Personal Paragraphs.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XIX, 8 May 1897, Page 576

Personal Paragraphs.

XT is officially announced that the Earl and Countess of Ranfurly, two daughters and Captain Alexander, private secretary and first aide-de-camp, sail for Quebec in June and leave Vancouver on the Sth July. They are expected to arrive at Wellington on the 12th August. The Hon. Charles Hill Trevoir, Captain of the Welsh Fusiliers, and Lieutenant Ward of the Royal Artillery, are appointed aides-de-camp to Earl Ranfurly. They sail for Wellington by the * Gothic.’ The Hon. H. Mossman has gone to Sydney from Auckland. Mr F. J. Townsend, manager of the Bank of Australasia, is going to England for a holiday. During his absence, Mr Fred Ayres, accountant of the Brisbane branch, will have charge of the Dunedin branch of the Bank. One of those much interested in Auckland mining, Mr A. Spencer Ellam. who has resigned his position in connection with the London and New Zealand Finance Corporation, left for London on Monday. He was entertained by his many friends at a farewell banquet at the Star Hotel. Lord Glasgow, prior to his departure for England, gave /'so to the Wanganui Collegiate School, the interest on which sum is to be used as an annual prize for classics at the discretion of the headmaster. The Earl said he wished be could have given more, but this would mark his appreciation of the education received by his sons at that College. This is the only scholarship of any kind ever given to the Collegiate School from any outside source. The many friends of Colonel Porter in Gisborne welcomed him home last week with completely restored eyesight. It will be remembered he has been under treatment in Wellington for an injury to his sight—one of his eves having been struck by a branch of a tree as he was riding in the Poverty Bay district. Gt N accidents are painfully common in New Zealand. Mr F. Murfitt, of Havelock, was shooting last week with Messrs D. Watt and Peters, near Mr Douglas’ swamp. Whilst the party were descending a hill side they noticed a hare, and the dog was despatched to start it. The dog tripped up Watt and Murfitt, and in their fall the gun belonging to the former discharged both barrels and exploded, a charge of over forty shots lodging in Mr Murfitt’s leg. He was conveyed to the Havelock Hotel as promptly as possible and medical aid summoned. Another gun accident occurred at ‘ Glenalvon,’ Auckland. a gentleman, Mr Alexander McKellar, receiving an immediately fatal wound from slipping over a bank with his loaded gun. Great sympathy is felt for his friends. Mr Henry Grey, chief dairy expert for the Government in London, has resigned, and returns to the colony. It is believed that Mr J. B. Mac Ewen. formerly chief expert, acts temporarily. Dr. J. Somerville returned to Auckland last week from Sydney. Mr George Massey Watson, a wealthy gentleman of Monte Video, at present touring the colony, has donated /50 to the Hawke s Bay Relief Fund. Mr Harry E. Whitlaw, accountant. Auckland, received presents last week from Messrs Abbott, Oram and Co.’s warehouse. The gifts were a handsome clock from the firm, and tea service and trifle tray from his fellow employees. Mr H. Whitlaw is marrying Miss Edie Waddell. Mr S L. James, formerly in charge of the cable station at Wakapuaka. has been appointed superintendent of the Eastern Telegraph Company’s station at Roebuck Bay, Western Australia. Dr. Baldwin. Medical Superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, has gone down to Wellington. MESSRS H. Webb. P. J. Gray, and E. Hobden, meml>ers of the Cable Company’s "staff at Wakapuaka, are being promoted to the Company’s station at Port Darwin. The three belong to this colony. Miss K. Mills (Dunedin) is staying with Mrs H. Cotterill, Fendalton, Christchurch.

