PERSONAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4882, 6 February 1903, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Dr Do lisle, of Napier, is visiting Wellington.

Sir Robert Stout returned to Wellington last liight from Auckland. Mi-.E. M. Smith, M.H.R. for Taranaki, is at present in Wellington.

Colonel Porter left Wellington yesterday by the Waikaro for Gisborne. John P. J. Larkin is gazetted a clerical cadet in f!Tq Department of Roads. Tlio death is announced from Auckland of Captain John Mackay, late of tho barque Northern ’ Chief.

Mr James Emhling and Mrs Embling wero passengers for England by the Ruapehu, which sailed last evening.

Neither the Premier nor the Minister for Justice has hoard anything officially in regard to retirement by Mr Justice Conolly. The appointment of Mr Neil D. Hood to bo an inspector of machinery, engineer surveyor and examiner of engineers is gazetted. Tho Rev W. Newman Hall (Congregational) and tho Rev W. Barry (Baptist) aro gazetted officiating ministers under tho Marriage Act. Mr George Fowl els, M.H.R. for Grey Lynn, Auckland, is in Wellington, on his way to -tho Congregational Union annual meeting in Dunedin. Among tho visitors at tho Royal Oak Hotel at present arc Mr M. B. Gibbs (Australasian representative of tho London “ Times ”) and Mrs Gibbs. Sir Joseph Ward, accompanied by Lady and Miss Ward, will leave the Bluff on tho ICth inst, on a holiday visit to Australia. They will bo absent from Wellington about four weeks. Tho dismissal of Angus J. McCurdy, telegraphist in tho Telegraph Office at Wellington, is gazetted. Mr McCurdy, it will bo remembered, was called to account for taking a leading part in tho affairs of tho Fanners’ Union. Dr David Tannock, at present officer in charge of tho Agricultural School at Dominica, in tho West Indies, has been appointed superintendent of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens and tho city reserves out of niuety-flvo applicants from all parts of tho world.

Recent callers at tho Tourist Department include the following:—Dr and Mrs Kenny, Perth, W.A.; Rev T. Andrew, Adelaide, S.A.; M. and L. Pearl, 'Melbourne; R. S. Matthews, Inglewood; J. Campbell, London; Henry Kenyon, Eastbourne, Sussex; J. Biss, Portsmouth.

Among tho visitors at tho Empire Hotel are: —Mrs Vallance, Masterton; Mr, Mrs and Miss Oaselbcrg, of Masterten; Dr and Mrs Kenny, Sydney; Rev Mr Avorill; Mr Dickinson and family, London; Dr, Mrs and Miss CrawforcL Wanganui; Dr Lister, Melbourne. Mr George Barnes, who has arrived in the south to make arrangements for tho concerts to he given in New Zealand by Madame Melba, writes to say that tho prima donna’s first appearance in the colony will be at Dunedin, on the 16th inst. Tho concert to he given in Wellington will follow shortly after.

Among the priests ordained in December at Truro (England) is the name of G. IT. R. O. Fenton, B.A. University of Now Zealand. Mr Fenton is particularly well known in Otago and Canterbury, but Freemasons all over Now Zealand are acquainted with him because of his former official connection with the order.

Captain Atwood, who commanded the ill-fated Eliugamito, was a nasseager for Auckland yesterday by the u amaic, accompanied by Mrs Atwood. 31 r Joseph Rhodes, a very old New Zealander, now a resident of Sydney, is revisiting the scones of bygone days, and, with Mrs Rhodes, is at present m Napier. It is three score years since Mr Rhodes landed at Nelson from tlio ship Phoebe. In 1852 he went to Hawke’s Hay, and took up a sheep run at Capo Kidnappers, subsequently going to Australia. Next week the Catholic community of Napier will entertain Dean_ Grogan, befox-o bis departure for Wanganui. AA'ith the exception of four years at Hau ora iu tlio eighties, Dean Grogan has been in Napier since 1879, where ho went as curate to the late Father Forest. It was principally owing to Dean Grogan’s energy that tho Catholic residents of Napier built tlio fine church now standing in Munroo streetVisitors to Wellington include the following :—Air and Airs George Douglas Miliar and Misses Aiiilar (3), Albany, West Australia; Air A. S. Paterson (A. S. Paterson and Co.), Dunedin; Air A. A. White, Brisbane; Air Arthur S. Drew, .Adelaide, S.A. ; Mr H. F. Christie, Wanganui; Air and Airs H. B. Leatham, New Plymouth; Air AV. Longboftom and Dr Rabagliati, London. They are staying at tho Royal Oak Hotel. ' Aliss Amber Reeves, tho eldest daughter of tho Agent-General, has won the prize given by Lady Darlcy for an essay on Australia. The competition was open to all tho pupils of tho girls’ public, day schools iu London. There are some thirty of these schools, each with a largo attendance, and a number of the competitors were older than Miss Reeves, who is warmly to bo congratulated on this evidence of her inheritance of her father’s literary ability.