PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2652, 11 January 1905, Page 29

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr and Mrs King, of Liverpool, who have been on a visit to. Mr and Mrs Arthur Pcarce, of Wellington, have made arrangements for a comprehensive tour of the colony. Mr and Mrs Matthew Clarke, oE Dromore (Canterbury), who intend to take up their residence at Edendale, where Mr Clarke has purchased a dairy farm were farewelled last week, and were presented with a gladstone bag and a travelling rug. Mr J. R. Sharp, who has been in charge of the Gore' branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's business, has received intimation of his promotion to take charge of the Masterton office. Mr Sharp will be succeeded in Gore by Mr J. Reed, at present stationed at the Bluff, and Mr Reed's place in charge of the Bluff branch will be .taken by Mr R. J. Michie, now head accountant at Inverjfr and Mrs Mullin, of Roxburgh, were entertained at a farewell social last week prior to their departure for the Old Country. Dr Mullin was present&d with a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address as a token of esteem and appreciation of his work in the district, and Mrs Mullin was presented with a beautiful gold brooch set with- opals and pearls. Air J R Brunt is announced as a candidate for Avon at the next general election. \t the last general election Mr Brunt was beaten by Mr W. W. Tanner, the sitting member, by only 48 votes The Rev. J. Hobbs, of Hastings, who is. about to leave for England for the benefit of his health, has been presented by his parishioners with a cheque for *300. The Hawera Star states that Mr A. Slater, at present bandmaster of the ±$lun Band, has been appointed bandmaster ot the Hawera Band. Captain Quintal, whose evidence, .taken on commission, was a feature of plaintiff s case in the recent slander action, Seddon, v. Taylor, left Wellington for Sydney last Saturday. It is stated on apparently good authority that Mr B. C. Robbins, Mayor of Hawera, intends contesting the Hawera seat at the next election against all comers. The induction of the Rev. R. Scott-Allan into the Lawrence Presbyterian Church will take place next Wednesday afternoon. Colour-sergeant Willoughby, of the Pahiatua Rifles, who was accidentally shot in camp last November, was married in the Pahiatua Hospital last week. Major Keddell, S.M., is at present doing duty in Christchuroh, w&ere he is filling Mr Bishop's placo on the bench. Captain Wray; S.M., will undertake Major Keddell's duties. There is a movement on foot in Auckland to make a presentation to Lieutenant Shera, who was the principal witness for the defence- in the Seddon-Taylor case.

Herr F. W. A. Paul, who has been appointed conductor to the Timaru Garrison > Band, has arrived from Sydney. He will taloa up his duties at once. The Southland Times states that Majorgeneral Babington will pay Southland a visit next week, and will take a battalion parade of the infantry corps in Invercargill on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr A. Hamilton, curator of the Wellington Museum, left for Tokaamx on Thursday, and will spend several weeks in the district in connection with gathering material bearing upon Maori art and life.

Mr Chew. Chong, who has been prominently associated with the butter industry in the Taranaki district, will leave on a holiday visit to China shortly.

Inquiry at the Inveroargill Hospital on Saturday elicited the fact that the Dunedin jockey, T. Mathie, who suffered injury as the result of a fall from the racehorse Picket at the S.R.C. meeting, is making favourable progress towards recovery.

Bombardier Petei-sen, of the Permanent Artillery, who was severely injured by the big-gun explosion at Fort Ballance, is still suffering' from the effects of the accident. His left ear and left eye are still affected, and his nervous system also remains impaired.

Mr O. Riedel, manager of the German D.H. and P.G. Company, at Samoa, arrived at Auckland from Apia by the Manapouri last week_, and intends proceeding as far as Dunedin. Mr Riedel is on a holiday visit to New Zealand, and- leaves for Samoa by the 'Frisco mail steamer.

