PERSONAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Si'Ti'jr liragato, tho Government VitiuiUu'rist was a passenger to Wellington lust night.

Tlie Government poultry export is at present engaged on a lecturing tour in tho Hokitika district. hark -Monk Brotton, a recent visitor to Now Zealand, was recently a guest it the Government House, Brisbane.

The Minister of Bands, who left for the South last night, will probably be absent from Wellington for a week.

Mr Edward Pearce, of Cuba street, and Mr E. W. Gotch. of tho Customs staff, leave on a trip to America and England by tho Sierra, sailing from Auckland for San Francisco on June 10th.

Mr Oscar Kombor on Wednesday hist received a presentation from members of tho Wellington Football Club, of which he was for some years a prominent member, as a mark of esteem on the occasion of his recent marriage.

Mr C. C- Kingston, formerly Minister of Customs in the Federal Government, who has been in very bad health lor Gome time past, resumed his seat in the Australian House of Keprosentatives on the 18th inst., amid cheers and congratulations from all sides of tho House.

Air George Knapp, an old resident of the Wairarapa, died at Greytown on Thursday evening at tho advanced ago of seventy-seven years. Deceased came out to the colony in 18-10 as a member of the 58th' Regiment, and was present »t several engagements during tho Maori war. He leaves a widow, throe sons and one daughter. Tho following visitors to Wellington wore recent callers at the Tourist Department;—G. Dennistoun, Peel Forest, Canterbury; Philip Davies, Newbury, England; Mrs H. O. Heat. Sydney; A. O Fairhall, Hawera; John Sinclair, Hawora; F. H. Bulkeloy-Johnson, London; A. H. Knmeroa, Greytown; JSealby, R.M.S. Corinthic; H. H. Morse, Now York; Thomas Patterson, ship Trafalgar.

Mr George Webster, acting manager of the London office ot the Christchurch Meat Company, was married early in April at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Btreatham, to Miss Gertrude. Frostick, eldest daughter of Mr J. A. Frostick, of Christchurch. The Rev W. M. MacphaU, M-A. officiated. Since the arrival of his bride from Now. Zealand (writes our London correspondent) Mr Webster has been transferred to tho Christchurch head office, and will consequently have to leave for tho colony in the course di a few weeks.

The Karori Borough Connell, at its meeting on Tuesday last, passed the following resolution :—“ That this Council. in acknowledging the ability of the retiring Mayor (Mr W. H. Tisdall) and his courtesy in conducting the business of this borough, ask him to honour the Council by presenting his portrait to it hung on the walls of this chamber, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to write to him to this effect.” A letter enclosing the resolution has been for warded to Mr Tisdal), whose portrait will no donbt bo the first to adorn the walls of the new Council Chamber. Mr Alfred Hill, son of Mr Charles Hill, of Wellington, who holds a position’under Mr J. 0. Williamson, is to arrive at Auckland from Sydney on Monday next -to superintend the final rehearsals of his opera. ‘Tapu,” by the Royal Comic Opera Company, to be produced in that city during the company's approaching season. Mr Charles TTill is leaving for Auckland to meet his son bn the latter's arrival there. If successful, it is Mr Williamson’s intention to have the opera staged in London nnder Mr Geo. Edwardes' management. "The Cingalee” is now running at the London Gaiety, and there is no reason why the Maori opera should not follow with equal success. Among recent visitors to Wellington was Mr F. H. Bulkeley-Johnson, one of Governor-General Northcote’s private secretaries. He left the city yesterday morning for Auckland via the Wanganui river. Taupe and Rotorua, for the purpose of seeing as much of the colony os possible in the short time at his disposal, and reporting the result to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, who contemplates a visit to New Zealand towards the end of the year. Mr Bulkeley-Johnson, who relinquishes his official duties on leaving New Zealand, is on his way back to England via America, and leaves Auckland Eor San Francisco on the 10th prox.

A number of the friends and supporters of Air Alexander Fraser met at the Empire Hotel, Petone. on Wednesday evening and presented him with a silver tea and coffee service and salver. Air A. Coles, the chairman, in making the presentation, expressed the regard and esteem in which Air Fraser was held by his friends. Air It. Alothes also spoke of the good qualities of the guest, and drew attention tp his long service to the borough of Petone, extending over a period of eighteen years. Mr Fraser sat on Potoue’s first Borough Council, and continued a member, with small interval, up to the recent Mayoral election, when he resigned his seat. During the evening songs and musical items were rendered by Messrs H. Vogel, R. Firth, W. Henry A. Coles, ,9. Stutter. A. Alcßeth and W. Dodder.

A letter has been received stating that the Rev James Paterson, formerly of St. John’s, Wellington, is now on his way back to New Zealand. He is returning via Suez in the Ormuz, due in Sydney about June 15th, and may be expected to arrive in 'Wellington on about the 22nd. Mr Paterson appears to have had a delightful trip to the Home Country, and to have met with a groat deal of kindness, particularly from old friends in Liverpool. Previous to his departure from Liverpool an “at home ” was given in his honour by the Uav Douglas McLollan, the .present minister of the Everton Valley Presbyterian Church. The gathering was a large and most hearty meeting. On the same evening a stained-glass window and brass tablet were unveiled. The tablet records “ that it was erected in Mr Paterson’s honour, as the first minister of Everton Valley congregation, and to commemorate the church being erected mainly through his efforts and clear of debt.” Air Paterson’s old friend, the Rev Dr Johnstone —the only one of his contemporaries in the Lancashire Presbytery alive —unveiled the tablet, and made a kind and eulogistic speech; and Mr AlcLollan, the minister of the church, and Captain Keary. the senior elder, also spoke in cordial terms. Nothing could have been more gratifying to Mr Paterson than the'kindly way in which his old congregation received him, and the esteem and affection they showed towards him, after a separation of thirty-six years. The ” Liverpool Daily Post ” of April 16th says:—The Rev James Paterson, of Wellington. New Zealand, who is about to return home, will occupy the pulpit of Everton Valley Presbyterian Church to-morrow. His ministry in this church thirty-eight years ago was a conspicuous success, and it was a matter of great joy and thankfulness to many old friends to welcome him back again.

Mr Frank Simpson, chief draught-, man m iho office of tho Lands and Survey Department at Napier has been promoted to ho Commissioner of Crown Lands in Taranaki, to succeed J. Mackenzie, appointed to Auckland, The position was, as previously staged, offered to Mr J. Langmuir, chief draughtsman at New Plymouth, but lie has declined it. Mr Simpson for sorno years district surveyor at Whangaroi, north of Auckland. He L« brother of Mr It. M. Simpson, of Wellington. He will probably bo succeeded at Napier by Mr James Hay, District Surveyor. Certain transfers have been renders*! necessary in the police force, Chief* Detective Grace, of Auckland, having retired. Detective Robert Marsack. ot Napier, is to bo appointed temporarily as chiof-dotectivc, and transferred to Auckland. Ho is to be succeeded at Napier by Acting-Detective T. Quirke, Palmerston North ; and Detective William Maddern is to be transferred from Auckland to tho Palmerston North vacancy. Acting-Detective Kennedy becomes a do tectivo. remaining at Auckland, and succeeding Detective Maddern. ActingDotoctivo Millar is to be transferred from tho Thames to Auckland, and Constable De Norville, now in the Auckland district, is to bo temporarily appointed acting-detective, and transferred to the Thames.