PERSONAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12715, 29 January 1906, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr. J. Edmonds, editor of the Sydney ' 'Bulletin,'' and Mr. G. Taylor, M.L.A., and ex-Colonial Secretary for West Australia, arrived m Auckland recently by the Mokoia, and went on to Rotorua. x , t. .' A Wellington wiro states that bergeant Wright, chief clerk in the office of the Commissioner of Police, has heen promoted to sub-inspector, and will remain in charge of the Commissioner's office. . Mr. J. A. Kinsella, the New Zealand Government ;Dairy Commissioner, who has been oil a trip to Australia, is expected to a.rrfve at; the Bluff fi om Mel-bourne'to-day. . | . ; l)r. H. Brooks, who was vice-captain of the English foptbail team which toufcH?; Nevy- Zealand in 1888; was a Iguest at ttio,"high tea" to which the Yorkshire Rugby Union entertained the New rZealanders. ; ' It' ia quite .possible that the Rignt Hoii the Premier, as representing the citizens of tho colony, will journey to Auckland to welcome home the ISew Zealand football team on its arrival there on March 5. •Tho''"Standard" reports that Captain Preece is at present taking steps to arrangje a benefit performance in aid of Mr. Neville Thornton, the wellknown scenic artist, who has for some time past been engaged on the stock scenery at the Palmerston North Opera House. Captain Preece intends forming a strong committee of influential townspeople to carry out the project. It is not, perhaps, generally known that Mr. Thornton has had a distinguished military career. With Colonel Banks, of. Auckland, he shares the distinction of being the only holders of the cross .of the Legion of Honour (French) in New Zealand. Mr. Thornton also possesses French, Turkish, and English medals for the Crimea. He was wounded in the assault upon the Malakoff redoubt at Sebastopol, and it is worthy of note that while in hospital at Scutari he was nursed by Mrs. Evans, now a resident of Hawera. Mr. Tliornton has several times been incapacitated from work at the Opera House by severe illnesses, and the "Standard" has no doubt that the success attendant upon Captain Preeoe's efforts will be fully in accordance With its worthy object, •

Private advice received in Palmerston announces the death in Johannesburg of -Charles Peake, a member of the Eighth Contingent. According to a contemporary, it is rumoured that Mr r Mclntosh, general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, is severing h's connection with the Bank, owing to some difference of opinion with respect to the Government banking account. ; Mr. George Smithies, engineer, of Wanganui, representative of the Mephan Ferguson Company, manufacturers of spiral steel and locking-bar pipes, is visiting Gisborne with the object of making preliminary inquiries as to the water works contract. It is, the "Poverty Bay Herald" understands, the intention of thd company to tender, for the main pipe line, and in the "event of their tender being successful, works employing about 60 men would be established at Gisborne for tha manufacture of the pipes. Mr. Braik, who succeeds Mr. Gray as Ch:ef Inspector under the Wanganui Education Board, arrived in town on Saturday