PERSONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 13, 31 March 1909, Page 8

PERSONAL NOTES.

Captain Barton. Captain Janies E. Barton, of the Second Regiment Auckland Rifles, has been selected by the Council ot Defence to go to England to undergo a course of military training. In 1902, when he was sixteen years of age, Captain Barton joined the Hamilton Rifle Cadets as a private. He was quickly promoted to lie a sergeant, and held the rank till 1905, when Colonel Bell, who saw in Barton what he took to be marked military capacity, induced him to join the senior mounted corps as sergeant. In 1906 he was promoted to rank as a lieutenant, and when Colonel Bell took command of the regiment in 1908, young Barton was made adjutant. Captain Grant. Captain S. A. Grant is the youngest son of Major J. Grant, late district adjutant. He started his volunteering career as a private in the No. 1 Native Rifles 12 years ago. Passing a sergeant’s examination, he was appointed to that rank, and when the Seventh Contingent was formed he was given the commission of lieutenant, and served throughout with his regiment in South Africa, for which he received the Queen’s medal and four clasps. He returned to New Zealand as adjutant, and shortly afterwards joined the Seddon Horse as pieutenant, and served for four years with that squadron. About three years ago he accepted the adjutancy of the First Infantry Battalion (Countess of Ranfurly’a Own), and is still serving in that capacity. Captain Grant is a member of the Akarana Rifle Club, and also a member of the council of the Auckland Rifle Association, and takes a great interest in rifle shooting. He acted as range officer at Treutham during the recent Rifle Association meeting. Captain Grant recentlyformulated a scheme for the improvement of the efficiency of the Auckland Battalion. Captain Whyte. Captain H. Whyte started his volunteering career in the College Rifles in 1897. He attaine dthe rank of corporal two years later, and when the call came for men for South Africa he enlisted in the First Contingent, and served with them throughout, ultimately- returning to New Zealand. He enlisted again in ths Seventh Contingent as a C.S.M., and served with such distinction that he received the D.C.M. Subsequently- he was given a commission in the Tenth Contingent. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed lieutenant in the Auckland Mounted Rifles, and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1905. In 1907 he was offered and accepted the position of A.Q.M.G. for the Auckland district, which appointment he at present holds. Captain Whyte is the possessor of the Queen’s South African medal and five clasps, of the King’s South African medal and two clasps, and of the D.C.M. No New Zealand officer saw more active service in South Africa than -Captain Whyte. By sheer merit he has worked his way up. grade by grade, and he is thoroughly worthy of his present position. Lieutenant Rabin son. Lieutenant W. L. Robinson, of the No. 4 Company Engineers (Auckland) worked his way up from the ranks. He went to Dunedin about two years ago, but is still on the strength of the No. 4 Company. He passed the various classes of instruction, and gained the capital P.S. at the class under Colonel Owen, in Auckland. Te RangiLiroa, M.F. (Dr. F. H. Buck.) Dr. P. H. Buck (Te Rangihiroa), who has just been elected to represent the Northern Maori District in place of the late Hone Heke. was educated at Te Ante College and at the N.Z. University (Dunedin), where he graduated M. 8., Ch.B. !!<■ had a distinguished career as a student, taking a high position in his class and winning various prizes and certificates of honour for his work. Ho also took a prominent part in athletics and in the social and literary societies connected with the university. His great knowledge of Maori folklore, custom and legend gives him a great hold on the affections of the Maori people; whilst as a medium between the pakeha and native his services have often been requisitioned, notably during the N.Z. Exhibition and the visit of the American Fleet, to explain Maori customs to distinguished visitors. His work in the