A proposal to transfer the Rev. F, A. Bennett, Maori missionary in Taranaki, to Rotorua has caused a gr&at deal of disappointment in New Plymouth, and at a public meeting held last Wednesday it was decided to make an effort to retain the rev. gentleman's services in his present sphete. The Rev. Mr Bennett has expressed his willingness to continue his duties in the Taranaki district, subiect to the approval of tbe Bishop of Auckland. Mr H. Y. Widdowson, who is about to take no his duties as stipendiary magistrate at Dunedin, was a passenger from the noTth on the 3rd. ,-,

Mr A. P. W. Lorie arrived in Dune-din on the 3rd, having been a passenger from Melbourne by the Wairimoo.

The Anglican Bishop of Melbourne, the Right "Rev. Dr Lowther-Clarkc, arrived in Dunedin on Thursday by the s.s. Warrlmoo, and is at present staying at Bishopsgrove as a guest of the Primate.

Lady Janet Clarke and the Misses Clarke (2), of Melbourne, are at present paying a short visit to Dunedin, and are staying at the Grand Hotel. After arrival at the Bluff they made a tcur of the Lakes - district, and will proceed north from Dunedin.

Mr Thomas Healey lias been appointed ranger for the Maniototo County. There were nine applicants for the position.

A very happy function was performed in Kelso Presbyterian Church on Thursday eveuing. Mr Oraig, stiident, on behalf of the Kel^o choir, presented Miss Sector \vi+h a token of the esteem in which she is held, and the services which she has rendered as organist of the Presbyterian Church. Miss Sector has been a willing and acceptable organist, and has d«voted hersslf to it with untiring energy. Mr Malcolm responded on behalf of Miss Sector. The Sec-tor family are leaving the district and settling down in Dunedin. They leave many firm friends in Kelso, and all wish them success in their new sphere.

In reference to the death of Mr W. H. Gaw, formerly railway traffic manager, the Auckland correspondent of the Christohurch Press states that Mr Gaw had been suffering from paralysis,

and he had gone to Howiok in the hope tha< the braoicg air would do him good. He was doing well, when a great grief came upon him unexpectedly last November in the death oi his wife, and he did not survive her more than eight weeks. On Monday last Mr Gaw was on his way to lunch with Captain Smith, in company with his daughter, and he suddenly fell forward on the road, bruising his forehead so severely that he sustained concussion of the biain. He was quickly removed to his home, and lay there unconscious. The services of Dra Bewes and Savage were requisitioned, but they were unable to save his life. The death is announced by cable of Madame Belle Coie, who visited Dunedin with concert companies m 1894 and in 1901. On tbe fiist occasion she was assisted by Miss Gwen Daviea (soprano), Mr Jackson (tenor), and Henrietta Murkens (violinist), and in 1901 the members of her company were Mr John Prouse and Miss Florence Harding (soprano). On the latter visit Madame Cole assisted the Choral Society in the production of " Naaman." A3 a girl she had a pure soprano voice, and led the choir at the village of Jamestown, U.S.A. When only 14 she was able to take entire direction of a singing class of more than 50 members. She then studied with the best masters, and after being principal soloist in one of lie most important churohes in the city, in 1883 accepted an engagement in Theodore Thomas a touring company. Acting on advice, Madame Belle Cole gave up singing soprano, for though, her voice had its extraordinary compass upwards it became evident that she was intended for a, " contralto." In ISBB she determined to visit England, and on her arrival fchai-3 she had the fortune to be heard by Sir Joseph Barnby, who immediately engaged her to singe in a performance of his " Elijah " at Eton. Sir Joseph, engaged her to sing in tna same work at Albert Hall soon after. Taking ad> vaaitago of her opportunities she rapidly attained the positidn of principal contralto in England* The Crystal Palace concerts, the Handel Festival, the " pops," and the Worcestershire and Norwich Festivals were all the scenes of her continued triumphs. Major S. N. Johnston, artillery staff officer for New Zealand, has arrived in Dunedin for the purpose of attending various artillery practice competitions, and is staying at 282 a. George street. At the sitting of the Dunedin Stock Exchange on Saturday morning feeling reference was made by the chairman (Mr C. R. Smith) to the death of Mr Bendix Hallenstein. The Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., minister of Trinity Methodist Church, left on Monaay by the first express for Stunner, near Christchurch, to spend his holidays. While away his pulpit will be occupied by the Rev. R. J. Murray, of Ckristchurch. - Mr D. R. Hay, of the Melbourne Weekly Times staff, is at present paying a. short visit to Dunedin. Mr and' Mrs C. Holdsworth, of Dunedin, were passengers by the Aparima, *»v-ich arrived at Auckland on Monday from Calcutta, Singapore, and Sainarang. The Johannesburg correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes: — "There passed away on Saturday, November 26, after much suffering, a New Zealander who has made a high name in his profession on the RandT A. Canterbury boy — Mr C. J. Wentworth. Cookson — left the colony when quite a young man, and visited a good many climes before settling down in West Australia. Armed with the most flattering testimonials^ as to his abilities as. an engineer, he came to the" Rand some three years ago, and was engaged by the Johannesburg Corporation as road engi» neer. In this position- Mr Cookson did excellent work. It is but six months ago "that Mr Cookson entered the marriage state. At thai time he had no premonition that he "wa3 not constitutionally sound. He was only a few days returned from his honeymoon trip when he fell in a faint in the street. Undergoing an operation for abscess of the liver, it was discovered that cancer was the real trouble, and this developed with startling rapidity. The patient b_ore up with consummate courage, but breathed his last on tie date above stated. The late Mr Cookson's people are well-known throughout the South Island. Hi 3 father is residing at Port Chalmers, and a sister is Mrs Bernard Stock, Dunedin."

