PERSONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 19, 12 May 1909, Page 8

PERSONAL NOTES.

Death of Colonel Rookt«. Colonel Rookes, whose adventurous career is told at considerable length in ‘“The Defenders of New Zealand,” died last week. Entering the service as ensign in H.M. 2nd West Indian Regiment on March 11, 1842, promoted to a lieutenancy the same year, December 31, 1842, and to a captaincy March 20, 1846; wars selected by special appointment of ths Duke of Wellington as aide-de-camp, and private secretary to the several governors of the Bahamas and Trinidad. He received the Cross of the Legion of Honourfro nithe French Government for services on the west coast of Africa; the Malajeah Star from a native prince (only three were struck for presentation, a Captain Selwyn, R.N., nephew of the famous Bishop Selwyn, being another recipient) ; and the New Zealand medal. Soon after his arrival in Auckland, the Maori rebellion of 1860 broke out, and Colonel Rookes was employed by the Colonial Government in organising the war branch (now the Defence Office), and in recognition of the able manner in which this duty -was performed, the Fox Ministry placed him by their recommendation in command of the Wanganui district as the deputy of the Governor. ,While holding this command, he raised, organised and personally drilled seven separate troops of cavalry in the Rangitikei, Turakina and Wangaehu districts so successfully that these forces were repeatedly thanked on the field and in general orders by Generals Cameron and Waddy. The latter officer, a veteran of considerable experience in India and the Crimea, remarked “that he considered these troopers, in physique and fearless riding, the beau ideal of what irregular cavalry should be.” Colonel Rookes, in 1865, further received the thanks of the Colonial Government of New Zealand for the successful manner in which, under that distinguished Governor and statesman, Sir George Grey, he led the colonial forces at the capture of the Wereroa Pa, completely nullifying the assertion made In General Cameron’s dispatches, "that it would require a large addition of Imperial troops to reduce that stronghold of the natives.” Kudos for Mr. Karie Giles.

The Hon. A. W. Hogg (Minister for Labour), speaks in high terms of the work being performed by the Auckland Conciliation Commissioner (Mr T. Harle Giles). Speaking to a Wellington pressman the Minister said: "He is saving the Arbitration Court a great deal of difficult business, and those among the labour unions who W’ere at first so strongly oppose! to his appointment, are now speaking of him in the most complimentary terms. I talked with some of them when I was in Auckland a few days ago, and I found that they were delighted with the way in which Mr Giles has been fixing up their difficulties.”

Auckland's New S.M. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., presided over the Auckland Police Court for the first time on Friday, since his apopintment as successor to Mr. R. W. Dyer. Mr. W. J. Napier said he had been asked by a number of members of the legal profession to congratulate his Worship on his appointment to Auckland. "We have heard of your Worship’s reputation,” went on Mr. Napier, “as a painstaking officer, and one possessing an eminently judicial mind. We hope that there will be the most cordial relations between your Worship and the members of the profession.” Mr. J. R. Lundon had pleasure in adding his congratulations. It had been a matter of sincere congratulation amongst the legal profession that Mr. Cutten had been removed to this more

important sphere. Mr. W. E. Hackett, on behalf of the junior bar, said that as far as they were concerned, it would be their endeavour to assist his Worship in the discharge of his sometimes difficult duties.

Mr. Cutten: It is extremely pleasant to be welcomed in this kindly way by you. Since I have been appointed to the magisterial bench, I have received such kindness and such courteous assistance from the solicitors that my work has been a pleasure to me, and I shall confidently look forward to the same experience among the solicitors practising at the bar In Auckland. I thank you, gentlemen, for your kind remarks.

Messrs. Spencer Crackenthorp and L. S. Crackenthorp, the well-known Victorian chess players, left Wellington by the Warrimoo on Friday, on their return home. Mr. D. Carter, manager of the Greymouth office of the Union Company, left with Mrs. Carter by the Mokoia on Monday on a holiday trip to Australia. Mr. E. J. Cairn, of Avondale, left last week for Sydney on a holiday trip to the Old Country. He will connect at Sydney with the Ophir for London. Mr. Justice Edwards and Mr. Justice Cooper will hear, at Hamilton, the petition in connection with the recent Maori election.

