PERSONAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16323, 12 January 1921, Page 7

PERSONAL.

Mr F. S. Wilding returned to Christchurch from Auckland yesterday. Sir John Macfarlund. Chancellor of Melbourne University, is visiting New Zealand, for the purpose of trout-fishing in the Cold Lakes. Mr IV, Gray, principal of the Presbyterian College. Melbourne-, and formerly principal of the Wellington Training College, is on a visit to the Dominion. Mr W. C. Pnrdie, B.Sc.. of Wellington, has been appointed lecturer in chemistry and physics at Lincoln College, where he went through his agricultural course some time ago. The Rev W Trfemain, a Church of ■ England clergyman, who has been for ! five years a missionary to the Eskimos ; in Northern Alaska, is visiting New \ Zealand. Mr A. Bissefct-Smith, stepson of Cap- i tain Bissett-Smith, who won tho Vic- j toria Cross posthumously for hie gallant ! fight to preserve the. New Zealand ; Shipping Company’s steamer Otaki j from capture by a German raider, has ( arrived in New Zealand. The Prime Minister was approached ! by a “ New* Zealand Times ” representative with reference to the rumour i that Sir William Herries (Minister of | Native Affairs, Customs and Marine) j will hand in his resignation in about one j monthr’s time, and that a new member I of tho Ministry will then be appointed. I Mr Massey replied that he knew no-' thing about Sir William’s intentions, j “Ho may possibly resign,” he said, “ but nothing lias been definitely settled about it.” Sir William Herries, who was also approachod by the representative. said, “ Nothing has » been settled yet.” Tho election of M. Paul Desehanel, ex-Prcflident of France, to the Senate suggests that he has recovered his health. A representative of the Journal ” who visited M. Desehanel on November 9, recorded that, the ox-Presi-dent’s condition had undergone a striking change. The dhai acteristic boyish brilliance had returned to his eyes, and Tiis step hacl regained its old elasticity; in a word, has recovery was described as miraculous. AT. Desehanel declined to grant a formal interview. He would only authorise the visitor to express the happiness he would have experienced had he been permitted to take part in the Armistice celebrations, and to voice the regret he felt by reason of hip? isolation from the events of the great day.