PERSONAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10924, 13 November 1913, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr R. jVTNab is in Christchurch. Mr P. ,H. Modlin returned from Sydney to-day. Captain Hutton and the Rev Eird arrived from Wellington to-day. Mr H. Hardcastle, Press representative of thje Auckland Exhibition, arrived from the north to-day. The d'eath is announced of Mr David Crewe, a pioneer of Pahiatua and nine times Mayor of that borough. A cable message was received on Saturday by the Very Rev Chancellor Prioe from Bishop Grimes at Port Said, en t route to New Zealand. TTk Lordship stated that he was well. Mr Nicholas Reid, who has been a resident of Wellington for over half a century, celebrated his seventy-third birthday on Sunday, and was the reciof many congratulations, including some from other parts of New Zeaiand. The Rev James Flanagan, the popular "English preacher ana lecturer who visited Zealand six''years ago, returned to the dnmiirnn last week and will conduct a.mission in this city under the auspices of the Central Methodist Mission, from November 23 to December 1. At the Burwood Hall, on November 7, a presentation was..made to Mrs Rogers, who has been a Sunda-e school teacher in Burwood for the' past fortytwo years. Numerous letters from prominent "citizens were read and contained eulogistio references to Airs Rogers's faithful work throughout the whole period of her sojourn in the district. . English papers report a brave rescue which was made oy an old Dunedin boy. Commander Norman Stanley, of tiie cruiser Europe, in the upper reaches of Portsmouth Harbour. A stoker named Whitehead fell_ into the water. He struck his head in his fall, and was unconscious. Commander Stanley dived from the cruiser's upper bridge, a distance of thirty feet, and caught Whitehead as the tide was carrying him away The commander, who is a son of the late Rev T. L. Stanley, of Otago, had already received the Royal Humane Society's medal for jumping overboard in the Bay of Biscay and saving a man's life. •. The announcement that Mr Edward Laurie has engaged " Iwa," the young New Zealand contralto, daughter of Mr George Skerrett, of Bluff, for the Christmas pantomime, " Robinson Crusoe," which will be staged at the Princess Theatre, Broadway, New Cross, will be read with interest by her friends at this end of the dominion. During the past eighteen months this gifted young New Zealander has been appearing at the principal theatres and musichalls in London and has toured the Midland counties. She has been devoting a good deal of her spare time to study, and'according to the latest files from London has made rapid strides, hence the important engagement she has accepted. "Iwa" sang before a number t of prominent London critics, including Blanche Marchesi, Madam Nevada and Randegger. The latter almost caressed her with joy,_ while Madam Nevada was charmed with her voice, and Blanche Marchesi said that she did not believe there was a more beautiful voice in the world. It is understood "Iwa" has been offered numerous engagements and her career will therefore be watched with interest by lovers of music in her native land. I