PERSONAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18323, 13 August 1921, Page 6

PERSONAL.

The Rev. R. de Lambert, of Queenstown, was a nortn by tue second express yesterday. Mr vV. U. j.v£‘Donald, President of the Board of Trade, arrived by tno first express yesterday. Mis Honor Mr Justice Sim, acting-Cbief Justice, will arrive irom Wellington on Monday night. Mr W. S. Glenn, M.P. for Rangitikoi, and a one-time All Black footballer, arrived by the first express yesterday. Mr H. A. Beauchamp, the New Zealand manager for Messrs Kodak, Australasia (Pty.), Ltd., is on a visit-to Dunedin. Mies Dorothea Spinney left Wellington on Tuesday by the Manuka for Sydney to fulfill, her Australian engagements. Mr Henry Lawson, the distinguished Australian poet, was seized with an attack of paralysis recently, and was removed to hospital. A London cable message announces the death of Mr H. J. Merritsen, a butter importer.

Mr F. B. Bolt, supervisor of the Govern-. ment Life Insurance Department, arrived by the first express yesterday. Ex-Police Superintendent Oruickshank, who is now on a holiday visit to England, has been appointed Commissioner of Police 116 Samoa, and will take up his duties there shortly after returning to New Zealand. He was previously stationed at Greymouth. The Rev. John Paterson (pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church), Great Chief of the Christchurch Savage Club: Dr J.' Guthrie, last year’s chief; and Mr F. C. ■ Raphael, secretary of the club, accompanied by a large contingent of “brother savages,’* arrived by the first express yesterday, and' were welcomed by members of the local' club. The korero takes place at St. Paul’s Schoolroom this evening. Mr Frederick Hobbs, the leading baritone of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Oompuny, which opens its Dunedin season tonight, is a Christchurch boy, being a mem-' ber of a well-known musical family in that 1 city. Mr Hobbs left Christchurch 25 years' ago as a member of Mr Philip Newbury’s ' concert party, and spent about two years, principally in Australia, with Mr Newbury. He then proceeded to England, and after a course of study he joined the National Grand Opera Company, and later accepted an engagement with Carl Rosa Company, playing the principal baritone parts. His next engagement was with the <musical comedy king, George Edwardes, and ho I ’- played for tour years in musical comedy, eventually touring South Africa under the Edwardes-Wheeler management in a musical comedy repertoire. Returning to England. ! Mr Hobbs joined up with the D’Oyley Carte Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, and until his departure for Australia last year ho had played in Gilbert and Sullivan opera for eignt years without a break. During that time he played all the principal baritone parts. ,/ During the dinner hour at the Hillside Workshops yesterday Mr J. M’Beath, foreman painter, who has been promoted to a responsible position at Addington, was the < recipient of a set of dinner and dessert knives from the employees in the paint shop. Mr A. E. Farront, who made the presentation, referred in flattering term* to the respect .and goodwill in which Mr M'Bcath was held by all with whom he came in contact. He had served his time in the Hillside Workshops, and rose from an apprentice to the highest rung in the ladder in his own department. They wished him and his good wife health and happiness. Congratulatory speeches were also made by Messrs F. H. Titchener, T. D. Goodman, and others. Later in the afternoon Mr L. W. Robertson, acting workshops manager, presented Mr M’Beath with an umbrella on behalf of the foremen and office staff, and in so doing said that they were parting with him with regret and were losing a good comrade and one who always looked after the interests of the department. Mr M’Beath on both occasions briefly thanked those concerned for these E resents, kind speeches, and references to is wife and himself.

The* members of the Moray Place Congregational and Maori Hill Presbyterian Church Choirs, along with the orchestra and soloists who took part in the recent performances of “A Princess of Kensington,” met in the Jubilee Hall, Moray place, on Thursday evening, and spent a few very -pleasant hours in social intercourse. The kindly feeling which the frequent com- i bined rehearsals of “A Princess of Kensington” generated was further consummated by the opportunity which all present had of meeting together around the festive board. The hall, had been very tastefully decorated, and a very enjoyable programme of music and story was provided. Songs were rendered bv Mrs W. R. Andrews, Miss Meda Paine, and Mr 0. C. Scott, a duet by Mrs F. F. Anderson and Mr J. D. M'Kechnie, a recitation by Miss A. Campbell, and a pianoforte solo by Mr Roy Don. During the evening reference was made to the services rendered to the combined. choirs by Miss £lice M. George. In the course of a few remarks Mr T. Ritchie mentioned that Miss' George’s services liad been at the disposal not only of the choirs but of the soloists for some time prior to the recent concerts, and on behalf of. the combined choirs presented Miss George with a gold pendant and chain. Mr George Scott also spoke appreciatively of Miss George’s willingness to assist, and of her very excellent services at the piano. Mr J. F. Reid suitably responded on behalf of Miss George. Before the evening terminated the Rev. Mr Saunders snoke of the pleasure which the combining of the choirs had given him anti expressed the hope that the combined choirs would shortly take up another work •and give further pleasure to those who had previously enioyed the rendering of “A Princess of Kensington.” The singing of the National Anthem brought a very pleasant evening 'to a close.