The headmaster of the Ponsonby District School (Auckland), Mr B. Bailey, has been presented with a handsome address from ‘ old boys.’ The Rev. James Blaikie, late of the Auckland Tabernacle. has accepted a call to the Hobart Baptist Tabernacle. He is at present furnishing ministerial supply to the Baptist Church at Townsville, Queensland. Captain Newton, of the * Te Anau,’ is going to Melbourne to bring the s.s. * Liddesdale ’to Dunedin. Captain J. Bernech, late of the ‘ Flora,’ has been transferred to the ‘ Te Anau.’ Mr Spencer von Sturmer and his daughter (Mrs Taylor) left Auckland last week en route for England. They went by way of Sydney, travelling on the ‘ Waihora.’ The late Mayor of Newton (Auckland), Mr Warnock, has been presented with an appreciative address by the Borough Council. The following changes have been made in the personnel of the Union Steamship Company’s officers Mr H. Paterson, late chief officer of the ‘ Waihora,’ has been transferred to the * Liddesdale ;’ while Mr Stott, late chief officer of the ‘ Rotomahana, has been appointed to the ‘ Waihora ;’ Messrs Sparks, second, and Crawford, third, late of the ‘ Rotomahana,’ have been appointed to similar positions on the ‘ Waihora.’ Mr Basire has been appointed chief, Mr Gill second, and Mr Benton (late of the ‘ Flora ’) third officer of the ‘Rakanoa.’ Whilst in Auckland, MrsJ. K. Barney, superintendent of the department of prison work of the American W.C.T. L’nion, visited the Mount Eden Gaol in company with the Rev. W. J. Williams, on the authority of an order from the visiting justices. The gaoler, Mr Reston, showed her over the prison. Before Mrs Barney’s arrival, her Auckland friends wrote to Wellington for permission to visit prisons, and in her semi-official capacity, for a free pass on the railways. Owing to red tape, the permission and the pass arrived in Auckland four days after Mrs Barney's departure for the South. Mrs and the Misses H. C. Seymour find it difficult to satisfy their friends in Picton during this last week. They are having afternoons and evenings all round, the last of all to be spen‘ with Mrs Allen, who is their oldest friend in the place. Miss Beamish, of Hastings, met with a serious accident on Monday. She and Miss Allen were waiting in a carriage outside the Post-office, when the Fernhill coach, which was passing at the time, overturned their vehicle, and Miss Beamish was thrown out and seriously injured. Miss Allen was, fortunately, unhurt. A beautiful souvenir is to be presented to Mr Tracey Knight, organist of St. Paul’s Church, on his departure from Auckland. He has been associated with St. Paul's Church for ten years. Mr W. Berry, of the Auckland Herald, stopped in New Plymouth for a day when en route for Wellington. The ‘ Home Contingent ’ and the ‘ Bisley Team ’ sailed by the ‘ Ruahine’ beside a very large number of passengers, and a great many people journeyed to Port Lyttelton to see them off. A very successful smoke con cert was given them the previous night in the Chamber of Commerce. Christchurch, when a large number of our local volunteers met to do them honour. Mr George McLean, of Hawera, met with a painful accident on April 24th. When driving home, the horse plunged, and Mr McLean was thrown into a barbed wire tence, and the horse trying to free himself tightened the wire round the unfortunate gentleman, inflicting severe injuries. Mr Biss, Chief Postmaster, Auckland, is at present on a visit to the Hot Lakes district and Wairakei. Mr G. T. Bavly has been re elected President of the Taranaki Rugby L’nion. H.I.G.M’S warship ‘ Bussard ’ is in the Apia Harbour keeping watch over its welfare. Mr W. Cutfield, of Okato (Dr. Leatham's brother-in-law), was thrown from his horse on April 24th and very severely injured. Mr Cutfield's leg was broken below the knee, and he suffered from a slight concussion of the brain. He was brought into New Plymouth. Mrs Pynsent and Mrs Leckie have returned to Wellington after a very enjoyable trip to the Northern Lakes. The state of health of the Minister of Railways (Mr Cadman) prevented him opening the Pahiatua Railway on Monday last. Captain Bremner. of the wrecked ship ’Zuleika,’ will return to the Old Country in a few days in company with the two apprentices, Masters Billett and Carson. Mrs and Miss Ching (Auckland) are staying with Mrs W. C Hill, Papanui Road, Christchurch. The new Chief Justice of Apia, Mr W. L. Chambers, late U.S.A Land Commissioner to Samoa, is a man of middle age and of the legal profession, for many years practising law in Alabama ; lately he has lesided iu Washington, D.C. He was formerly a law partner with late Secretary Herbert, Secretary of the Navy in President Cleveland s Cabinet. While acting as Land Commissioner he was universally respected and liked. Mr A. E. ATKINSON was entertained at Inglewood Taranaki) prior to his departure for a trip Home.

