PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 8

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Me. Henry Weston 1 , of New Plymouth, is at present on a visit to Auckland.

Mr. H. Saint George, examiner for Trinity College, is at present in Auckland, staying at the Central Hotel.

The Hon. George Fowlds, Minister for Education, -will probably return to Auckland from the South early next, month.

The official assignee (Mr. E. Gerard) leaves to-day for Gisborne, on a visit of inspection, and for the purpose of attending to a private assignment in that town.

Captain Gartside Tipping, a London tourist, who has been staying in Auckland, left vesterdav morning for Rotorua. Mr. S. Gilchrist Thompson (England) and Mr. Herbert Shaw (Fiji), who have also been staying in Auckland, left for Rotorua by the* same train.

On Thursday evening the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. J. A. Young, with some 25 friends of Mr. C. Hope, of the telephone exchange (writes our correspondent), waited on him, and presented him with a cheque for £28, as an expression of practical sympathy in his recent illness.

The Hon. A. T. Ngata left Wellington on Thursday on a visit to the Rotorua district. During his trip he will pay visits to several places in the King Country. His visit is partly connected with matters relating to the* thermal springs district, and partly in regard to the new proposals with reference to native land settlement.

Mrs. Trimnell (widow of Mr. T. Tallis Trimnell, who was for some yearn organist of St. Peter's Church, Wellington), died on Tuesday last at Nelson, where she had resided since the death of her husband, about 10 years ago. The deceased was born in England, and came out to Auckland with her husband, afterwards removing to Wellington.

There was a large gathering of Auckland ironmasters on Wednesday afternoon if.t Hobson Buildings, when a presentation of a roller top desk and chair was made to Mr. Wm. Laird, who is retiring from the service of the Northern Steamship Company, Limited, after a service extending over a period of close on 40 years. During this period Mr. Laird has occupied the position of chief engineer in various of the company steamers, and latterly had been assistant-superintendent engineer. During the various absences of Mr. 6. Gow. the superintendent engineer, in the Old Country, Mr. Laird had fulfilled his duties. At the gathering Mrs. Laird was made the recipient of a handsome easy chair.

In order to give their employees a more general insight into the business of the different Australasian States, Messrs. Tho?. Cook and Sons, the well-known firm of tourist agents, have decided on an interchange of officers in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. L. Sellars, chief clerk at Wellington (and captain of the Wellington Football Club), is to proceed forthwith to Melbourne, and afterwards will be attached for a time to the Sydney office. His place in the Wellington office will be taken by Mr. H. W. Parr, of the Melbourne office. Mr. R. Clarke, chief clerk at Auckland, is to proceed to Sydney and afterwards to Melbourne, and Mr. G. S. Robinson, of the Sydney branch, will arrive in Auckland on Sunday to take his place for a time. >

George Payling, one of the most prominent" citizens of Christchurch, who had been in somewhat bad health for a long time, died suddenly at his residence, near Bealey Avenue, yesterday afternoon (says a Press Association message). Mr. Payling had taken very active interest in tho public affairs of Christchurch for many years, and his name is closely associated with the municipal progress 'of * the city. " Amongst the public positions held by Mr. Payling were those of Mayor of Christchurch and chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital - Board. Before being elected Mayor, he was for many years a member of 'the Christchurch City Council, arid presided as Acting-Mayor during Sir J«hn Hall's illness at Exhibition time. As a member of the City Council he did a great deal of excellent work a3 the chairman of the Reserves Committee, and as Mayor he entered with great vigour and enthusiasm into the movement, which largely through his efforts resulted in the inauguration of i the high-pressure water supply system, which is now being installed in the city and suburbs. On the Hospital Board, where probably he did most of his public work, he showed great sympathy towards a scheme for the establishment of a consumptive sanatorium, and in other ways he did much to help those IB distress. He was also intimately associated with the administration of the sport of trotting in Christchurch, and as chairman of the New Zealand Trotting Association he did good work.