Mr. J. Lomas, Chief Inspector of Factories, and Mr. W. Temple, architect for the workmen’s homes, have been in Auckland on a Departmental visit. Ml - . Carr, conductor of the Royal Comic Opera Company, is accompanied by his wife, who, as Miss Beatrix Tracy, was a well-known contributor to the “Lone Hand” (of which she was subeditor), the “Bulletin,” and other Australian journals. Mr C- Holdsworth, general manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, arrived in Auckland by the s.s. Mokoia on Sunday. From here he proceeds to Fiji to join the Vancouver steamer on his way home. Mr Holdsworth will be away six or seven months.

Mr F. E. Powell, assistant engineer to the Auckland Harbour Board was the recipient of a presentation from the staff last week, to mark his departure on an eight months’ holiday trip abroad. The function took the form of a social at the Tiffin, Mr Hamer presiding over a gathering of about 200. The representative of the Parsons Trading Company, Mr J. R. De Costa, with Mrs De Costa, left Wellington by the Warrimoo last week en route to India. Mr De Costa has been promoted to the charge of the company’s business in India, with headquarters at Bombay, and his many friends will be pleased to hear of his advancement.

Mr E. W. Lowe, resident secretary of the A.M.P. Society, left Wellington for Sydney by* the Warrimoo to attend the jubilee annual meeting, to be held in Sydney. He is accompanied by Mrs and Miss Lowe. Mother Marie St. Benedict died somewhat suddenly at the Ashburton Convent, aged 74 years. The deceased had been in Ashburton about 12 years, and" she was held in very high esteem. She was one of the first band of mission sisters who arrived in Christchurch to open the Christchurch convent some 45 years ago. New Plymouth papers report that Mr H. J. H. Okey, M.P., is confined to bed with an attack of rheumatic fever.

Mr. and Mrs. Eiehelbaum, of Wellington, were arrivals in Auckland by the Main Trunk train last week. During a stay here of about three weeks they will be guests at the Grand Hotel. Mr. A. Gregory, of Dargaville, has gone to Wellington, for the purpose of attending the convention of the Society of Friends.

Captain Hope-Johnstone, who accompanied the Anglo-Welsh football learn on its travels in Australasia last year, has purchased a farm in the Kihikihi district, and intends to settle in New Zealand. Before doing so, however, he will return to England, on account of a serious illness in the family, and he does not expect to be back in the Dominion until some time in November.

Dr. McArthur, S.M., has been appointed chairman of the North Island Railway Appeal Board in succession to Mr H. Eyre Kenny, who has retired on superannuation.

Mr G. F. C. Campbell, Valuer-General, who is to be appointed Inspector-Gen-eral of Defence Forces during the absence in England of Colonel Davies, entered the Civil Service in 1874 as a cadet in the Public Works Department. The Valuation Department is now to be combined with that of Land and Income Tax, under Mr P. Heyes. Mr Campbell passed his military examinations and entered the volunteer service as a sub-lieutenant of th’e Wellington Naval Artillery in 1887, and was promoted to be captain in 1894, and lieu-tenant-colonel Wellington Garrison Artillery Division in 1902. Friends of Mr Walter G. Foster, of Lower Hutt, entertained him at lunch' at the Grand Hotel last week, prior to his leaving for England. Occasion waa taken of the gathering to present Mr Foster with a travelling rug, and a deck chair for Miss Foster. Mr and Mies