Health Department and as a leader ant organiser of the Young Maori Party Is well known. It is largely owing to his assiduous attention to his sanitary work among the northern Maoris that their homes and kaingas have been improved of late years. From all parts of the Dominion, from pakeha and Maori of all classes, be has been inundated with congratulations testifying to his personal popularity and the general gratification in his election as representative of his people in Parliament. Mr. J. C. Gleeson, of Napier. Mr. Gleeson, who is a solicitor by profession, is leaving New Zealand Shortly to contest a seat for the House of Commons- in the Irish Nationalist interest. He went Home as assistantmanager to the New Zealand professional football team, last year, and whilst in England came into touch with the Irish party, in which he is greatly interested. Subsequently he accompanied Mr. J. E. Redmond, M.P. (chairman), and Mr. C. R. Devlin, M.P., on n tour through America as a delegation to raise funds for the Irish party. The tour resulted in £200,000 being collected. Retiring from Public ServiceMr. C. W. Hursthouse. Mr. Charles Wilson Hursthouse, tile chief engineer of roads in the Public Works Department, whose term of office will be terminated at the end of the month by the superannuation scheme, is not a New Zealander by birth. Mr. Hursthouse was born in Norwich, England, in 1841, and on the date of his retirement will be within four months of his sixty-eighth year. He was not two years of age when he was brought to New Zealand, and is, therefore, a colonist of over sixty-six years’ standing. He was educated in New Zealand, and in 1855 was appointed a cadet in the survey department in Taranaki. He took part in the skirmishes with the Maoris in the “ sixties,” and joined the Publics Works Department in 1871 as a surveyor, laying out railways. In 1875 he was ap pointed resident engineer in Taranaki and road surveyor in 1889. In 1882, when engaged on a work of exploration, having regard to the main trunk railway route, he was assaulted by Maoris and taken and bound hand and foot for two days. In 1884 he laid out part of the north end of the main trunk line, and in April, 1885, began the construction. In 1991 he was appointed chief engineer of the Department of roads, then first set up. Mr. Thomas Humphries. Mr. Thomas Humphries, Surveyor-Gen-eral, who will retire on superannuation at the end of this month, was born in London in 1841. He entered the Survey Department at New Plymouth as a cadet in 1857, and in the “ sixties ” served the, country during the native disturbances. He was appointed an inspector of surveys in 1875, and Commissioner of Crown Lands in conjunction with the office of chief surveyor for Taranaki. In 1889 he was transferred to Auckland, in 1891 to Hawke's Bay, in 1897 to Nelson, in 1902 to Canterbury, and in 1906 was appointed Surveyor-General. At the last annual dinner of the Twstitute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland, held in London, the chair was occupied bv Professor Percy Faraday Frankland* LL.D., F.R.S., of Birmingham University, a brother of Mr. F. W. Frankland, who contested the Manawatu seat at the last general election. There was a very distinguished company present, including the Right; Hon. Earl Halsbury (late Lord High Chancellor) ami the Right Hon. Lord Robert Cecil. The professor was heartily congratulated upon the fact that he had been elected to the presidential chair, which thirty years ago was occupied by his father. Sir Edward FrankLind, who was the first president of the institute. Among the vocalists who enlivened the proceedings were Miss Irene Ainsley (of Auckland) and Mr. Boulderson. The Rev. Dr. Wilbur Chapman, who is to conduct an evangelist mission in Australia. with Mr. C. Alexander, is being specially invited by the Wellington Council of Evangelical Churches to pay St similar visit to New Zealand. The University of Edinburgh has conferred a doctorship of Civil Laws on Professor Gilray, of Otago University, says a Dunedin Press Association telegram. Mr. George Fenwick, editor of thei “Otago Daily Times,” who left Dunedin last week to attend the Imperial Preni

Conference in London, was entertained by the Otago Master Printers’ Association. Methodist ministers who have been transferred by conference preach for the first time in their new charges on Sunday April 11. By that date the Rev. C. Porter, of Thorndon, will be due to begin work at Masterton, the Rev. T. Fee to succeed Mr. Porter, the Rev. W. R. Tuck, of Auckland, will be due at Island Bay, and the Rev. E. P. Blamires, now of Island Bay, at Blenheim. Hie Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, M.L.C., and Mrs Macdonald, of Wellington, intend leaving on a trip to London at the end of the present month. Mr Macdonald has been recommended by his medical adviser to have a complete rest from business. Mr John (.‘lark, who has occupied the position of chief clerk at the Hastings railway station for about four years, has received notice of his transfer to Wellington. He will be succeeded by Mr R. 8. Pasley’, of the Wellington Goods Department. Previous to his intended departure for Auckland Mr H. G. Crump, of Hastings, was presented with' a clock by the Napier Dentists Association. Dr. Ziele presiding. Mr Crump was for some time secretary and a retiring vice-president of the association, in which he took a very keen interest. The services rendered to the Danish community of Wellington by Mr H. D. Bell, who has been consul for Denmark for a number of years, hav”e been recognised by the Danish Society on the occasion of that gentleman’s departure for the Old Country. The society has presented him with an illuminated address which assures him of its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him during the long term of years in which he has held consular office, and also of his great kindness to any of the signatories’ fellow-countrymen who were in needy circumstances at any time. The address is signed by Holm Hansen, president; S. Sorensen, vice-president; and V. Jensen, secretary, who, in presenting it, wished Mr Bell bon voyage on his trip to Great Britain. Mr. James Frank Andrews, who has been appointed secretary to the Cabinet, is the youngest son of the late Mr. H. J. Andrews, who in the early days was coroner for the City of Auckland and doctor of the provincial hospital. Mr. J. F. Andrews was born in Devonshire, England, in 1848, and his family came to New Zealand in 1849. On completing his education at the Church of England Grammar School (where he received a scholarship from the late Bishop Selwyn) he joined the Customs Department in 1865, leaving the Government service five years later. After some years spent amongst tlie Pacific Islands, where,he was shipwrecked in the schooner Sea Breeze, Mr. Andrews proceeded to Westland during the gold rush of 1873. He was for some time in the employ of the late Premier (Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, at Kuniara. After a few years spent first in the telegraph service at Dunedin, and then in the Public Works Department at Wellington, Mr. Andrews was appointed private' secretary to Mr. Seddon (then Minister for Public Works), and afterwards to the Governor (Lord Onslow), the Hon. Mr. Ballanee (Premier), and, on the death of the latter, to the late Premier (the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon). Air. Andrews is highly popular with a large circle of friends, and has received numerous congratulations on his latest appointment. On Wednesday last, at the Auckland general hospital, Dr. Casement Aickin, the popular senior medical officer, who is about to depart to England, was presented by the nursing staff with a handsome suit case. Air. Cuiiiminge, superintendent engineer of the Huddart, Parker Company, who has been supervising the construction of that company’s new vessels in England, has suffered a severe paralytic stroke. Consequently Air. R. Cocks, ■who has been at Lyttelton supervising the repairs to the Ulimaroa, left for Australia by the Aloeraki on Monday, and is proceeding immediately to England to act in the company's interests during Air. Cummings’ indisposition. The Prime Alinister (Sir Joseph Ward) has advised Air. Wilford, M.P., that ho will be pleased to open the new Post Office at Upper Hutt on Friday, April 2nd. The transfer of Detective Cassells from 'Wellington to Palmerston North has been temporarily suspended. The Same decision applies to Detective Quirke’s proposed transfer from Palmerston North to Wellington.

