PERSONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 10, 2 September 1908, Page 8

PERSONAL NOTES.

Messrs. C. C. Walton and W. F. Bell, of Auckland, left on Tuesday for Fiji, en route to Philadelphia, to pursue their dental studies in the American city. Mr Wesley Spragg has been elected! president of the New Zealand Alliance. Mr J. F. Doull, formerly of Auckland, has pnsed the Board of Trade examination (London) for chief engineer. It is expected that he will pay a visit to Auckland shortly. Mr H. N. Liardet, of Stratford, who has been appointed chief of the Wellington office of the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, has been Mayor of Stratford for three years, and deputyofficial assignee. Dr. Bell, Director of Geological Survey, proceeds shortly to the copper fields near Whnnguroa, where a detailed isurvey has been going on for some time. Later he expects to visit the Thames goldfields, where investigations are proceeding, and about November or December he will return to Nelson. A Press Association message from Palmerston North reports that Mr Hotel, editor of the “Manawatu Times,” w s presented with a purse of sovereigns last week in recognition of his public -- rvii ' s in connection with the recent Mayoral election, and to meet out of po< I- t expenses in connection with the lib<-1 action arising out of it. The directors of the New Zealand Dairy Association, Limited, entertained J'r Wesley Spragg, the managing director, at a complimentary banquet at the Tiffin Cafe, Auckland,August 27 following immediately after the Association’s ordinary general meeting. Mr Joseph Gane (who had acted as Chairman of Directors during Mr Spragg’s absence) presided, and welcomed Mr Spragg back to New Zealand and the control of the Association. Mr. James Corbett, of Hikutaia, died yesterday. Mr. Corbett camo to the Thames Goldfields from Victoria in the sixties, and was manager of many important mines. He settled at Hikutaia nearly thirty years ago, and was for many

years a member of the Thames County Council. Through failing health, he retired from public affairs about three years ago. Ho was widely respected, being a man of sterling character, and his death will be deeply regretted. The deceased was born in the West of Ireland, and leaves a widow and three sons and five daughters to mourn their loss. Last week a surprise party, comprising the past and present pupils of Mrs. Ernest Queree, entertained that lady at the residence of Mr. Hamilton Hodges, Pon-sonby-road. During the early part of the evening a song-title competiion was conducted, followed by music and a dainty supper. Before dispersing, Master Adrian Stopford, on behalf of the pupils, in a very neat speech presented Mrs. Queree with a jewelled brooch, expressing regret at her near departure and wishing her every success in her new sphere. Mrs. Queree suitably responded. “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and three hearty cheers for Mr. and Mrs. Hodges, who had placed their music room at the disposal of the party, terminated a very pleasant little function. Mr A. D. Willis, ex-M.ILR., for Wanganui, died on August 27. He was seized with illness on doard the steamer Monowai on the voyage from Auckland recently, and was conveyed to a private hospital in Gisborne. His condition was very critical for several dlays, but he gradually inproved, and on August 26 was thought to be out of danger. His strength, however, failed, and on Thursday last his condition again became such as to cause his family great anxiety. He gradually sank, and passed away peacefully. Deceased, who was 66 years of age, had been a resident of Wanganui for thirty years, and was one of the most prominent public men. lie was associated with the Borough Council, Harbour Board, etc., and represented Wanganui in Parliament for three sessions. A large number of friends and relatives of the late Mrs. Richard Monk, of Woodhill, assembled at the Mount Eden Railway Station, Auckland, on August 27, for the purpose of paying the last tribute of respect to a most estimable woman, by following her remains to the Symondsstreet Cemetery. A special train arrived about 2 o'clock from Woodhill, which brought down the mourners and a number of friends. The chief mourners were the aged partner of the deceased, Mi’ Richard Monk; her two brothers, Messrs. John and Frank Phillipps, and her five sons. Messrs. W., E., Percy, Ernest, and Henry Monk. The coffin was conveyed in a hearse to the cemetery, but in deference to the wishes of Mr Monk, the friends all walked in procession. The service at the grave was read by an old friend of the family, the Rev. W. Gittoes, who was assisted by Mr Leech, the Methodist Home Missioner from Woodhill. The death of Mr Lewis O’Neil], barrister, of Hamilton, where he had lived for over 30 years, removes one who was known and respected throughout the Waikato, and many other parts of the Dominion. Deceased, who was Cl, had been suffering for a considerable period, and at the time of his death was a patient at the Opara Nursing Home, in Hamilton. He was the son of the late Hon. Jas. O’Neill, and was at one time in partnership with F. H. Whittaker, in Auckland. His strength of character, integrity, and kindly disposition, endeared him to a large circle of friends, and he will be universally missed. Deceased leaves a widow, one son, and three daughters—one of whom is married to Mr Hugh Thomson, of Messrs Arch. Clark, Ltd., Auckland. He is survived by two brothers —Dr. O’Neill, of Auckland, and Colonel O’Neill, who is now on his way to the Dominion from England—and five sisters, who are living in England and on the Continent.