PERSONAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 25

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Father Athanasios Kantopoulos, a Chief Priest of the Greek Orthodox Church, is at present in Wellington visiting the members of his congregation. Father Kantopoulos. who was appointed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to be the spiritual head of the Church in Australasia, resides at Melbourne, and makes a tour of his Australasian congregation every two or three yeai\?. He was in New Zealand two years ago. After spending a aveek in Wellington Father Kantopoulos will leave for Auckland, where he will put in another week before departing for New South Wales and Queensland. it -s understood that Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R.. will bo a candidate for Christchurch South at the forthcoming gen-era! election.

The Rev. H. H. Lawry. of Auckland, who is a delegate to the Wosleyan Methodist Conference, now .sitting in Wellington, completes at this sitting his diamond jubilee- as a minister of the Method'at Church.

Dr Bell, who arrived from Canada la 5 t v. eck to take up his duties as New Zealand Government geologist, and Mr J. Haves, the inspecting engineer of the Mines Department, have gone to Taranaki to inspoc-t the oil-boring works.

Professor Gustav Fritseh, of the Berlin University, who is engaged on a scientific journey round the world, reached Thursday Island from Sumatra on February 21. Ho expects to finish his work there by the end of the month, and will reach Brisbane early this month. / He intends visiting the southern colonies, including Tasmania, and, if time permits, also New Zealand. His Excellency the Governor and his suite narrowly escaped a serious accident 01 Thursday when visiting the performance of "The Mikado" by the Christchurch Amateurs. His Exc-elle ncy's horses -took fright, and aft-er the carriage had had two narrow escapes of upsetting the horses pulled it on to a vacant section, where some bystanders secured the frightened animaK The Governor and party escaped unharmed, but the carriage was slightly damaged, and the coachman sustained some bruises. Mr W. S. Reid, ex-Solicitor-general, who resigned the ohairmanship of the Land Commission owing to ill-health, and was confined 10 his bed for some time, is now able to get about again. While in England the Rev. Mr Chatterton, of Gisborae, -paid a visit to Mrs Selwyn, the widow of Bishop Selwyn. The old lady, who is 96 years of age, is living &t Lichfveld. She has fiill possession of her faculties, and was much interested in hearing about New Zealand.

Mr J. R. Brunt will be a candidate at the- next general election for Avon. Mr A. E. G. Rhodes's narne^ has been mentioned as a probable candidate, but there is no truth whatever in the rumour, as Mr Rhodes has no intention of contesting the seat.

Tha Hawera Star is informed that Mr B. Dive, of Eltham. has been asked by several farmers to contest the Hawera seat in the Opposition interest, and that Mr Dive replied that he would stand if selected by the Farmers' Union as their candidate.

It is understood that Mr C. Hall, member for Waipawa, intends standing for the seat ag-ain against all comers.

At Invercargill on Friday afternoon Miss Salmond, of North Invercargill School, was (says the Southland Times) the recipient of a gold brooch and a silver-mounted purse and card case as a. parting gift from the pupils. I!vlis>s Salmond proceeds to Dunedin to attend tho Training College and tlie University.

Mr R. K. Smith, manager for Dalgety and Co. at Gore, is relinquishing his appointment at the- end of the present month for the purpose of embarking upon pastoral pursuits on his property in the Roxburgh district. Mr J. M. S. Macarthur, who has acted as ths firm's auctioneer at Dunedin and was formerly in the Gore office for a brief period, succeeds Mr Smith as manager of the local branch. — Ensign.

The Bruce Herald states that Mr Gerald F. Miranis, Dunedin, has been appointed organist and choirmaster 5.t the Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church.

Mr Goodman (Messrs Xoyes Bros', representative) left for Wellington on Thursday to confer with the Public Works Department, as to the requirements of the Government in connection with the Waipori Falls transmission line.

A London cable advises that Mr Alfred Mistowski, who has already visited the coloii7 on two occasions, has been, appointed Trinity College examiner for New Zealand. Mis 3 Blanche M. Randie, of Haverfordwest, South Wales, a former pupil of the late Mr Barth, of Dunechn, has been successful m qualifying for the Associateship of the Royal College of Organists, London. Miss RancWe was prepared by Mr H. C. Moms, F.R.C.0.. L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M., organist U St. David's Cathedral, South Wales.

