PERSONAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5373, 5 September 1904, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr Soddon left on Saturday night {of Feabherston for a short rest in the country. Tho Premier is expected back in Wellington to-day. A cablegram from Sydney states Dial Dr Hancock, principal medical offioet in the eastern division of Now Guinea, has succumbed to an attack of fever.

Air John Tucker, late licensee of. the Prince of Wales Hotel, Alasterton, died at Alasterton on Saturday. Deceased arrived in tho colony from Devonshire twenty-five years ago.

Air ’W. B. Fisher (secretary of ' the St. John Ambulance Association) and Mrs Fisher leave this morning for Auckland, on route for the Hot Springs district. They .will he hack two or weeks hence.'

Air D. AI. Poison, who was recently promoted from tho position of second as-sistant-master at Clyde quay school to first assistant-master ait Thorlndou school, was, prior to his taking up his now' duties, made the recipient of two handsome present—one from the girl? and another from the boys of his class. Colonel Bauohop, who served with distinction with the New Zealanders in the South African, war, arrived in Wellington yesterday by Die Papanui. Ho Has been appointed to the position of officer commanding the Canterbury Volunteer district, in succession to Colonel Porter, who will take charge of a North Island district, his transference being due to the ill-health of Airs Porter. Colonel Bauohop. is a Port Chalmers boy, and on his arrival there ho is to he accorded a public reception, and tendered a conversazione by Die citizens and volunteer forces of Port Chalmers.

A cable message from London announces tho deatlr of Mr Thomas Russell, 0.M.G., formerly a Minister c£ the Crown in New Zealand.' The, deceased was horn at Cork, Ireland, in 1830, and came to New Zealand with his parents when quite a child. Ho adopted tho profession of the law, and practised in Auckland in partnership with Sir Frederick Whitaker. Entering publia life, ho was a member of the Domott Ministry from August, 1862, until October, 1863, and of the 1 subsequent Whitaker-Fox Ministry from October, 1863, to November, 1864. In both Administrations ho held the portfolio, of Defence Minister, a position of grave responsibility at the time. On the resignation of the Whitaker-Fox Ministry, Mr Russell retired from public life. He took a leading part in the formation of the Bank of New Zealand,-the New Zealand Insurance Company, the. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., and the New Zealand' Land Mortgage Company. He was also largely interested in tho Thames goldfields and in pastoral pursuits in Die Waikato district. Mr Russell was created a C.M.G. in 1877. Ho has resided in England for some years. The death took place at Meaneo College, Hawke’s Bay, yesterday morning of the Very Rev Father Yardin at the patriarchal age of eighty-one years. The deceased priest was well known throughout the archdiocese of Wellington, of which he was administrator a quartei of a oentury ago. Ho afterwards ministered in the Hutt parish. For tin past fourteen years he resided at Mear nee College, where ho was wont to indulge his taste for farming. Father Yardin was a native; of France; and had been about thirty years in New Zealand. Previous to that he had spent some time, at tho Marist Seminary, Dundalk, Ireland. The Veil Archdeacon De* voy. Very Rev Fathers Lewis, Keogh, and McNamara, Fathers Ainsworth and Kimbell leave for Meance this morning to attend the obsequies. The interment will take place to-morrow morning During his " residence’ at Meanee, Father Yardin interested himself very ranch in a subject of great importance to residents of Hawke’s Bay—that of checking the flood-waters which occasionally work such devastation in the Taradale, Meanee, Puketapu, Papakura, and Greenmeadows districts, and as the result of his investigations, put forward various suggestions which were highly appreciated by those who took an interest in the matter. Hie was esteemed not only by tho members of the Catholic Church in Hawke’s Bay, hut also by everyone in tho general community who. knew him.