PERSONAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13926, 3 April 1909, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr. C. H. Burgess was a passenger to Auckland last night.

Mr Justice Williams, who had been detained in Dunedin, leaves for Wellington this morning to attend the Court of Appeal. — Press wire.

Mr T. A. B. Bailey, solicitor at Palmerston South, has (states a Dunedin Press message) accepted an appointment to the magistracy. '

Mr. J. Niven, M.A., M.S*c, science master at the Hawera District High School, has received the appointment oi" instructor in science to technical schools in Hawke's Hay, and leaves for Napier shortly. Mr. Niven, amongst other ihings, tool: o keen interest in the local hockey club, and has been iis secretary and delegate for the past several seasons.

Mr H. W. Han kins. Chief Warder .if the New Plymouth gaol, has also been given a well-merited promotion to a: similar position at Auckland. • Under Mr Millington he has had a iarge share in bringing about the numerous reforms here, and in every way he has proved himself a most efficient officer, and during the several years he has been here he has made numerous friends who will regret his departure, though pleased at the recognition of his faithful service his promotion implies.

Miss Black, who has ]ust resigned ker position on the Leaching staff of the Central School, has been the recipient of two presentations during the week. Mr H. Dempsey, on behalf of the teachers, presented Miss Black with a dressing table clock. In doing so he referred in eulogistic terms to the good work done in the school by Miss Black. | Mr M'llroy returned thanks oil behalf of the recipient. The other presentation consisted of a dressing case from Miss Black's last year's elates.

By the unanimous vote of the "Bristol Savages" — an artists' club having among its members all the men of note in that part of the West of England — Mr. G. E. Butler, the well-known New Zealand artist, has (according to thr London correspondent of the Christclnirch Press} been commissioned to paint a large picture commemorating the King's last visit to ' Bristol. The subject is to be "His Majesty Reviewing the Veterans of the Indian Mutiny and Crimea at the Art Galljery, Bristol." The selection of the artist was left to the "Bristol Savages." Mr. Butler has been living at Clifton for some considerable period.

"Writing from Tahiti on February 27 to Captain Standish, Captain Lewes, of H.M.S. Cambrian, says: "A great pleasure to see your handwriting and also to receive the kindly resolution sent to me for my small memento! Please say how I appreciate it. I have had a real good companion for fourteen days in Colonel W. Gudgeon, C.M.G., Governor of the Cook Group — a fine man from every point tff- view, and if . that is the type you reared in days gone by I don't wonder Now Zealand stands so firm to-day. 'I did so enjoy his society, and wish he could come further. He was worshipped on board here by one and all. . . . Please remember me most kindly to friends and accept my warmest regard."

The Rev. Bates, Recently appointed Government meteorologist, was assistant weather" reporter, F.R.G.S., F.R. Met. S., and Cor. member of the Imperial Meteorological Society of Aus» tria. He was born at Spalding, England, in, 1868, ant},, or.dained itflßßl, Minister of the Church of England. He served in New South Wales and New Zealand until appointed chaplain to the Ninth New Zealand Contingent in South Africa. After returning from the war he- retired from his clerical profession through illness, and entered the Civil Service in 1903 in the Meteorological Office. On the amalgamation of that office and the Weather Bureau in December, 1906, he became assistant weather reporter to Captain Edwin, R.N., who had founded the Bureau in 1874.

Judge Johnson, who is well-known in Kew Plymouth, is retiring from the Native Land Court. He was appouwan to his present position in 1896 and is the last of the Native-speaking judges. Judge Johnson has a very interesting career which is associated with tne early history of the Dominion. He was educated privately in .England and on arriving in New Zealand in 1863 started business at Coromandel . and ttie Thames. Judge Johnson assisted .to import the meeting of Sir Geo Grey and Tawhiao near Alexandra. He was government Agent at Rolorua and Chairman of the Town Board m 1885. In the following year he assisted/ m the rescue of th! victims of the Tarawa eruption. Subsequently he settled at Te Aroha, became Registrar of the Native Land Court in 1894 and, » already stated, was,appomted Judge m 1896.

Mr. S. MilUngton who for.the Pjst two and a half years has been in charge of the local gaol, has received notice of transfer to the Wellington gaol, of which he will have charge. Whto' he is to be congratulated upon the substantial promotion which the change means, his removal from here wiU be regretted, for he has proved himself nn almost ideal gaoler. His rule has been firm and humane, and during hi* short term of office ho has quite transformed the local prison ,, making i* one of the best in the Dominion. Only tlie other day Mr Justice Chapman, alter visiting the institution expressed his pleasure at the excellent condition m which he found it; m fact, no visitor can help being struck with the cleanliness, order, and system existing throughout. Mr Millmgton will leave for Wellington on Tuesday morning, his place hens being filled by the promotion of Chief Warder Coyle, of the Wellington prison.

The New Zealand lady who, under the name ot" G. B. Lancaster, has written so successfully of men's outdoor life in the country districts of JNew Zealand and Australia, and whose latest book deals vividly with the life of a trader in the South Seas, is leaving shortly for Canada and the United States, where she will probably remain for the rest of the year, if not longer. She has been commissioned by a big American publishing firm (says the Wellington Dominion) to visit the country districts of New York State and the back country of Canada and write a series of articles for an American magazine which they publish. G. B\ Lancaster's work has been published in severaj^ American magazines, and has met with great appreciation there for several years. Now she has an offer from New York, asking permission to dramatise "Altar Stairs." her last novel, and an English magazine offers to publish the sarco story as a serial. G. B. Lancaster, who will be accompanied by her mother and sister, leaves New Zealand wifhin a few weeks, and will go on to England 'after her stay in Canada.

The Rt. Hon. Jesse ColJings, Conservative member for Bordesley, is m a critical state of health as the result of a recent fall, says a London cable.

The directors of the Bank of New Zealand yesterday re-elected Mr Harold Beauchamp chairman for the ensuing financial year.

The Nelson City Council last nijjht appointed Mr G. A. Edmunds, assistant town clerk, to the town clerkship, and recorded a resolution complimentary of the services of Mr H. V. Gully, who is retiring from that position after 34 years' service.

In the Civil Service "move on," some stipendiary magistrates are to have a change. Mr Young (Naseby) according to a Press Association message, is to be transferred to Queenstown, and Mr Evans (Queenstown) is to go to Nelson. Several transfers are to be. made in the North Island, but details are not yet available.

Mr. Reginald Bach, who has been acting for s"ome years as agent for tho Union S.S. Company at the Bluff, has received advice that he has been transferred to the Melbourne office, and he will leave the Bluff next Monday. Mr. Bach relieves Mr. J. Eva, also formerly at the Bluff, who goes to Strahan, Tasmania. Mr. Bach's position at the Bluff will be taken by Mr. Craske, formerly purser of the s.s. Marama.

His Excellency the Governor is to lay the foundation stone of the new Wanganui College on Easter Saturday. There are to be great doings in connection with the college at Easter generally. Mr. Walter^ Empson, 8.A., is retiring from the headmastership of the college, and in his honour "old boys" from all parts of the Dominion are to assemble to pay a tribute of respect to one they stantl indebted to. Mr. Empson, who was born in England in 1856, has been "headmaster of the Wanganui College since 1888.