At the weekly practice of tiie Cargill Road Wesley Church choir Mrs Waxrington (nee M'Corkindale) was presented with a silver teapot and silver toast-rack on the occasion of her marriage. Mr W. Cole made the presentation, and spoke of the <*ood work done in the service of the choir by Mrs Warrington. Mr Nimmo responded on behalf of the lady.

Our Roxburgh correspondent telegraphs that the Rev. A. Porter was inducted into tha pastorate of the Tevxot Presbyterian Church last week and conducted services «on Sunday.

Mr Jacob Alsweiler announces himself as a candidate for Wallace in the Liberal-Labour-Prohibition interests.

Mr A. R. Paleouer, the well-known seamen's missionary, returned on Saturday from his holiday trip to the Home Country.

A Wellington message states tnat Mr James S. Cross, well known in shipping circles at Wellington and Nelson, died in the hospital there on Sunday night from paralysis.

A Christchurch telegram states that Mr M. Muiphy, well known in connection with the Agricultural Association, underwent a serious operation on Monday, bub is progressing favourably.

Mt G. E. Butler, the well-known artist, ia at present visiting Milford Sound in older to eseeutft a commission for two pictures of the Sounds that he has received from the Tourist Department. That in a month's sojourn at the Sounds Mr Butler will secure many interesting sketches is a. foregone conclusion; and these should be especially valuable as Mr Butler is leaving the colony early in the year in order to pursue his profession in the wider field of the Old Country.

Although the Professorial Board has not dealt with the applications from Yiotoria College students, it is understood (says the I^ew Zealand Timfs) that Mr P. W. Robertson, 8.A., will be again put forward as the candidate of Victoria, College for tbe Rhodes Scholarship. Mr Robertson, it will be remembered was tlie candidate last year. The Canterbury College candidate has not yet been named, but it is highly probable that Mx Archibald E. Currie, 8.A., wbo last year stood down in favour of Mr Cook, will be nominated. Amongst recent callers at the Duredin office of the Government Tourist Bureau were Messrs L. O. R. Grundt, H. W. Bryant, and C. Gavan Duffy, Mr and Mrs M'Connoehie, Lady Janet Claike, the Misses Clarke, s\nd Mr R. Clarke (all of Melbourne), Messrs E. "Walther and S. Meyer (of Copenhagen), Mr K. P. Praser and Dr M'Farlane (of Glasgow), Mr R. Wilcos (London), Mr W. Deniscn (of Leeds, England), Mr E. Spsnce (London), Mr C. P. Lincoln (Sydney), Captain W. R. Stone (Burma), and Mr J. B. Taylor (Sydney).