's-- approaching marriage. Father Meagher and several, members of the choir spoke'of * : the high regard in which Mr. Guscott the recipient was held. ... ':■"'. Mr.* John Hannah, of Coromandel, aged 94' years, died 'suddenly of heart disease .at Mr. John Uncles' residence, Tiki, on Friday evening (telegraphs our correspondent). Deceased was gathering firewood the yard, aril as be had not come in to t*a Mrs. "Uncles, went out to call him, but found him dead. Deceased was a soldier in" the 58th Regiment, and arrived at the Bay of . Islands with a detachment of his regiment about the year 1844, taking part in the Hone B.ekel war. > He had been a , resident of Coromandel for about 40 years, but had-no relatives in New Zealand. - * -A' cable message was received in Auckland 'on' Saturday, announcing the death, in, England, of Mr. Benn x W. Levy, head of the firm of D. Cohen and Co., of England and' Australia, and father of Mrs. Myers, wife of, Mr. A. M. Myers, Mayor of ■Auckland -.■: Mr.. Levy, who was born in Australia, and was one of the best-known colonial merchants, leaves .a widow and four daughters. Deceased was responsible - for- several munificent benefactions during his lifetime, tile principal ones, to Liverpool * and 'Manchester, - the Northern - Hospital, Epileptic Institute, and Hostel for Homeless Boys' being included in the list. Liverpool, Manchester, and , Salford gave tangible expression to their appreciation of Mr. Levy's generosity and' citizenship by conferring von him the freedom of their respective cities. - . '* •" Mr. James Robert Kirk, one of the two recently appointed" stipendiary magistrates for the Dominion, was born in Dunedin in 1878, consequently he is just 30 years of age, and. is the youngest magistrate ever appointed in the Dominion. His scholastic career a youth ended by his being dux of his school, and shortly afterwards, he matriculated. ,; He studied with the firm of Duncan and MacGregor, solicitors,. Dunedin, arid '.became enrolled as a barristet and solicitor .;.-. He acquired practice with Herdman. M.P., and practised at Naseby, Central.Otago, for seven years. He was twice elected Mayor of Naseby, and was a member '.'of the Hospital Board. He took a keen interest in athletic And agricultural matters there. About three months ago he acquired a legal practice in Gisborne. Mr. Kerr, the other new magistrate, at one time also-practised at Naseby.-