PERSONAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3439, 21 May 1898, Page 2

PERSONAL.

The many friends of Mr D. Gray, who, with his mother, left for England recently, will be pleased to hear that news has been received bv cable that he has arrived Horae much benefited in Health by the long eea voyage.

Constable D. McLeod, of the local force, was yesterday the recipient of a pr»-*«ut at the hands of bis brother officers. It, t ok tne form of a handsome ducho-s suite. a..d was made in honour of Mr RlcLeou’a accession to the ranks of the Benedicts.

The Hons J. McKei,zi« and J. Car 'll returned to Wellington li*»c night Ihe Minister of Lands took advantage of bis no* m Stratford to pay a visit to the aettlem- nts in that district. He was largely doputa-wmoed

all along the line. Amongst the for the South by ihe A estialia ycolcrday wore 1*10.68301 B.u* ham, who is to till the chair of biology at the Otago University made vacant by the death of Dr Parker. MrScobie Mackenzie was also a passenger. He ha-* much improved in health by his sojourn in the Hot Lakes district.

The Government Auditor for the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Alex. Mclntosh, sails by the Waikare to-day from Syduey, and will assume his duties immediately on arrival. He has been for some years general manager of the Koyal Bank ot Queensland, and has had a large hcoitish and colonial banking experience.

The ftd owing have booked locally for the Waikare’a South Sea Island excursion in July Mrs Henry Blundell, Miss Elsie Blundell, Miss Lidia Blundell, Mrs D 0. Tennent, Mr P H. Westmacott, Mias Maud L. W eafcmaoott. Mr Chas. Ha nea. Mr W K. Curoton. Mrs W. M. Kebbell, Miss Kebbell, Mr and Mrs E. J. Harrison. Mr John Greenwood, Mr F. W. Haybittlo, Mr Wilson. MrF. A. Woatbury, who has been for many years on the literary staff of the Melbourne Argus, has come over to spend the remainder of kia life in the more bracing climate of New Zealand. Mr Westburv intends settling with his family in Wellington. Mr Westbury was in New Zealand 27 years ago, ana went through the Maori war with General Oameron as special correspondent of the Manchester Guardian , Just previous to that ihe bad been in India. Mr Weatbnry ia to® author of several Australian romances, and at present he has three novels on the stocks. One of these, called 14 Lynwode, is being published by Messrs Angus Robertson and Co., and another by Messrs Chatto and Winded. ** Lynwode M is a Maonlaud romance. The scene is laid mainly in Taranaki, and deals with several incidents in connection with the Maori war. Mr John MdElhone, M.P. for the Fitzroy division in the New South Wales Parliament, died last week from heart disease. Iho deceased had been ailing for about tiro years, but bis health improved lately and his demise, was nomewhat unexpected. Mr MoElhone was a strenuous figure in political life, ana possessed ft vivid personality and rugged knack ot plain speaking. Ho entered Parliament a Quarter of a century ago, when ho was elected for the Upper Hunter, and he retained his seat election after eleotion until beaten by a labour caudidati. During this period he was, at one general eleotion, successful in two constituencies. When eventually defeated for the Upper Hunter, Mr MoElhone retired for a considerable tame from political life. At the general eleotion in 1894, however, he contested the ritzroy seat without success. But he contested it .rain in the following year, and displaced the sitting member. Mr Henry Chapman Mr MoElhone was born ui Sydney in 1833, and was therefore 65 years of age at the time of hia death,