PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14940, 13 March 1912, Page 8

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Eis Excellencx «m pected to return to Auckland to-morrow.

Mr. S. Saunders, editor.^Jf^g Times, arrived here by the Main nun* express yesterday morning.

Mr "w F Dickey, Collector of- Custor in that district..

The Hon. E. Mitchelson is vice-presi-dent of the Auckland Savings Ban| tor the current: year, His Excellency me Governor being president ex officio.

Mr G. L. Hercus, director of the Wertport School of Mines, died yesterday, rem pleurisy and pneumonia, aged 30 years, The deceased was a graduate of the Utago School of Mines.

Mr W. Belcher, chairman of the Otago Harbour Board, was present *$»*»? ins of the Auckland Harbour Board >cs today, at the invitation of the chairman, Mr. J. H. Gunson.

At Napier last week Mr. Walter Hislop, formerly 1 of the Auckland Stomp Office, was admitted by Sir Robert Stout Chief Justice, as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

The Rev. J. B. Brocklekurst, who has been giving addresses at the Anglican Lenten services to men during the past week, returned to Hastings last evening hv tho Main Trunk express.

Mr. Nesbitt,' town clerk of Sydney is (says a Press Association cablegram) a passenger for Auckland by the Moldavia, due to arrive here on Friday. He will spend five weeks in New Zealand.

Mr. C. Bagley. who was present at the turning of the first sod of the \VaihiTaunuiga section of the Last Coast railwav on Monday last, attended as representing tlio Auckland Harbour Board.

A testimonial, together with a purse of sovereigns, was presented to Motorman W L. Breen yesterday by, the employees of the Auckland Tramways Company, on the occasion of his leaving the service to take up a position under the Inyercargill Corporation tramways. Mr. P. MiLler made the presentation, and trusted that Mr. Breen would: have every success in the future. •

After 47 vears of service in the Imperial and colo; forces, Captain R. Carpenter, assistant-adjutant and quartermastergeneral for the Auckland military district, has retired. Captain Carpenter started his military career in the Royal Marines, and afterwards transferred to the Middlesex Regiment. He came out to New Zealand a little over 17 years ago, under engagement to the New Zealand Government. ■■; ..; ;>• ■:..'. :v. .':-*.>'-:•'- ■•'-'-;

The Hon. G. Fowlds has been mentioned as a likely candidate lor the mayoral seat of Auckland. Mr. Fowlds informed a reporter that he had received numerous requests to accept nomination for the mayoralty, and had been assured that if he would consider the matter a largely-signed petition would be presented >:> turn asking him to accept nomination. Ho is not yet, however, in a position to give a definite reply to the request. \

V' Mr. Frank' Gavan Duffy, K.C., of Melbourne, celebrated his 14th birthday on Thursday week. This simple statement of fact, though at first sight suggesting youthful precocity of a very high order, depends upon the ourious circumstance that Mr. Duffy was born on February 29, in the rear 1862. Fate -was unkind enough to allot him only one natal day in every four years, and on one occasion compelled linn to to without a birthday for eight years. The interval was from 1896 to 1904, when Mr. Duffy was old enough not to worry ■i about it. The omission, of course, arose from the fact that the year, 1900 was^not ■ a leap year, the number 19 not being dmsable by four. It is stated on gc*e*d ; authority, however, that in his younger! days Mr. Duffv was most particular vci observing a substitute for his regular birthday in '.' off ; years, the anniversary: be-< , ing kept up on March 1.

Captain William Henry Burgess, brother of the late Captain- Isaac Burgess, for many years harbourmaster at Auckland, died at Devonport on Friday, in his 78th year. Bom in Liraehouse, London, in •1834. deceased, like his forefathers, took to the sea, and "shipped a3 boy on the ship City of Poonab, bound for India. On his return he joined the barque Lord William Bentinck, which arrived in Auckland "with troops on board on August 26, 11350. After serving in various capacities in the brigs Invincible and Kestrel, the steamer William Denny, and the ; brigantine Despatch, he entered the pilot service .in 1858, remaining there until 1884—a service ' of 26 years. Many of the early arrivals will remember Captain Burgess as bring the first person they met in the new land, when he came aboard to pilot them in. After leaving the pilot service he served cm the coast in the steamer Waitaki, and ■then in the Devonporfc lorry service. Retiring on account of Hi-health he lived quietly at his homo at Devonport. Cap- .* tain Burger« passed through all the hard- '. ships of tine early seafaring days, from ship's boy to the holder of a * deep sea ticket. At Parnell, in 1862, ho was Married to Margaret Cameron, of Argylshire, Scotland, by* the Rev. Dr. Bruce. He leaves two sons, four daughters, and' nine grandchildren. , l , , '■'■"■■'; -.:„•.'