Foster left for England by the Ruapehu on Thursday. Mr Alfred Hill, who has been seriously ill for some time past, is now reported to be doing well. Mr H. V. Gully, retiring town clerk at Nelson, was the recipient of several presentations from all branches of the municipal service. Mr Gully has held the position for thirty-five years, and is retiring to enter legal practice. Mr Harry Holmes, of Matahiwi, Wairarapa, left Wellington on Friday for Sydney, en route for Canada. He will travel to Vancouver in the Makura. Mr John Harker, of Waipawa, is dead; aged seventy. He was regarded as the father of Liberalisui in Hawke’s Bay. Mr E. Reynolds, of B. Reynolds and Co., Wellington, has gone to Sydney, en route to London, by the steamer India. A presentation of a handsome marble clock was made by the railway employees last week, to Mr J. Goodall, of Napier staff, who is retiring on superannuation after 25 years’ service, in addition to having served 22 years on the railways in England. It is understood that Mr J. Eman Smith, Registrar of Old Age Pensions, whose Department will be merged in the Postal Department, has been offered and has declined the position of head of the Government Fire Insurance Department. says the “Dominion.” Mr W. G. Gordon, manager and engineer at Wellington of the National Electrical and Engineering Company, Ltd., has accepted the position of tramways engineer at Brisbane. Mr and Mrs Gordon left for Sydney en route to Queensland on Friday last, Mr R. Corbett a station-holder in the extreme north of New Zealand, returned from an extended trip to the Old Country by the Rimutaka last week. His niece, Miss Thurston, accompanied him. try by the Rimutaka on Wednesday, His niece, Miss Thurston, accompanied him.

Mr. John Bollard, M.P.. has been 48 years a member of the Avondale (late Whan) School Committee, and for the last 40 years has been unanimously elected chairman. This probably is a record for the Dominion.

Captain England, who commanded the Nimrod on the first journey to the Antarctic, is at present confined to his bed in Christchurch. He intended to leave for England by the Buteshire, but he has had to postpone the voyage. Mr and Mrs J. Knight, of Hamilton, who have been spending a holiday in the Whangarei district, have returned home.

Mr D. M. Luckie, late Deputy Commissioner of the Government Life Insurance Department, died at Wellington last week. The deceased retired from the service last July. He was 81 years of age last October, and was a very old resident of New Zealand, being well known as a journalist in Nelson. 'Wellington and Auckland in the early days. The Rev. William Mawson, who for some years past has been engaged in the Presbyterian mission amongst Canton villages, China, arrived in Wellington by the Sydney steamer last week. The Rev. Mr. Mawson, who 'is accompanied by Mrs Mawson, are come to New Zealand to spend his furlough, and intends to go round all the Presbyterian churches in the Dominion in the interests of his mission. Mr S. Pascoe, who landed at the Kati Kati settlement with the Vesey Stewart party, which came out to the Dominion in the ship Carisbrook Castle in 1875, died at Onehunga last week. After a residence at Kati Kati the deceased proceeded to Auckland, and thenee to Hamilton, where he was engaged in business for a number of years, during which time he became widely known and respected throughout the Waikato. In recent years he had resided at Onehunga. The deceased leaves a widow and twelve children, seven daughters and five sons, to mourn their loss. Mr H. F. Arkwright, of Marton, left Wellington by the Warrimoo last week, to catch the Ophir, leaving for London on the fsth inst.

At the conclusion of the mayoral installation at the Maori Hill Council Chambers, Dunedin, last week, the Mayor (Mr Butterfield) presented Mr Peter Pilkington with a handsome armchair as an expression of regard for the services he had rendered the borough.

Mr. Robert Galbraith, of Southland, is to be nominated for the position of president of the New Zealand Rugby Union at the annual meeting this week. - —

