MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 13, 1 April 1893, Page 303

MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.

Mr and Mrs P. Cunningham and family, and Mr and Mrs W. D. Wood have booked passages for London per Tainui, leaving on the 22nd instant.

Sir John Thurston, Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Westein Pacific, and Lady Thurston leave for Sydney on the Ist of April. His Excellency, it is understood, proceeds there for the purpose of conferring with the Admiral prior to his projected cruise among the Gilbert and other island groups, which have been recently annexed bv Great Britain and laced under his jurisdiction. His Excellency will return to Auckland before his departure for the Gilbert Islands. Lady Thurston and family will remain here until his return from the cruise.

Hastings seems sorry to lose the popular Sergeant Pickering, who has gone to reside at Te Ante. Before his departure he was the recipient of a very gratifying mark of esteem from the citizens of Hastings, the present taking the form of a well filled purse. The Mayor made the presentation in a very happy speech, which was feelingly replied to by Sergeant Pickering. Mr C. A. Loughnan made a neat speech on behalf of the Bar, of whom there were several representatives. Mr A. L. D. Fraser also made a very nice speech. After all the speeches were finished the party adjourned to Mr Caulton’s to drink the recipient’s health.

A number of applications were received for the post of organist at the Napier Cathedral church. The selection finally fell upon Mr J. Morgan Barnett, at present organist of St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart. This gentleman came to the colonies about three years ago on account of his health, and brought with him the testimony of some of the best judges of music that, • there are very few in England who equal Mr Barnett as a pianist and organist.’ The Dean of Hobart writes of him : ‘We have never had his equal in Tasmania.’ Hastings may therefore be congratulated upon having secured the services of such a capable musician.

Mrs Sise (Dunedin) entertained at lunch a small party in honour of Mrs Randall McDonald, who is at present on a visit from Christchurch to her sister, Mrs Sinclair Thomson.

Mr Salisbury, of Ngakuta, Picton, is a passenger by the Rimutaka for Home. It is forty years since Mr Salisbury left England, and he is taking a holiday and seavoyage partly to recruit his health, and partly to see his only remaining relative—a sister