PERSONAL ITEMS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3311, 3 May 1909, Page 7

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr C. A. Hickson, who is retiring on superannuation from the position of Commissioner of Stamps, received a presentation from the staff of the department in Wellington on Frixlay. Mr J. 1). Ritchie, ex-Secretarv for Agriculture, has been appointed by tlio Prime Minister to represent Now Zealand at the international conference of sheepbreeders to lie held under th<C allspices of the National Sheepbreeders’ Association of England at the Royal Agricultural Society's show at Gloucester next June. Dr McArthur, S.M., has been appointed Cliairmnn ol the North Island Railway Appeal Board in succession to Mr 11. Eyre Kenny, who has retired on superannuation. Mr E. Caradus, now assistant science master at the Auckland Grammar School, lias been appointed to bo one o! (lie assistant masters at the Wellington Rows’ College. Colonel Knight, commanding in the North Island for the Salvation Army, left Wellington for Sydney or Friday in charge of a large contingent of Salvation Army officers. A Press Association message states that they will attend a conference to lie held under Commissioner MeKie at Melbourne before that officer leaves to take a command in Sweden.

The Bishop of Bathurst (Dr Camidge) will act as Anglican Primate of Australia until a fresh appointment is made.

The new Commissioner of Crown Lands, Air T. Al. Brodriek, assumes the duties of his new position today. Air Brodriek arrived in Napier from Gisborne by the Alokoia on Thursday morning, but left again tor that place by the Victoria last night, it being necessary for him to attend a meeting of the Tairawhiti Land Board on Alonday. He will probably return to Napier by next Thursday’s steamer.

Mr J. Goodall, of the Napier railway staff, who has been retired on superannuation after 25 years’ service (in addition to 22 years’ railway service in England), was yesterday presented by bis fellow-employees with a handsome marble clock as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by all. Air F. A. Laurie, workshops foreman, made the presentation in a neat little speech, in which he referred to Air Goodall’s long and honourable record as a railway servant, and to the good feeling existing between him and his comrades. Air Goodall suitably replied. Air H. J. Alatthews, Chief Forester, died at Auckland on Wednesday. In him the Lands Department has lost one of its most valuable servants. Formerly be was the proprietor of a large nursery garden at Alorniugton, Dunedin,. Mr Alatthews was 47 years of age, and leaves a widow. Christchurch is being visited by Dr Thomas Hodgkin, a distinguished historian and writer. Dr Hodgkin intends visiting Wellington and Auckland, prior to leaving for Australia, en route for Home. He is accompanied by Airs Hodgkin and their sou and daughter. They are member- of the Society of Friends, or to use the more familiar term, Quakers. The chief object ct their visit to these lands, Dr Hodgkin said, was to meet members of the society. The most pathetic incident or h.s 25 years’ experience ot life in New Zealand, said Mr Hill in an addres- in Napier last week, met him the previous week while driving along the main road between Woodville and Nopier. He saw on the road in front of him a man walking with a woman beside him. He pulled up to give them a lift, and in conversation the woman said she was a swagger! Her busband was trying to find employment. In conversation the husband appeared to be an industrious man and when be was at work made good wages. There were bad times, however, when wages were poor and he was out of employment, and then he had to go away to endeavour to get something to do. This picture, said Air Hill, was. to his mind typical of the problem ot the untrained man.