PERSONALIA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8613, 26 December 1913, Page 3

PERSONALIA

VICE-REGAL. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Liverpool, has extended his patronage to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association international sports meeting, to bo held at the Athletic Park to-day and to-morrow. His Excellency has notified tho secretary that ho wifi be unable to bo present, to-day, but will witness tho sports to-morrow afternoon.

Mr Allan Maguire, who lias been seriously ill, was reported last night to bo slightly improved in health.

Air J. D. Campbell, of Alelbournc, is over hero on a visit. Ho is-staying at the Grand Hotel. Mr and Airs W. J. Gaudin have ro. turned to Wellington after an eightmonths’ round-the-world trip. Colonel A. W. Robin, C. 8., C.M.G., returned to New Zealand by the Alanngauui on Wednesday afternoon, after a period of military service in England. Air C. AlcErlean, of tho Post and Telegraph Department, was presented with a rug and travelling-bag prior to his departure for Napier. . Air R. AV. Bothamley, associate to Air Justice Edwards, has received intimation that he has passed his law ©xaminations in three subjects, Mr and Mrs J. P. Luke, tho Mayor and Mayoress, - will leave Wellington to-day for Napier for a few days’ visit.

Messrs A. J. 'Williams (Napier), E. H. Hobday (Alianaia), and B. Neale (Nelson) are all staying at the Hotel Windsor while visiting Wellington. Among the Christmas guests at tho Grand Hotel are Messrs E. Louisson (Christchurch), E. W.* A. Smyth (Christchurch), G. A. Prevott (Auckland), and T. Baenzigor (Dunedin). Mr C. M. Ross, of Palmerston North, who has been on a visit to England, returned to New Zealand on Wednesday afternoon by tho Maunganui from Sydney.

The Hon. W. P. Massey, Prime Minister, is at present confined to his house by indisposition, and may not be able to leave for Auckland for some days. Last night he was a little better than on tho previous day. Mr R. J. A. Lister, manager of the Empress Theatre, was presented on Christmas Eve by the theatre staff with an, elaborate case of Loewe pipes and a box of cigars,- as a mark of esteem and to celebrate the completion of the first year of continuous pictures at the Empress. Mr J. Williams, of the signal and electrical branch. New Zealand Railways, was on Wednesday tho recipient of a handsome tea and coffee service and entree dish, on the occasion of his marriage. Mr J. Lewthwaite occupied the chair. Mr F. Wallis, on making tho presentation, remarked on the amiable qualities of Mr Williams, and mentioned that Mr Williams was leaving the service to go on tho land. Mr dieeseman, of tho interlocking branch, and other fellow-workers spoke of the friendliness and good feeling which always existed between them and Mr Williams.

On retiring from the service of tb© Land and Survey Department on Wednesday, Mr H. T, McCardell, chief draughtsman in the head office, received, as parting gifts, a set of bowls and a bowler’s bag, together with a handsome gold bangle for Mrs McCardell. The presentation was made on behalf of the staff by the Under-Secre-tary (Mr J. Strauchon), who mentioned that Mr McCardell had joined the department at Christchurch in June, 1874, and succeeded to the position of chief draughtsman in 1911. During his forty years of active service he served Under all the Surveyors-General who have been appointed, and became well and favourably known among all his follow-offloers. In earlier days he was known 'as an athlete and as a representative footballer from one end of New Zealand to the other—from 1879 to 1833 'he represented Canterbury in the interprovincial matches. He was one of the founders of tho Amateur Athletic Club (Wellington), and for years acted as secretary to that body, to the local Rugby Union, and to the Wellington Cricket Association. He was also connected with local societies for many years. The Surveyor-General (Mr J. Mackenzie) paid a warm tribute to Mr McCardell’s work and comradeship, as did Mr E. T. O’Neill, assistant-Under-Socretary (a very old colleague), while Mr A. L. Haylock, assistant draughtsman, wished his chief Godspeed' on behalf of that* particular branch of the department. In his reply, Mr McCardell said that it was a wrench to leave the department after so many years. Some of those present were not born, forty years ago, and some were but boys. He arrived in the head office thirty-four years ago, just as the first Surveyor-General of the Dominion was giving up office. That officer had been succeeded by Messrs James McKerrow, S. Percy-Smith, Alexander Barron, J- W T . A. Marchant, Thomas Humphries, John Strauchon, and James Mackenzie. He expressed his keen satisfaction at seeing so many present to honour him and he felt that he was retiring with tho best wishes of his superior officers aud of all those with whom he had Deen associated. The handsome gifts would remind him of the many pleasant days he had spent with them, and, on behalf of Mrs McCardell and himself, ho thanked them all heartily.

Professor F. D. Brown was a pas* senger for London on Wednesday evening by tho Corinthic.