Quite a large gathering of the residents of Eough Ridge assembled in the State schoolroom to bid faiewell to Mr and Mrs Moodie on the eve of their departure for Leirh Valley, to which school Mr Moodie has been transferred. Several speakers niacl>e appre ciative reference to the successful manier in which the school had been carried on under Mr Moodie's charge, and to the improvement made in the geneial surroundings of the schoolhouso and grounds, and also tc the interest displayed by both Mr and Mrs Moodie in the general welfare of the district A piesentation of a marble clock, suitably inscribed, was made to Mr Moodie, while Mrs Mood'ie received a gold-mounted greenstone brooch.

Mr Angus M'lnnes. jun., of Port Chalm-r<-wlio has served his time as a marine engineer in the Union Steam Ship Company's factory at Port Chalmers, left by the Waikare on Thursday for Sydney, where he joins the a.s. Orontes, his intention on getting Home being toi -perfect himself 111 the latent system of engineering. Mr M'lnnes passed a very successful examination in the Ameiicau School of Coriespondlence, and holds its cer tificate for marine engineering, boilers, anJ electricity. He is a Port Chalmers boy, and son of Mr Angus M'lnnes, one of the heads of department in the Union Steam Ship Company's work" at the Port. Mr John Stenhou=e. rector of the Laurence District High School, who, with Mrs Stenhouse. is about to make a, trip Home, wa-j m>et by the committee of the School Expupils' Club, and was presented with a gold Maltese cross as a token of the esteiin in which he was held.

The Tuapeka Times reports the death of a ■pioneer settler in the person of Mr Danir] O'Brien, who died at the residence of h:s daughter (llrs Neilan), Tuapeka Flat, on Monday, at the ripe age of 87 years. The late Mr O'Brien was a native of Dooan County Linieiick (Ireland), and was attracted

to Victoria in 1858. After following main? for two or three years in that colony ihe. Gabriel's lush broke out, and the deceascJ arrived 111 Tuapeka in the year 1861 and f jilowed mining in that district for many jears. lie subsequently engaged in farming ir the Tuapeka West district. .tie leaves v family of three daughters and one son. his w;fe having predeceased him some yeais ago.

Mr A. Gaw, railway statior.maqter, who has besn transferred from Omakau to Pelichefc Bay, was entertained by his friends at Omakau prior to his departure. Mr R. J. Mitchell, who occupied the chair, spoke very highly of Mr Gaw's good qualities, both as a public officer and as a private citizen. Owing to the short notice they had, they had been unable to have ready a memento o£ Mr Gaw's residence amongst them, but he could inform Mr Gaw that it was ccniing. and that the people of Omakau intended to pend on to him later on a, token of the esteem in which he was he.d. Mr J. J. Ramsay also added his tesimony to that of Mr Mitchell, remarking humorously that Mr Gaw and he had had more brushes than anybody, and were always good chums. He also wished Mr Gaw every success, and wss very sorry he was leaving them. Mr E. Hayes, speaking for the staff, eulogised Mr Gaw as an officer who combined duty with courtesy to his men, and a similar tribute was paid by Guard Veruon. During the evening a round of toasts were proposed, and full justice done to a really good spread provided by Host Fraser. of the Manuherikia Hotel. Songs and recitations enlivened the proceedings, and Mr and Mrs Gaw's health was drunk with musical honours. A handsome clock is being presented to Mr Gaw to remind him of his friends at Omakau.

The annual conference of the Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia opens in, Sydney next month. New Zealand will be represented by Mr Dugald M'Pherson president of the Dunedin Commercial Travelless' A~=fciation) and Mr Brown, of Dunecliii.

Mrs Wallis, the wife of the Right Rev. Dr Wallis, Anglican bishop in the Eastern Pacific, ariived in Dunedin on Thursday, and is the guest of the Most Rev. the Primate. A London message advises that Lord Tennyson has been appointed vice-president of the United Einprro Trade Leagtie.

Mr Jonathan Rhodes, of Keiv. , ... .cd. by Mrs and Miss Rhodes, left Dunedin on Tuesday last on a trip to the Home Country, proceeding via Auckland, Si-dney. and Vancouver, and visiting the principal American, towns en route. The return journey will ba made via, the Continent and the Suez Canal, and Mr Rhodes hopes to be back in Dunedin again in time for the forthcoming general election. Seventeen years have now ~'- -• 2vlr Rhodes came to ICew Zealand.