Mr. D. Zlmon, of the Consolidated Goldfields Company, who has been visiting Auckland and Waihi, has returned to Wellington. He is visiting Rcefton this week. The Hon. T. Thompson, M.L.C., is at present visiting Rotorua for a few days’ trout fishing on the lake. The appointment of the Hon. T. MaeKenzie as Minister for Agriculture aa from May 1, is officially announced. Mr. W. G. Runcie, Auditor of Land Revenue, is at present in Auckland on official business, and will be in town for several weeks. Inspector Cullen, who has been on a visit of inspection to the Wellsford and Port Albert district, returned to town on Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. T. Douglas, of Taviuni, Fiji, are at present staying at the Stat. Hotel. They will leave for Suva to-day; by the Maitai. Dr. Sharman, port health officer, returned on Sunday by the Mokoia from Napier, where he had been attending the Appeal Court of the New Zealand Racing Conference. Mrs. Annie Besant, the well-known lecturers and writer on theosophy, has just) recovered from an attack of fever afi Madras. She is reported to have aged considerably in appearance as a result of the attack. Mr. S. J. Elston, of Dunedin, has been appointed organising secretary in New! Zealand and Australia for the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. He has eommenced his duties with a tour of South.land and Otago. 1 The Hon. Jas. Carrol], Minister for, Native Affairs, is spending about a forte night in the Gisborne district. He pur} poses meeting the Hon. R. McKenzie Ori the arrival of the Minister for Publio Works, overland from Waihi. Mr. Hector McLean, M.A., one of thp travelling secretaries for the Presbyterian Bible Class Union, is visiting the Bible; classes in the Auckland Province, and is at present in Rotorua. Mr. McLean is ai distinguished student, and was one of the four nominees in New Zealand this year for the Rhodes’ scholarship. I A presentation of a travelling rug and Gladstone bag was made on Monday toi Mrs. Davison, lady attendant at tha Auckland Railway Station. Mrs. Davison has got six months’ leave of and has left for Scotland. Mr. Penney, coaching foreman, made the presentation, in a neat speech. Bandmaster Stuart, of Cambridge, has accepted an appointment at Gore, and leaves at an early date. Mr. James Mclnnes (an old settler of the Waipu district) died on Monday) week at the advanced of 74 years. Mr. Chas. J. Tunks has been appointed Deputy-Mayor of Mt. Eden during the absence of Mr. O. Nicholson at News Plymouth. Judge R. Sim (of the Native Land Court) is to retire as from the end of the present month. Judge Sim ig A comparatively young man, and it is less than two years since he was appointed to the Native Land Court Bench. , '

Mr J. J. Weir, of the Railway Department, New Plymouth, where he has beer} stationed the last five years, has beeri promoted to the position of chief cleric at the Thorndon goods station, Wellington. He will be succeeded at New Flymouth by Mr White, stationmaster at Waitara. • -. 1 -Mr. James Inkster (recently of the Public Works Department, Auckland)] has been appointed to the position of Supreme Court crier, vice Mr. who was lately retired, and is now assistant librarian at the Supreme Court. On Monday his brother officers of tha Public Works Department made a presentation to Mr. Inkster of several pictures as a parting token of their esteem and goodwill. ! > Colonel Webb (late secretary of tha Council of Defence), who has retired on superannuation, will take up his residence at Nelson in a few weeks. Ho was the guest at an informal gathering of the headquarters staff in the Garrison Officers’ Club, Wellington, last week, Colonel Davies, C. 8., and Colonel Collins being among those present. Colonel Webb’s health was drunk with the utmost cordiality and Colonel Robin handed him, for Mrs Webb, a handsome silver teapot.

At the Auckland warehouse of Messrs. P. Hayman and Co., last week, Mr. G, E. Browne, head storeman, was presented by his fellow workers with a case Of pipes duly inscribed, the occasion being the 25th anniversary of Mr Browne** service with the firm.

Mr Marmaduke Webster, whoff death was announced in Sydney recealh

ly, was a colonist of 50 years’ standing, and one of the fast-thinning army of diggers who made golden history in the "fifties.” His life was an adventurous One. At various time he held or was interested in many rieh claims, and made and lost several fortunes. Eight years were spent ou the New Zealand fields, and while there he took a hand, under Von Tempsky, against the Maoris. Mr Webster’s .last gold-hunting venture was the disappointing Mount Brown rush. This ended disastrously. He and a companion narrowly escaped death from thirst, being rescued in the last extremity. . Advice has been received tn bydney that the Very Rev. Patrick Murray, Provincial of the Order in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, has been elected Superior - General of the Redemtorists throughout the world. The Hon. W. W. MeCardle, M.L.C., Wellington, has been on a week’s visit to Auckland.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Maeklow, of Parnell, returned from a visit to Christchurch last week by the Monowai. Mr. Franklyn Bradley, a settler of long standing in the Wairoa district, died last week at the age of 75 years. Mr. Andrew Thompson, who has been manager of the Mount Somers Coal Company’s mine for the past three years, has received an appointment at Huntly. Mr. T. W. Downes, town clerk of Bulls, died suddenly last week from heart disease. Deceased was formerly a surveyor and civil engineer at Wellington. Private Storkey, of the Napier Rifles, who shot so well at ths recent Trentham meeting, has been awarded the Government’s gold medal for the best shot in the East Coast Battalion. Mr. Clement Wragge was a passenger for Gisborne by the Monowai on Saturday.

