PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2546, 31 December 1902, Page 25

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr T. Wilford, M.H.R., is at present on a visit to Dimedin. He intends to leave for London on the Bth prox., accompanied by Mrs Wilford, with the intention of consulting an eminent specialist about a throat trouble, about which the member for Hutt lecently paid a visit to Sydney. Colonel Bell, formerly United States Consul at Sydney, has abandoned his South Island lecturing tour, owing to the seriou3 illness of his wife in the Mew South Wales capital. The re-appointment of Mr Duncan King as member "of the Land Board for the Southland district is gazetted in this week's Gazette. Mi A. D. Lubecki, formerly he-ad of the Telegraph Department in Dunedin for 20 years, and for some years a runholder in Otago, but now resident in Auckland, will be a candidate for one of the vacant duectorships of the New Zealand Insurance Company. The following Volunteer appointments raid promotions are gazetted: — Honorary Lieutenant Antoiue Berk-man, of the Dunedin Engineer Cadet Volunteers, to be lieutenant ; Robert George Henry to be a lieutenant in thp Tuapeka Mounted Rifle Voluntcji-; Acting-major Robert Mahon, of the 3id Battalion Otago Rifle VoVmHeevs, to be major; Lieutenant Johnston M'Ara, of tho Dunedm City Rifle Volunteers, to be eapts ai ; Lieutenant John Porteoiw, of the In\predial! City Guards Rifle Volunteers, to li" captain ; Francis Charle* Stubbs. to be a Lieutenant in the Oamaru Rifle Volunteer'; Wallarp Murdoch, to be a !iputena)it m the In\ercargi!l City Guards Rifle Volunteers; Lieutenant Crowther, of the Orepuki Rifle Volunteer-, to be cr-ptam ; Robert James Roach, to be heutmian*- in the Oreti Rifle Volunteer-: Alexander Hog?. <o ho a lieutenant in the Duntroon Rifle Volunteer* Mi- Guy Morris photographer, George street, has again been successful in competition with hi' northern ■confrere^, he having been awarded fir-t prize in the land and «>a-oape ppction of the Auckland Weekly Nev. n' fourth photographic competition. His picture is entitled " A Soutl'-west Gale, Lawyer's Head, Dunedin." and it is a striking example of photographic art. The foamflecked beach in the foreground, mirrorlike after eacli receding wave and reflecting the dark outline of the rugged headland, tho white waves of the stormy sea in the middle distance, and as a suitable back- 1

ground the lowering clouds, gathering as for a final outburst, all make up a scene at once powerful acid This is the third occasion on which jVfr Morris has gained first prize, and ho is to be congratulated upon the success of his efforts. Tha leading business men of Invercargill, as a mark of respect and esteem, entertained at a social and made a presentation to Mr D. G. M'Pherson, who recently retired on a pension from the position of landing waite» after lengthy service, about a quarter of a century of which was at Invercargill. The presentation consisted of a silver tea and coffee service, a silver salver, and oak and silver liqueur standMr T. Parata has betn returned for the ' Southern Maori electorate by 322 votes over 256 polled by Tikao. Dr J. Bell Thomson, who is at present medical officer in charge of Arrowtown Hospital, has been appointed med-cal officer to I Otago Lodge. U.A.O.D. j A movement has been inaugurated by the j Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Asso- j ciation to erect a suitable memento to the J memory of the late Mr John Grigg, of • Longbefloh, one of the pioneers of the frozen meat industry. Mr John Christian Watson, who represents Bland (New South Wales) in the Federal Parliament, and ia the well-known leader of the Labour- party, is on a short holiday visit to Oamaru. " Through the courtesy of the Hon. George Jonesj one of our representatives had a few minutes' conversation with Mr Watson. He said he was j pleased to be able to pay a visit to New i Zealand, and to Oamaru in particular, where j he served his time* in the Oamaru Mail office. He had watched the New Zealand Labour legislation with a good deal of interest, and expressed unqualified approval of our Conciliation and Arbitration and Workmen's Compensation for Accidents Act. Th% drought had been a very serious factor throughout Australia, but more especially in his own State, but he was certain that the buoyancy of the Commonwealth , would soon enable them lo recover from i the T&sults that it had brought in its train, i He preferred, in his position, not to express any opinions regarding the leading Federal politicians in Australia, but committed him- j pelf to the statement that, in New South ! Wales at anyrate, they were quite satisfied with federation. He said that the unemployed difficulty was dealt with by each State, and did not occupy the attention of the Federal authorities. Toxiching on tho , subject of whether or not it might be wise for New Zealand to join the Federation, ho j was of opinion that commercially, owing , to the recent depression on account of the ' drought, it might have paid this colouy ' to have joined the Commonwealth. 'He ; was of opinion that New Zealand was a I young Ireland, and had its own destinies | xo carve, and he was certain it would carve them in a satisfactory manner. i Mr James Mills, managing director of tJie Union S.S. Company, returned on the 20th from a business trip to Australia. ' At Tapanui on Thursday evening, ISth, Dr Wm. Robertson was the recipient of a very handsome prcs?nt from the members of the Oddfellows' Lodge, foi which he acts as medictvl > officer. The gifts consisted of a beautiful j electro-plated waiter and sugar scoop, the former being suitably inscribed, and the presentation was to mark the occasion of the doctor's marriage with Miss Perry, of Tapanui. The Mayor, in making the presentation, made mention of Dr Robertson's popularity as a | professional man and citizen, and, although , but a brief period in Tapanui, he had gaired the connderce and esteem of the people. The doctor suitably replied. A short musical programme was gone through, and a pleasant little gathering closed with " Auld lang syne." One of the passengers by the Mokoia, from Melbourne, is Mr Henry Markwald, of the firm of H. Markwald and Co., who has just returned from an 18-months' tour of Europe and the East. Hii chief pxirpose in visiting the colony is to inspect the branches of his business in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, and to arrange for some important extensions-. He is expected to reach Dunedin on ths 24th inst. ; Mr P. Ireland, of Goodwood, inteuds to take ! a trip Home eaily in the year. He will make a point of seeing the Ayr show in the summer, and will not return to the colony without some

of the best Ayrshire stock to be obtained from Home breeders. Mr Herdman, M.H.R.. for Mount Ida. ia spending the Chfist.iiTs ariH New Year hahQa^ain visiting his constitatents. After visiting j the "Waitaki portion of the electorate he proI ceeds to Kaseby, and will spend the remainder of his holidays in that portion of the electorate. ' A message from Aden announces the death of Baron Willoughhy De Broke on Friday last. H<s was buried at sea. A Sydney message sayst that Baron De Broke, whose death is reported from Aden, was recently a passenger to An* ; traiin. but ha returned on his arrival at Fre mantle, dying en route home.