PERSONAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3784, 5 July 1899, Page 5

PERSONAL.

The Chief Justice left for Picton by the Rotorua yesterday to preside at the circuit session of the Supreme Court at Blenheim.

Auckland papers state that it is not yet known whether the Rev Scott West, of St. David’s Presbyterian Church, will accept the call to Burwood, Sydney. Mr Thomas H. Barstow has been appointed secretary of the Mitchelson Timber Company, Auckland, for which position there wore over 80 applicants. Mr J. J. Virgo, general secretary of the Adelaide Y.M.C.A., lias been in Sidney arranging for the mission of the Rev C. H. Yatman, an American evangelist, in Australia and Now Zealand. There are a number of golfers among the British team of footballers now in Sydney, just as a ■ number of Stoddart’s cricketers, including the captain, played the “royal and ancient” game. A message received last night from Government House states, that Lady Ranfurly has cancelled all her engagements for this week, as she is'still confined to her room suffering from a chill. Captain Jackson Barry has taken up his quarters at Kihikihi, and says he intends, as soon as fine weather , comes, to make an expedition into the King Country for the purpose of exploring certain mineral districts.

Miss Maud Beatty was * tendered a benefit at Auckland on ■ Friday by the Pollard Opera Company. “Paul Jones” was the piece chosen for production, and there was,a crowded audience to witnesf one of this talented young lady’s happi-; cst performances. , ■ Mrs Janet Brown; whose death is announced, is an old and highly respected resident of Porirua and, Tawa Flat. Deceased arrived in the colonies forty-four years ago in the ship Newherd. The deceased lady leaves' many relatives and friends,-who will greatly miss her. A meeting of the sheepskin and fur buyers of Melbourne was held recently for the purpose of presenting a gold albert and chain to’Mr'ALL Brownless, of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, who was about to proceed to Townsville, in the company’s interests. . .

Mr V. H. Baxter, who was for many years in the head office of the Australian Widows’ Fund’ Life Assurance’ Society, and who for the -past two years has filled the position of resident secretary at the South Australian branch of ‘the society; arrived in Wellington by .the Mokoia on Sunday last, and takes charge of the New Zealand business of the society. Lieutenant-General J. F. Owen, who formerly was Military Commandant in South Australia, and who has been in command of the Royal Artillery in Malta since May, 1895, has received a promotion in rank, in consequence of which he will have to leave his present command in September next, and proceed to England to take another appointment. At the meeting of the Hospital Trustees yesterday, on the motion of Mr C. M. Luke, seconded by Mr R.. 0. Kirk, the chairman (the Hon E. H. Fraser) v, as congratulated on his elevation- to the Legislative Council. Mr Fraser, in re-ply,-sajd he felt deeply sensible, of the jomplinient paid to him by those with whom he, had worked for so many years.

A pleasing function, took : plac© at the Thorndon Railway Station last evening, the occasion being the presentation to Mr Chas, F. Hobbs of a valuable overmantel, silver-mounted butter knife and jam spoon, on the, occasion of his marriage. The presentation was made by Mr F. W. Styles, stationmaster, and was suitably acknowledged by the ha—-- recipient. The Victorian Police Force has lost, by tho death, from heart disease, of SubInspector Flood, one of Ned Kelly’s “marked men.” For about a quarter of a century the deceased officer was often heard of in connection with tho more serious class of law-breakers, and it was a tribute to his pluck and capability that Ned Kelly specially singled him out among policemen as the object of his hatred.