PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 54

PERSONAL ITEMS.

I regret to team, writes our London co=saspondeait by laet mail, that Mrs " Alieva " Bak-er has been suffering again from illness caused by the wintry weather in the London atmosphere. As before, her trouble has been bronchial and pulmonary, and she has been laid up for three weeks, but is, I am glad to say, much better now, and making favorable progress toward convalescence. One unfortunate result, however, is that Airs Baker will be compelled again to take up her residence away from London. She hoped that her four ye sis' in Bournemouth had thoroughly ''set heT up " so that it would be f-oasible for her to live in the vicinity of the metropolis But as matters have turned out this, in the opinion of her doctor, will not be practicable. Mrs Bake.r has so many New Zealand readers and admirers of her clever novels that I feel sure much sympathetic interest will be felt about her.

'The Wellington correspondent of the ChristchuTch Press states that it is rumoured m Wellington that Colonel Porter is about to bo retired, but the rumour is not confirmed.

The Wyndham Farmer learns that the Tipwly-form-ed Presbyterian congregation at Khandalleh, a suburb of "Wellington City, has invited the Rev. Jimes Aitken, M.A., rf Wyndham, to become it= pastor, and that it is Air Aitken's intention to accept the invitation extended to him.

Dr and Mrs M'Uroy, of Ophir, were entertained at a social and presented with a substantial purse of sovereigns on Thursday last.

The Gazette notifies the appointment of Terence O'Brien, inspector of police, Dunedm, as inspector of the School of Anatomy, Dunedin.

On Tuesday evening at the Oamaru Polioe Station Constable Sinclair, who has just resigned from the force in orAer to take up the position of buyer in Southland for the J. G. Ward Company, was presented with a hand^orae. s et of gold sleeve links. Mr R. A. Srnaill, o. member of the s'aff of the Mataura Ensign -for the past eighi years, left Gore on Monday with his brother, Mr W. Smaill, to embark upon gold mining in the Atlin district, British Columbia, where they have several claims. Mi== Kirto, at present matron of the 81-emheim Hospital, has been chosen to succeed Miss Ewart as matron at Tima.ru Hospital. Tw2lve applications were received for the position — four from Wcllmgtoii, three from Duncdm, and one each from Timaru, Blenheim, Napier, Bendigo, and Sydney. Mr Felix Tnnner, who is undertaking a 21 days' fa-t at Wanganui, had on Saturday, 30th nit , completed 324 hours out of the 504 Tanner takes a pint of water every 24- hours for sustenance. He is reported to sleep well at night. At Waikouaiti on "Wednesday, 27th ult., the Rev. C. A. Fraer was, prior to leaving for Kaiapoi, presented by the Dunback, Palmerston, and Shag Point congregations w-ith a purse of so-.ereigns and a handsome silver-mounted inkstand from the Palmerston choir.

Mr P. A. Bell, who has been secretary of the Balclutha Brass Band for some time, was on Thursday evening, prior to leaving for Riverton, presented by the members of the band with a silver-mounted ebony walking stick, suitably inscribed. Mr George .A. Turner, of Milton, has

been promo* tI to tho y ,s,t:cn o c s^ccne! a=i-i3taiu teacher a., the iJoinjngi.o:i School, Mco Mr T. R. \V. Couttf, \\\o urn transferred to Aii u en to the po-lLon of first assistant at the Tokcmairlro High School. It 13 stated by the Auck'.aud .Star tbafc the Minister of Justieo is unable to accede to the request that Mr Brabant, S.M., in, Auckland, should be- refcameJ in that city. Mr Biabant ->\iLl therefore be transferred to Wanganui, and will bo succeeded in"Auckland by Mr Kettle, of Taranaki, who will plso act as District Court judge at Hamilton and the Thames.

Mr J. Mulvej'-, telegraphist at Gore, and at one nme at Riverton, has been promoted to li.vc-rcsrgill

Di Wohknann, Government balneolcg:st of Rotorua, is accompanying Mr Donne on. his southern tour. He expressed himself as being most favourably improved with th© Wvkatipu district.

The Hon W. Hall-Jones (Minister of Public "Works) will leave shortly on a flying visit to Europe and America.

Mr R. L Stanfoid, S.M., h<>.s received not.cc of transfer from New Plymouth to Napier.

