PERSONAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7434, 21 June 1902, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr J. Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, arrived from Wellington this morning. He will remain in Christchurch until Monday, and will then go on to Dunedin, to attend the Winter Show. Mr J. D. Ritchie, Secretary for Agpcul-, ture, arrived from Wellington this morning, and went on to Dunedin by the express train, to be present at tho Winter Show. • Mr M. Murphy, Secretary: to the New Zealand Agricultural Conference, left for Dunedin this morning, to attend the conference which will be held there next week. Messrs J. A. Miller, M.H.R., E. E. Gaulter, and A. Scott were amongst the passengers for the south by this morning s express train. , ■ A presentation to the Rev H. Airay 1 Watson and Mrs Watson, who are leaving Merivale, will take place at the schoolroom, Papanui Road, on Tuesday, at 8 p.m. Tho choir of St Mary's, Merivale, entertained the Rev H. Airay and Mrs Watson on the eve of their departure for England, in the parish schoolroom, last evening. The room was prettily decorated, Mr W. Jones lending valuable assistance. Mr A. Dudley Dobson spoke of the esteem in which Mr Watson was hetd by the choir, and on its behalf presented him with an enlarged photograph of the choir and an illuminated address; while on the behalf of. the boys of Mrs Watson's class, he presented an address suitably inscribed, to ' Mr and Mrs Watson. In returning thanks Mr Watson said that the cord of friendship which bound himself to the choir was one which could not be broken; and that he would never forget the support given him by the choir. During the evening musical items were given by members of the choir, and the ladies provided refreshments. After singing the National Anthem cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Watson. Mr Tulloch, the ' dhief officer of the Taviuni, has been appointed signalman* at Westport. An old Maori chief, Komene, who played a prominent part in the Maori rebellion, died at Oakura, Taranaki, last week. Komene, who belonged to the Nga.tia.wa tribe, ws* (says the Wellington "Post") the right handyman of Wiremu Kingi at the L Pa at Waitara, where the first shot was fired! in 1860. He took part in the attack! on Major Nelson's men on the flat near the Waitara River, many soldiers being killed on that occasion. Komene was also in. most , of the actions fought in tihe Waimate Plains district. Captain Fee, well-known in New Zealand, will leave Australia immediately for , England, to bring out the new Huddart-^ Parker steamer Victoria.