Great hopes are entertained by New Zealand tennis players that the Championship Shield will become the property of Miss Nunneley, the champion lady lawn tennis player of Australia and New Zealand. She arrived in Wellington a few days ago en route to the Australian Championship meeting in Sydney. The present Chief Justice of Apia, Mr H. C. Ide will leave next month. He has been there over three and a half years, during which time he has been busily occupied in re-hearing of the land claims and issuing Court grants for the whole of the alienated land in Samoa. He is a Republican ; his successor a Democrat. Three Christchurch ladies-Mesdames R. Allan, P. Lawry and G. Kettlewell—are speuding a week or ten days at Akaroa. Miss Robertson (Dumgree) has been staying in Picton with Mrs Rutherford, and has enjoyed the Easter gaieties immensely, especially the public ball held by the Rowing Club on Easter Monday. Mr James W. Dunlop, who was second engineer of the ‘ Wairarapa ’ when she was wrecked at the Great Barrier, is now chief engineer of the new steamei * Hawea,' which arrived in Auckland from the South on Saturday. The manager of the Union Steamship Company, Mr Mills, goes to Sydney in the * Talune ’ to meet their new steamer, the ‘ Rotoiti.’ She is somewhat like the ‘Takapuna.’ Mr Mills is to have the honour of a banquet in Sydney, thence he proceeds, it is said, to England. The Company’s latest addition, the * Liddesdale,’ is to be renamed the ‘ Wanaka.’ The Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, Dr. Grimes, left on a visit to Rome last week. A handsome gold Albert was presented to Mr A. MeVicar, who has resigned the position of chief engineer of the Hawke’s Bay Freezing Works to enter the service of the Government as an Inspector of Machinery. Mr Justice Conolly and Mrs Conolly (Auckland) were guests of Mr J. A. R. Greensill and the Misses Greensill at Brooklyn last week. Mr Hone Heke, M.H.R., is at present on a visit to Papawai. Mr R. W. Foreman has been re elected president and Mr F. Riddiford vice-president of the Egmont A. and P. Association at Hawera. Mr and Mrs T. Madeley, who have lived in New Zealand thirty-three years, propose to leave Wellington shortly for a visit to England and their old friends there. Mr and Mrs H. C. Seymour and family were, previous to their departure for Ty ntesfield, the recipients of a handsome solid silver cake basket inscribed—’ Presented to Mr and Mrs H. C. Seymour from their Picton friends.’ The presentation was from the public of Picton. Mr A. McCorquodale, of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, is to proceed to Sydney as the local delegate to the Conference of Chamber of Commerce of Australia and New Zealand, to be held in Sydney, on the 17th. In this connection, the Napier Chamber of Commerce has given authority to be represented by the Auckland delegate. News has been received from Mr Gerald Allen, who finds things not all couleur de rose in South Africa. He has been six weeks in the doctor’s hands, suffering from fever and other climatic complaints and had to give up his appointment in the bank and come down to Cape Town, where, fortunately, he has found some kind friends. Wars and rumours of wars are in the air, he writes, and such a state of topsy-turveydom exists in the country that people are walking about Johannesburg and other towns in hundreds praying for war or anythin'), so that they may really know what is going to happen to them. People are dying by hundreds of typhoid fever at Kimberley and elsewhere. Christchurch people are congratulating themselves on the acquisition of Miss Jennie West, who arrived from Dunedin last week to settle in Christchurch. She carries with her a splendid musical reputation both as a solo pianiste and teacher She has been appointed organist at Merivale Church, and commenced duty on Sunday. Anxiety is expressed by the friends of Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R. for Dunedin, regarding the state of his throat. Unless it much improves it is probable that be will be forced to resign his seat. Miss Coleridge, Wellington, gave a girls' afternoon tea last Friday. The farewell of the Auckland ‘ Gleaners’ Union,’ held in St. Matthew’s schoolroom to bid the Misses Newton, two lady missionaries being sent by the Gleaners’ Union, Christchurch, to the Indian Mission fields, adieu, was fairly attended. The ladies are going to the Punab Indian Village Mission, 120 miles from Bombay, via Melbourne. Mr Marsh of the the Dunedin Customs Department, is to be transferred to Wellington, and Mr Craig, from Wellington, is his successor. Mr Mathieson. of the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland, and Mrs Mathieson have returned to Wellington, Mr Mathieson having been transferred to that branch. Miss Ross has returned to Wellington from her long stay in Christchurch.

Miss Celia Dampier, the celebrated child violinist of Auckland, has gone South with her mother. Mrs Collins has gone down South to pay a round of visits from Wellington. Miss May Whitelaw, of Ponsonby, Auckland, left last Monday on a visit to her sister, Mrs J. Gray, Wellington. Mr Baumb, barrister and solicitor of Auckland, left for England last Monday. Miss Lucy Ledger, Nelson, has gone to visit friends on the West Coast. Miss Brett, of Lake Takapuna, Auckland, is still making steady progress towards recovery, to the great satisfaction of her many friends. She is not, however, yet allowed to leave her room. Mrs Watts has returned to Nelson from India, where she has spent several months. Her daughter, Mrs Sweet (India), has returned with her. Miss G. Roberts and Miss Williams, of Dunedin, Mr and Mrs Woodhouse, Messrs Scohie McKenzie and Galloway all made very good bicycle expeditions during the Easter holidays, though not all together. Mrs Pitt, Napier, has been presented with a beautifully fitted Gladstone bag by the non commissioned officers of the Nelson Garrison. The rules of the service precluded any presentation to Colonel Pitt by subordinates. The commander of H.I.M.S. ‘ Falke,’who is now in Auckland, says he is much pleased to be once more in that city. The Town Clerk showed him over the Municipal Buildings on Saturday. Miss Greenfield, Nelson, is visiting her sister in Feilding. Mrs H. D. Bell, Wellington, is prevented from paying her intended visit to England this month, owing to the serious illness (rheumatic fever) of one of her sons. Miss Eila Williams her intended companion, has nowarranged to travel with Mr Alga and Miss Elsie Williams (Hastings). They join the ‘ Himalaya ’in Australia. The Nelson * Snowflakes ’ are to give another of their successful entertainments next week in aid of those who suffered by the late Napier floods. The Rowing Club Minstrels also assist. Miss Eastwood, at present staying with Mr and Mrs C. J. Johnston, Wellington, returns ‘Home’ in the * Rimutaka.’ That a pumpkin weighing uglbs, and measuring 6 feet 8 inches round the girth, has been grown at Stratford, Taranaki.