The Hon. Charles Hill-Trevor, A.D.C. to Lord Eanfurly, intends to return to Er-!arxl by the Ruapc-hu on. February 15. Mr HillTrevor came to !N"ew Zealand on the staff of his F-xceliency in 1897. Mr J. Stewart, of the Waimat-e District High E-chool, has received an sppomtment in the Napier Boys' High School. Mr H. F. Mirams, of the railway boolung oiSce, on being promoted to Oarnaxu was entertained at supper by his friends, and pies-ented en their behalf by Mr C. Conn, who was in the chair, with a silver-mounted uiiibrslla,, suitably inscribed.

Wo have been requested by the Most Reverend ihe Prinxate to convey an expression, of his gratitude for innumerable congratulatory telegrams received by him on his accession to the Primacy. Among tlia congratulatory telegrams sent to him was one by tha 'Mayor of Dunedin on beha'f of the citizens. Lieutenant A. F. Hamilton, of tae Nelson College Cadets, who was given a commission! in the Bedfordshire Regiment, has b€en appointed to join the First. Royal Scots as seconct lieutenant in India. He is awaiting inshuitions to proceed to his destination The vacancy caused in the Dairy Grading Depaitment at Wellington by the promotion of Mr D. Cuddle to the ro-sit-on of Acting-Chief Dairy Commissioner will be filled by Mr D. Dickie, grader at Dunedin and Blufi. Mr A. A Thornton, grader at I/yttelton, will temporarily work Du.iedin and Bluff in addition to his" present post. Mr W. M. Singleton, cheese-making lasiiuctor, who has been on an extended visit to Southland, is about to giva a course of instruction to producers in Taranaki. Sir Donald and Lady Robertson and Colonel and Miss Pilcher, who are touring the colony, left Dunedin on Wednesday morning for tha Xiakes.

Ths Rev. Hubert Jones was recently entertained m St. Paul's Schoolroc-ra, on. the eve of his departure for "Waikcttaiti. Aichdeacon Robinson, on behalf of members of tha Cathedral, presented Mr Jones with a purss of sovereigns. The Archdeacon assured the newly-beneficcd clergyman that he -had woa the icgatd and the affection of all those with whom he had been brought into contact, ho-n the children m the Sunday school to som? » f the olde3t members of the congregation. 'Jhey were impressed with the earnestness and devotion that had maiked his ministry here, and it was a -orivilege for the speaker to be associated with him. It was a pleasure to learn that during the absence of himself and Mis Robinson in England the. work ol the Cathedral had been done well. Ke heaitily wished him success.

Mr W. G. Kenrick is gazetted a stipendiary magistrate for the colony. An Auckland telegram says that Dr Barn at fc sailed by the Sierrp- for San Francisco on Fridoy. Constable Finie.y, of Dunedin, who recently passed his matriculation and solicitor's general knowledge examinations, has been appointed district chief cleik at Napier.

Mr Wilnam Burnett, m lesponse to a request from a numk-r of ratepayers, has decided to become a candidate ior the vacancy in Bell Ward about, to be created by Cr Hally's retar emeu t. The Secretary of the Alliance (the Rev. F. W. Isitt) informs the Post tint the Rev. Father Hay, one of England's ablest exponents of temperance, is not under any engagement to the Alliance, but that b<x!y entertains strong hopes of his paying a visit to the colony at no distant date. On Friday the employees of Mesa's Ccuils, Culling, and Co. (Limited) assembled roxmd the " stone " to bid good-bye to Mr Willnm Jack, and to present him -with a tangible tok?n of theix esfceexa on the c"c of lua douartms for Roxburgh, whither h" goes io tako over the proprietorship of the Mount Benger ILui. Mr Thomas, Coull, sen., in presenting Mr Jack y-rth ? silvei-mou'ited walking sti.ck, fountain, psn, and letter-case, referred m eulogistic terms to Mr Jack's many good qualities as a workman, and stated that he carried with him ihe> best wishes of th?>firm «rid the firm's empToyccs for a succesoful CR'eer in bis jcumalistic- venlurc. Ih2 rpcip'ent feelingly responded. MiJack, who i, a sor. cf Mr Rebel t Jrd:, of Rothescy, West Harbour, has boe/i in the emp'oy oiMessis Coulls, Culling, and Co. foS some ten years.