PERSONAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15190, 2 January 1913, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr. and Mrs. H-UIDA Bright, of Gis ; borne, are among the visitors to. Auckland. * ' • . ' ;,",'•' 1 Mr. J. Dolph, of Palmerston North, arrived in Auckland by the express last "evening. * * Tho Commissioner of Police (Mr. John Cullen), who has been on a brief visit to Auckland, left by the _ Main Trunk express '.0, last evening for Wellington. Mr. Henry "Willis. Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, is a passenger to Auckland by > the steamer Wimmera, which left Sydney yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. A. Wall, accompanied by Miss Ena Wall and Miss J. M.Stace, .■arrived in Auckland from Wellington by motor car yesterday. The party is staying at the* Star.Hotel. , , Among the passengers arriving in Wellington by the Tahiti, from San Francisco yesterday, was Biship Willis, of Tonga, who is on his way back from a visit to the Old Country.—{Press Association). Hon. W. D. Johnson, Minister for Public Works in West "Australia, arrived at Wellington last nicjht bv steamer. He is partly on" pleasure, 'bent," but will also inquire into Departmental methods of interest to his Government, particularly, local option. Mr. R. B. Wood, a veterinary surgeon, of London, arrived by the Orari yesterday morning. Mr. Wood proceeds to, Wellington to "take up a position with the New Zealand Government in the live stock and meat division of tho Department of Agriculture. "• '.'#■'■ - ' : - ' ;. One of the best known medical men on the coast died at Palmerston North on Tnesdav, in the person of Dr. George Wilson! He was operated upon for appendicitis on Sunday, but gradually sank. After practising in Edinburgh and Glasgow, he (sine to New Zealand, in 1592, establishing himself in Palmerston North, whero he wai known as a highly successful surgeon and physician. .He was a _ wellknown member of the Manawatu Racing Club. ; ■ One of the oldest and most highly res- • pected citizens of Port Chalmers, Captain John Watson, died on Tuesday afternoon (says a Press Association telegram from Duncdin). Deceased was born. in Scotland in 1834. In 1848 he went as apprentice on the barque Victor to the Arctic regions. Later, he went on farther expeditions in the Arctic, whaling,- and was twice wrecked, once returning in an open boat, and once living several months with Eskimos. '.' ft Afterwards, he entered the Australian service and commanded several sailing TOssffla to ~ Australian ports. . He came to New>Zealand-during the Maori War, and commanded the i barque Collingwood, which was sent to the Chatham Islands two weeks after the escape. of To Kooti to bring back 160 Maoris, whom he landed in Taranaki. A few years later he entered the pilot service at Taiaroa Heads, and for 18 years was' secretary of the Otago Dock "Trust. He then retired, and two years ago revisited England, but since his return had been ailing. : -\ :;. ;.,.'.