PERSONAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5603, 1 June 1905, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Sir Joseph AVnrd will not return from Dunedin until tho end of tho week. Tho Commercial Travellers’ Club will tender a farewell “social” to Messrs Heeles and Morley to-morrow evening. King George, of Tonga, left Auckland for his homo yesterday by tho Mnnapouri, which sailed for the Islands. Major Alhiston, tho chief officer of the Salvation Army in Wellington, js recovering from the effects of Ids recent accident. He leaves on Saturday next by tho Mocraki for Melbourne to attend a special conlcreiicc with General Booth and leading staff-officers of the Army. General Booth has appointed Colonel Peart, who has held tho position of chief secretary and .second in command of tho Salvation Army in Australasia, to bo chief secretary to Commander Eva Booth, who has charge of the Salvation Army operations in the United States of America. Bo leaves Melbourne on July 10th. Colonel Hoskins, who is well known in Now Zealand, and lias held the post of field secretary at the Australasian headquarters, has been promoted to tho position of chief secretary and second in command in Australasia.

By tho latest English mail Mr William Prouso received a letter from his father, Mr John Prouso, stating that lie had boon engaged to sing tlio baritone part in a big production of “ The Redemption ” at tho Queen’s Hall, London. After that ho was to leave cn a short tour ot Franco, Germany, and Switzerland, timing himself to catch tho Omrnh nt Naples on tho 11th im:t, for Australia. He is returning to Wellington on business, and is duo on July 19th. Mr Prouso will ho accompanied by Mrs Prouso, Miss Constance Pronse, and Mr Georgp Prouso. Amongst tho names appearing upon tlio list of contributors to tho Hinds of tho Seanion’s Host, which was .submitted at tho annual meeting held yesterday, appeared tho item “ Madame Paderewski, £2.” Inquiries disclosed that when tho “ piano king ” was in AVellington six or seven months ago, tho secretary of tho society wrote requesting him to give a recital at tho rooms. Paderewski courteously replied that tho terms of his contract with his impressario—Mr J. Lominono —precluded liim from giving any extraneous recitals; but, ho added, “Madame Paderewski will bo glad to contribute £2 to tho society's funds ”; and tho cheque arrived without delay. Captain P. Nordstrom has retired from tlio Union Company’s service, and has been granted all animal rotiringallowanoo by tho company. Captain Nordstrum resigned command of tho Penguin yestoiday to Captain S. Holford, who will co-oporato with Captain Kennedy in navigating that vessel. Captain Nordstrum first arrived in tho colonies as seaman on tlio James Lister, which visited Sydney in 18GG. After several years spent in tho employ of various companies, he entered the services ot MoMsekan, Blackwood and Co., of Melbourne, and remained with that company’s fleet until it was purchased in 1879 by tho Union Company. Since that date Captain Nordstrum has been continuously in tho services of tho Union Company. A cabfo message from London states Unit tho Eight Hon AVilliam Gully, Speaker of tlio House of Commons, intends resigning before Whitsuntide, on tho grounds of ill-health. Mr Gully is now seventy years of ago. Ho has been member for Carlisle since 1886 and Speaker for ten years. Tho late Lord Eidley, then Sir Matthew White-Hidlcy, was proposed by tho Conservatives for the Speakership, in opposition to Mr Gully, tho nominee of th© Liberal Government, on the retirement of Mr Speaker Peel, in 1895. On division, Mr Gully was elected by tho narrow majority 'of eleven. Ho was the sixth Liberal to bo appointed to the Chair of tho House of Commons in succession during the nineteenth century. Not for seventy years has there been a Conservative elected Speaker. When tho CTiair becomes vacant by resignation or death it has always been considered the legitimate prize of the party in office. In fact, every Speaker when elected for the first time has invariably been chosen from tho Ministerialists. Tills happened in the cases of all tho Speakers of tho nineteenth century—Sir Henry Addington, Sir John Mitford, Mr Abbot, Mr Manners Sutton (tho last Tory or Conservative to fill tho Chair), Mr Abereroraby, Mr Shaw-Lefevre, Air Denison, Air Brand, Air Peel, and Air Gully. By a curious coincidence the Liberals have been in office on the six occasion? tho Speakership became vacant during the past seventy years.