Staying at the Empire Hotel just now nro Messrs J. A. Sellar (Levin) end J. Archer (Alastorton).

Air A. R. Atkinson left 'Wellington for England by the Corinthic on Christmas Eve.

Recent arrivals at the Empire Hotel include Alessrs A. H. Tnlloeh (Ptahiatua), T. A. Garratfc E. J* Eastwood (Wairarapa), and E. Redmond (Alasterton). An Australian visitor who is over hero at present is Mr R. H. Inder, oi Richmond, New South Wales. Ho is staying at the Hotel Windsor. Sir Joshua Williams, P.C., will bo tendered a public farewell at. Dunedin, presided over by the Alayor (Mr Downio Steward, on tho eve of his departure for London,

Air T. do Spong, of Dunedin, has been appointed judge of the elocutionary and literary events at tho Palmerston North competitions next year. Mr, do Spong acted in a similar capacity this year.

The delegates to represent the Hawke’s Bay Educational Institute at_ the forthcoming annual conference of tho teachers of tho 'Dominion nro ■Alessrs Rowley, Gurry, Duggan, aud Harvey.

A Press Association message from- • Sydney states that Major-General Godley, Commandant of tho New Zealand Forces, was a passenger by the Orvicto, which arrived at Fremantle on Wednesday. Mr AV. E. Barley, who has beep.' science master at the Seddon Alemorial College, Auckland, for tho past two years, has been selected by tho ■AVunganui Education Board for tha post of master-in-charge of the secondary department of tho Feilding Dia-t trict High School. Mr A. J. Coleman, director of that Britannia Theatre, returned to AVel- 1 lington from Auckland last evening after attending tho opening on Christmas Eve of his latest enterprise, tint Princess Theatre. Mr Coleman. willj leave Wellington to-day by tho Alaun-» gaaui for Sydney, on .business in con--, nection with hjg'.picture houses. ' 'j Sergeants T. ' Barrett (Nelson) and.; W. G. AA'ohbnonu (AVaihi) have beem promoted to the rank of inspector In;, the Polieo Force. They will remain!; in their present stations. Constable! Parsons, of Bussell, has been promo-t ted to ho sergeant and transferred tot Auckland. Constables. J. A. Cruick-t shank, of Ross, and H. D. Armour,* of Patoa, have been made sergeants,V and transferred to tho Mount Cookrl station in AVellington. ■ |

On Wednesday’afternoon at. the Government Printing Office, the Govern-*! mont Printer (Mr John Mackay), on behalf of the whole staff, presented Mr Harry Roberts with a . gold sovereigns case and a well-filled purse of sovereigns, on the occasion .of Ids severing his connection with' the office to.’ enter into business bn his own account,.' In making the presentation, Mr Mac-. kay referred.-.-to Mr Roberts’s long service in the 'office .(some forty years),' and spoke of the. various representative positions he had filled,, including the presidency' of tho Government Printing Offico , Association and office* representatives 'on the Civil Servicer Association. Mr Roberts is best* known outside the offico as the famous half-back footballer who represented the Dominion in many intercolonial and international matches, and as the father of Mr “Teddy” Roberts; who has just returned - with the -AllBlacks from America. In the December number of the “New Zealand Surveyor,” which has just been issued, is an interesting obituary notice of the late Mr James Irwin Wilson, who is referred to as being ijibout tho oldest surveyor, in the Dominion. Ho belonged to a race of-sur-veyors. Learning his, profession from his father, he immigrated to Victoria in 1852. There he soon got employment at his profession (says tho “ Surveyor”), and amongst other undertakings he surveyed tho first townships of Geelong 'and Ballarat. In 1855 ho came to New Zealand, and upon calling at the survey office in Auckland ho was at once engaged by Air Ligar, who* had charge then of the surveys to survey blocks of land about Maburangi, tho Wade, and Waiwera. In Afay, 1862 ho was appointed Provincial Surveyor for the Auckland province under the Superintendent Government. Ho held this appointment until 1864, when he was asked to take charge of the military surveys in the Waikato. Thin was occasioned by the failure of tho surveyors brought from Australia and tho breakdown in health of Major Heaphy, who had charge previously. In 1865 tho General Government were in great straits for funds, and the lata Sir Edward Stafford was Prime Alihister. He took tho bull by the horns and sent a circular to everyone connected with the Survey Department giving them a month’s notice. Mr Wilson took thorn at their word, and went into private practice with his two brothers who bad come to Now Zealand. However, he joined the Survey Department 'again in 1866, and held office as District Surveyor for the North Auckland district from Kawau Island across to Kaipara Heads. In those days transport was a' very different matter from what it is now, no regular trading vessels, nor even pack horses, and no roads. Air Wilson went on two occasions round the North Cape._and once into the Kaipara in a lifeboat with a crew of Maoris. Air Wilson, held offico until, 1876, after which he again returned to private practice.