PERSONAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3825, 22 August 1899, Page 5

PERSONAL.

The Hon J. Kerr, M.L.C., was a passenger to AVellington by the AVainui last uignt.

Owing to ill-health, Mr Henry Thomson, of Christchurch, has tendered his resignation as the employers’ representative on the Bench of the Arbitration Court.

The latest information regarding the Hon Mr McKenzie is that lie has left tho hospital, in which he was undergoing treatment, and is making very satisfactory progress towards recovery. Another Canterbury “pilgrim,” Mrs Thomas Abrahams, has passed away (says a Press Association telegram). Sho arrived at Lyttelton in 1850 in the first of the pioneer ships, the Charlotte Jane.

Mr John Coyle, of OHingaiti, who has been laid; by in this city through illness for some weeks, successfully underwent ah operation on Sunday, and has since been in a much brighter condition.

Mr Phillip Swingland, who has been landing waiter for the Customs Department at Greymouth for a great many years, arrived in Wellington by the Wainui last night. Ho has obtained a long leave or absence, and proposes to make a trip to the Old Country.. News was received in town yesterday of the death of Mrs Speeding, of Patea, eldest daughter of Dr Wilford. The deceased lady was only married in the early part of last year. Last week she had the misfortune to lose her child shortly after its .birth, a shock from which she never recovered.

Mrs Polling, an old resident of Parkvilie, suddenly dropped dead at Eketahuna on Saturday. She was a native of Edinburgh, and in her fifty-ninth year, being relict of tho late Mr F. Polling, once a resident of Masterton, Hutt and Ekeiahuna, She leaves four sons and three daughters. „■

Tho death is announced from Christchurch by tho Press Association of Mr George Bird, who arrived in tho colony in 1860, and was Superintendent of Telegraphs under the Provincial Government. He opened the line to the West Coast. For the last twenty years he has been on the literary staff of the “Press.”

Tho cricketers of Porirua and Waiwotu had excellent fixtures on Saturday last, and considering this stage of the season, the pitches were in good condition. The Ponrua Club will be strengthened this year by the inclusion of a number of hew members, and they are already prepared to meet a Saturday or Wednesday team from tho f city.

Tho valuable services rendered by Mr Raymond Power Collins to the Catholic parish of Tfrorhdon received recognition yesterday at a gathering of the clergy and several of the parishioners, when Mr Collins was presented with a • handsome gift, as a slight return for all he has done for the parish. The presentation was made by the Hon Dr Grace. M.L.0., in tho unavoidable absence of his Grace Archbishop Redwood.

Among the passengers by the steamer Papanui, which arrived at Auckland yesterday, was Mr S. H. Gollan, the wellknown Hawke’s Bay runholder and owner of racehorses, who (says a Press Association message) has been on an extended visit to tho Old Country. He leaves by E'ingamite for Napier to-morrow. Mr T!:ns. .McKenzie, who was also a passenger by the Papanui, will stop in Auckland for a few days.. Captain Blackburn, who succeeds Captain Allman as Nautical Adviser to the New Zealand Government, also arrived. Captain Blackburn is accompanied by bis wife and daughter.

The remains of another of the early Hutt settlers, the late Mr _ Robei’t Neill, were interred at the Wainui-o-mata cemetery on Saturday last. Mr Neill, who had reached the advanced age of eighty-three years, was a native of Edinburgh, and spent a considerable portion of "Ins early manhood at sea. He landed at the Bay of Islands as far back as 1837, coming down to Wellington not long afterwards. Mr Neiil subsocjuently purchased Dr Taylor's estate near Wainui-o-mata, and has over since followed farming pursuits in that locality. The - deceased gentleman is survived" by a widow, seven daughters and five sons.