PERSONALIA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7915, 26 September 1911, Page 4

PERSONALIA

Mr Leonard Berwick left for Auckland by the Main Trunk express yesterday.

General Godloy, Commandant, and Captain Thornton, return from South by this morning's steamer.

Mr A. Crook, S.M., who has been relieving magistrate at Wanganui, will act for M Jl. S. Fitzherbort. S.M., during the latter's absence in Australia on sick leave.

Mr Louis H. Victory, who has been associated with tho literary stall; of the

“Hawcra Star" for the past three years, has joined tho staff of the “Oamaru Mail," and left Hawcra on Saturday.

Captain Strang, marine superintendent for tho Union Steam Ship Company, returned from the Cook and Society Islands by tho Talune.

Advices by last night's Sydney mail state that Madame Melba was prevented from appearing with tho Grand Opera Company for several days owing to an ear affection. Miss Amy Castles also took ill, necessitating about ten days' rest.

Captain R. B. Smythe, R.N.Z.A., who lias been selected for a course of training in India, was farewelled by the oiiicors of tho Auckland garrison at the Officers' Club on Friday, evening. He left for Sydney by tho Maheno lust evening, en route for India. „ Mr John Gray died at Gore yesterday of heart failure, aged eighty-four years, ilo arrived at Port Chalmers in 185 a. and for some years lived at Taieri, North East Valley, and Pine Hill, xie arrived in Gore twenty-eight years ago, and purchased a farm in tho' Charlton block. Ho leaves six sons and/ two daughters, all married.

A private letter from Nelson announces tho death on Friday last of Mrs. Houn--6011, relict of the late Mr Jess© Hounscdl, for many years a bookseller in Nelson. The deceased leaves two sons and two daughters, all of whom are married. Mr Ernest Hounsell, tho elder son, still carries on tho business in Nelson. Mrs Hounsell was well known in Wellington, where she had a largo circle of friends.

Tho committee of the Institute of Marine Engineers has decided to present a purse of sovereigns and a cup to Mr A. E. Hislop, who is leaving the institute, with which ho has been connected for many years, l>ecause of going into business on his own account. The prosentation is to take place at the building of the institute next Saturday night. Mr Percy Hunter, Director of Immigration for New South Wales, who went to England to investigate, inter alia, the question of immigration, will also report on the social legislation of Germany and Switzerland, particularly the system of compulsory insurance against unemployment and accident. Mr Hunter’s report will be considered in connection with data collected about the insurance system drafted by Mr Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Great Britain. English files contain details of the will of Lady Bussell, widow of Sir Peter Nicol Bussell, a former ironmaster, of Sydney, Now South Wales, and a benefactor of the Sydney sUniversity.; Tho gross value of the estate was <£176,950, and after making several bequests, including .£IO,OOO to Dr. Barnardo’s Homos, .£IO,OOO to the Salvation Army, .£SOOO to the Church Army, .£6OO a year to her maid, and pensions to several other servants, she left the residue as to one share to her sister (Mrs Deane), one share to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, and one share to the Church Array. Mr G. Shirtclille, who has been on a visit_ to Auckland, returned yesterday evening. His homeward journey was made by motor-car, the vehicle employed being a 15-horse power Silent Knight Daimler. Messrs Eiby, TJnwin, and Wm. Henning shared in the journey, which was got through without trouble of any kind. The party left Auckland at 9 a.m. on Saturday last, and reached Wairakei at 9.30 p.m. tho same day. Leaving Wairakei on Sunday at 9.30 a.m. they arrived # at Napier at 6.15 p.m. Bcsuxning the trip at 8.35 a.m. yesterday, they reached Wellington at 6.50 p.m. Tho death took place at his residence, Vogel street, on Sunday, of the Eev. G. S. Harper (telegraphs our Palmerston. North correspondent). The deceased, who was 70 years of age, arrived in New Zealand in tho barque Kachel in March, 1565. Upon landing at Lyttelton he jiroceeded to Christchurch as one of the first Wesleyan missionaries. A few months later he took charge of the Hokitika district, being the only Wesleyan minister on that coast for the two years that he was there. During his ministerial career he has boon in charge of churches at Auckland, Thames, Lower Hutt, Blenheim, and Nelson. It was at this last place ; in 1878 that his health gave way, and he was obliged to retire from, the ministry. Since then he has been a supernumerary. About a year later he settled down to farming and school teaching at Carnarvon, and rem'ained there till eight years ago, when he took up his residence in Palmerston.