LONDON, February 19. The marriage arranged between Lieutenant Charles Morton Forbes, R.N., of H.M.e. Dominion, second eon of Mr. James Forbee, of Mount Grace, Potters Bar, and Mies Agnes Millicent Ewen, younger daughter of the late Mr. John A. Ewen, J.P., of Conveth, Potters Bar, •nd Mrs. Ewen, of Dunedin, is to be solemnised at St. Columba’s Church of Scotland, Poht-street, on Thursday, the 4th of Alarch. Miss Grace Joel, the New Zealand artist, who has exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Paris Salon, the International Society of Art and elsewhere, is giving an exhibition of her works this week at the Dore Galleries. The pictures comprise English, Dutch and French figure subjects and landscapes. The Royal Colonial Institute, the Constitutional Club, Ranelagh, the Savage Club, and the Walton Heath Golf Club have decided to confer honorary membership upon the Colonial editors during their stay in England in connection with the Imperial Press Conference, and no doubt many other clubs and associations of the more important sort, embracing Empire-wide interests, will adopt the same course. Recent callers at the High Commissioner’s Office:—Mr. Percy Gentles (Wellington), Mr. G. H. Walker (Auckland), Mr. Ellis Dugdale (Wellington), Mrs. Thos. Banks, Miss D. Banks (Christchurch), Mr. J. A. Pottinger, M.B. (Gisborne), Airs, R. P. Stanhope (Gisborne), Air. I. W. B. Lawrence (Christchurch), Air. I. W. R. Lawrence (Christchurch), Air. R. J. Mentiplay (Wellington), Mr. J. S. Handyside (Wellington), Miss Ethel Fulton (Dunedin), Air. and Mrs. F. Barnard Brown, Miss Barnard Brown (Wanganui), Mr. W. Lancelot Moor (Christchurch), Air. W. Dynock (late Napier). The marriage of the Hon. Kathleen Plunket, daughter of the late Archbishop of Dublin, and sister of Lord Plunket, Governor-General of New Zealand, and Mr. Edward Lycett Lyon, 18th Hussars, is to take place on February 22, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. The bride will be attended by six bridesmaids —the Hon. Ethel Plunket, her sister; the Alisses Evelyn and Sybil Plunket, Miss Mona Smyly, Afiss Dakin and Miss Woodgate. It will probably interest a good many of your readers in New Zealand to hear that Air. G. J. Butler, the New Zealand artist, has been commissioned to paint a large picture commemorating the King's late visit to Bristol. The subject is: “His Majesty reviewing the veterans of the Indian Mutiny and Crimea at the Art Gallery, Bristol,” Mr. Butler was selected for the -work by the unanimous vote of the “Bristol Savages,” which is an artists’ club, and has among its members all the artists of note in Bristol. The choice was left in their hands. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s R.AI.s. Ruapehu leaves London to-day with the following saloon passengers: — Air. W. J. Courtauld, Rev. J. L. L. Dove, Airs. Dove, Alaster A. Dove, Mrs. E. R. Gardiner, Captain B R. M. Glossop, Mrs. Glossop, Air. C. A. Lee, Mrs. L. G. Phillips, Air. J. P. Slagg, Mr. P. Robertson, Aliss S. Surtees, Air. W. J. Benn, Mrs. Benn, Aliss R. Candler, Lieutenant F. G. Cooper, Airs. Cooper, Aliss A. E. Cowell, Air. H. H. Dow, Mr. A. C. Emson, Air. A. Fraser, Air. P. T. Glanville, Airs. Glanville, Master R. R. Glanville, Mrs. Glanville, Alaster E. C. Glanville, Miss J. M. Glanville, Air. P. F. Howden, Mr. C. R. Macay, Air. P. G. Sparkes, Air. F. Tansley, Miss G. Walker, Air. H. D. Were, Airs. Were, Master J. H. Were, Air. E. Wood, Air. J. St. .7. Wyley, Airs. T. McL. Eden, and 201 third-class passengers.