PERSONAL MATTERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8862, 13 September 1907, Page 5

PERSONAL MATTERS.

Mr D. J. Corcoran, of Dunedin, has been appointed secretary of the New Zealand Athletic Union, in place of Mr T. P. Gilfedder, resigued.

A cable message, received yesterday, from Mr O. E. Dauiell, by Mr F. W. Temple, stated that Mr and Mrs Dauioll will leave London for New Zealand on 4th October.

Honorary Veterinary LieutenantColonel J. A. Gilruifn, principal veterinary officer to New Zealand Forces, has been Gazetted a Veterinary Lieutenant-Colonel.—Association.

Mr John Flanagan, the old-time Kilmallock athlete, made a new world's record in the 161b hammer (7ft circle), at the American Athletic Union All-round Championship Meeting on Jnly 4th, by sending the implement 173 ft 4in.

An invitation from the Cartertou Presbyterian congregation to the Rev. Lawrence Thompson, M.A., of North Taieri, to become its minister, was considered by the Wellington Presbytery, at a special meeting yesterday, and was forwarded to Mr Thompson.

Miss F. L. Thompson, at present on the staff of the Dauuevirke District High School, has been accepted by tho Methodist Board of Missions in Sydney for educational work at Übuia, New Guinea. Miss Thompson will leave for her new sphere as soon as she can be released from her present position.

The Rev. Robert Eraser, M.A., who was minister of the Presbyterian Church, Waipukurau, from 1875 to 1880, and of the Hastings and Hayelock churches from 1880 to J8!)7, died recently at Aberdeen. Deceased, who was seventy-one years of age, returned to Scotland on account of bad health.

The death is recorded of Mrs S. Newman, mother of Mrs Hutchins, Blenheim, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The deceased lady came to New Zealand from America about twenty years ago, residing with her daughter from that time. Of quiet and unobtrusive demeanour, the old lady will be mourned by many friends. The death took place at Dalefield, on Wednesday night, of the wife of Mr William Hart, at the age of fifty. Deceased was a daughter of the late Mr Thomas Reid, and was born in tho Hutfc, coming to Wairarapa when a child. For some three years deceased had been an invalid, suffering from diabetes. A husband, daughter and three sons are left.

The tardy recovery of Miss Jessie Maclachlan from the severe illness which prostrated her at Blenheim during the past fortnight has necessitated cancelling the whole of the balance of the New Zealand tour. Her medical adviser has ordered Miss Maclachlau a period of complete rest ere she can venture upon her Melbourne season, which is fixed for October sth.

Father Erasmus Herring, the world's greatest linguist, lias just died at Landeshut Monastery a/t the age of seventy-nine. He had been a monk in the monastery for more than fifty years, and he had absolute command of thirty-three ancient and modern languages, an unprecedented intellectual achievement. The celebrated Giuseppe Mezzofanti, who died in 1841), was reputed to be able to speak fifty-two languages, while Mr Jeremiah Curtin, who died last year at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is said to have known seventy tongues. A good many of these langnages, however, were merely dialects or modifications of other root languages.

The Rev. W. Kirk, of Petone, celebrated Ills eighty-second birthday a day or two ago, and was the recipient of many congratulatory messages. Mr Kirk came to New Zealand from England in 184(5, and lias resided in the colony ever since. In 'the early days of his ministry he laboured amongst the Maoris, and a register in his possession shows that lie baptized over three hundred Natives. On one day (December 24th, 1848) eighty-one Maoris were brought to him at Te Arere (Waugauui river) for baptism. Notwithstanding Ins advanced *L r -"_»'-- -o - - •<*--:rr-v7.. ttg6, ATr iriri- to take a close ~ ~. Vj -. ~ -Hgioflf! and politimterest in civil, re* wy ' " l ciil affairs.