Sir Joseph Ward 011 Friday afternoon, received a deputation in Dunedin from the Fire Biigades Conference, and subsequently visited the Caiedonian Grounds to witness tha brigades' demonstration. In the evening he> attendee l the fire brigades' smoke concert, and left on Saturday by the first express, proceeding; direct to Wellington.

The Hon. J. M. Pratt, M.L.C., Tict^ia, chairman of directors of the Australian Widows' Fund Life Assurance Society, and Mr John Donaldson, general manager of tha society, arrived in Dunedin from the north! on Friday, and are staying at Wain's Hotel. They will remain in Dunedin for a few days. Mr and Mrs John Donaldson, of Kcw, and two daughters (Miss May and Ada, both well known in inusioal circles) left by the Monowai for Melbourne on Sunday, where they; connect with a, P. and O. steamer for Home. They will probably be absent for about ayear.

Mr and Mrs W. B. Manley, Castle street, left on Sunday by the Monowai to join the s.s. Orontes at Melbourne. Mr Manley, who has been resident in Otago for 44 years, intends to visit the Old Countiy and the United States.

Mr J. M. Johnston, a member of the Land Commission, has returnee!: to Dunedin, having received a telegram announcing the serious illness of his wife.

Mr John Holmes, of the Wellington firm of John Holmes and Co. (Limited), who, it will be remembered, was sent on a tour of Britain and the United States in connection, with opening up markets for New Zealand flax, and was Royal Executive Commissioner on the occasion of the royal visit, left for Melbourne yesterday by the Monowai. A. proposal by Mr Holmes to appoint qualified commercial representatives to give public lectures in England on New Zealand produce has been favourably received in the north. Mr J. M. Garrow was on Monday admitted by his Honor Mr Justice Williams as a barrister and solicitor

A "Wellington message says that Mr Gecncgo Fisher, 'M.H.R., has been given up by his medical attendants.

Mr Carl A. Andersson, head expert of the Crown Crea.m Separator Company, a Sw-edisbi concern, was in Dunedin on Monday, havirg arrived from the north on Saturday night. "While in town he visited tho premises of the» Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Oornpa.ny, whose factory is, he says, the laxgest he has seen, being unsurpassed, to his knowledge, either in Europe or in South America,. Mr Andersson was in New Zealand about two yeara. ago, and -upon his present visit he has, he informs us, been met with indications of greaf; improvement. '" The farmers," be says, "' are evidently being educated Tip to the ideal of cleanliness, and this is noticea,ble particularly in the rapid growth of milking sheds So far as natural conditions go your climate cannofc be beaten for dairying. You have good pastures and good water, and there is no reason; why tho industry should not go ahead." Mr Andeisson proceeded to luvercargill by the express train in tha evening.

Mr William Milne, head master of iho Caversham School, this month completes his fortieth, year of service under the Otago Education Board. Mr Mine entered the Otago Board's '-ervice in March, 3865, when he was appointed to the Caversham School in the position which: he has held with distinction ever since. At the present time Mr Milne almost Holds the lecord for length of service under the board, his only senior, we understand, being Mr Alexander Stcv.-ait, head master of Umoo Streefe School, who ent'eied the service in 1862. Tho members of the staff of the Caversham School met yesterday and maiked the- occasion by malting a presentation. Mr Milne's many olct pupils will 110 doubt join in congratulating: hiru on the attainment o£ Ins fortieth year of service, and in wishing him an extended term of -jsefulne?°.

A vei\ agieeab'e surprise par*v was held! at the residence of Mr F. T. Poole (Mayoi of Kaitaugata), who has been ordered away by ; his medical adviser for the benefit of hi=. health, and has decided to make a visit to the Hoi Springs. A number of his employees and residents met to wish him boil voyage, 3 net during the evening Mr Waid, on behalf of the employees, piesented him with a dressing case and fittings complete and a silver pen and! pencil case combined as a 'mark of their esteem and respect. Mr Foole, who w<\_ by surprise by the presentation, replied, tiusting that the good feelings existing between him and his employees would long continue. Tho visitors were suitably entertained withi refreshments, and a numbf>r of songs was given by Messrs Swannell, Barker, and others, a very enjoyable evening being concluded bg the singing of " Anld lang syne."