PERSONAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4103, 16 July 1900, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Miss, Violet Mount, who has rendered such valuable assistance to the Ladies Musical Society, has been presented by Ladv Douglas, on uehalf of the members, with a. handsome silver-mounted purse, as a slight token of appreciation. Amongst the Birthday honours in May last was a knighthood for Professor K. C. Jchb, M.P. The. gold medal of the new Kaiscr-i-hind Order has been conferred on Sir W. F. Gatacre (lately in South Africa) tor his services in India a-, chairman of tho Plague Committee in Bombay City in IhOO-97. The following gentlemen were invit. ed to a dinner party given by his Excellency tiie Governor at Government House ou Saturday evening:-Hons J. G. Ward (Colonial Secretary), M . Ha.lJoues (Minister of Public Works), B. Harris. J. Jenkinson, W. T. Jennings, O. J. Johnston, G- ooncs, J. Kelly, W. Kelly, J. Kerr, G. McLean, W. Montgomery, w. C. W abler, AL -L.C.. Ail ,1-, M. Giifcddcr, J. Graham, A. L. Guinne -,, C. Hail, J- A. Hanan. C. A. c. a tardy. Hone ju.eke, W. H. Hemes. A. W. Hogg, J. T. M. Hornsby, R. M.. Houston, j? Hutcheson, G. Hutchison, M.’kH.R. -Also liTsWorship tho Mayor (Air J. G. W. Aitken), Sir James Prondorgasl. Commander Bernard Currie, R.N., Commander Lacy, R.N., and the Bov. Somerset Fitzroy, R.N. (from H. Royal Arthur).

After occupying for some six years the position of district traffic manage: in Wellington for tho Railway Department, Air T. Edward Donne will leave this week for Auckland, to take up an important position, in a similar capacity' there. Like- many other men in the public service of the colony, Mr Donne has worked his way upward stoadilv and successfully, lb was in 1875 that ho entered the .service of tho Telegraph Department as a cadet. Ho was transferred from Wellington to the Bluff, thence to Taiaroa. Heads, and afterwards to Dunedin. Next ho was transferred from the Telegraph to the Railway Department, and was appointed sUtionmaster, postmaster and telegraphist at. Cavcrsham, and subscqucnMy ho hold like positions at VVaitati and Edcndalo. He was also in charge of tho railway stations at the Bluff, Gore, and other places. In 1885 he was given charge of tho Wellington station, and in 1801 he was appointed traffic manager for the district. In connection with the running of trains and oilier work in a district possessing peculiar and considerable difficulties, Mr Donne acquitted himself remarkably well. When tho lino was ' opened through to Woodvillo some heavy calls were made on his powers of organisation, and in tho face of adverse circumstances ho answered them in a wonderfully fine manner. Emergencies duo to floods and weather, found him prompt and happy in his decisions. Mr Donne, while in Wellington; hasta-ken much interest, not only in tho comfort and convenience of the travelling public and the wants of business people and producers, but also in tho Welfare of tho employees of the department who have been under him. It may be mentioned that Mr Donne holds the. medallion of (ho St. John Ambulance Association. Outside his official duties, lie has been a member of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society.- Although accidents have left their markon him, ho has continued to bean ardent sportsman, and aspecially' good decr-stalker, as some, of his trophies testify. On Saturday a largo number of railway officers and employees from all branches of the service assembled at the railway offices, Foatherston street, and gave an enthusiastic faVewcll to Mr Donne, who was made tho recipient of a very handsome and valuable sot of table plate, and also a fine marble timepiece. Mr T. A. Peterkin (locomotive engineer) made the presentation on bohaif of the officers and employees. ,