Monsignor O’Reilly went over to Sydney on Monday by the Mokoia. Mr. Grigsby, manager in Auckland for Messrs. Collins Bros., was a passenger for Sydney on Monday by the Mokoia. The Rev. H. Reeve, viear of St. Sepulchre’s Chureh, was a passenger for London by the Ruapehu from Wellington on Thursday. Mr. J. Kirker, general manager of the South British insurance Company, left Auckland on a visit to Australia by the Mokoia on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. R. Mitehelson of Dargaville, left on a visit to Australia and the South Sea Islands by the Sydney boat on Monday. Captain Cromerty, of the Union Company has been spending furlough in New Zealand, returned to Sydney by the Mokoia on Monday to resume duty. Among the visitors to New Zealand at present is Mr. J. M. Kneeshaw, manager of the Government electric tramways in Sydney. Mr. Kneeshaw was formerly connected with the New Zealand Railway Department, and was in charge of the Department’s exhibit at the Dunedin and South Sea Exhibitions.

Mr. Adam M'C'racken, the inventor of mortite, a new explosive, has left New Zealand for Melbourne, en route to England, to give practical trials of the explosive at the request o f the British Admiralty. He has letters from the New Zealand Government and the Commonwealth Government asking their representatives in London to give him every assistance in his mission.

It is not given to every local preacher to spend forty-nine years of his life in this work, but this proud record is held by Father Laws, of the Napier Circuit. At the last quarterly meeting of the Hawke’s Bay metropolis, special reference was made to his retirement from active work on account of growing physical disabilities. The following resolution was unanimously passed:—“That we deeply regret the retirement of Father T. Laws from the active work of a local preacher through growing physical infirmity, and that this meeting places on record an expression of the affectionate regard and high esteem which Mr. Ijws has earned throughout a long and honouraide career as a local preacher for fortynine years in the Old Country and this Dominion.” Mr. A. G. Macfarlane, of the New Zealand Press Association staff in Wellington, was married at Feilding last week to Miss B. Waddington, daughter of Mrs, M. Waddington, of that town. Tn about a week’s time Nir. Macfarlane will go to Cable Bay, Nelson, to act as agent for the Press Association there for some months. At St. Luke’s Schoolroom, Wadestown, Wellington, last week, presentations were biade to the Rev. T. G. Kay and Mrs.

Kay, who are leaving on a trip to England. The gifts to Mr. Kay eompriised a framed and illuminated address from the parishioners, six volumes and a silver pencil from the Sunday School teachers, and a silver-mounted pocket knife from the choir boys. Mrs. Kay was the recipient of a beautiful silver inkstand and pen. St. Anne’s Church, Northland, also made presentations to Mr. and Mrs. Kay. LONDON, April 2. Mr. D. Robertson, secretary of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department, is on a visit to the Old Country, accompanied by Mrs. Robertson. They arrived at Vancouver from New Zealand on January 5, and since then have been visiting many of the chief centres in Canada, the United States, Germany, and France, reaching London last week. In Germany they were joined by their son, who is a New Zealand Rhodes scholar, and who is now taking a post-graduate course at Leipsic University. He has accompanied his parents to London for the Easter vacation, after which he will return to Leipsic. This week Mr. Robertson paid a visit to Fleetstreet to see how tire great provincial papers are fed with telegraphic news by their London agencies, and next week he will have an opportunity of observing the methods of the Press gallery in the House of Commons, as affecting the collection and distribution of news. Recent callers at the High Commissioner’s office: —Miss Constance Macbeth (Christchurch), Mr. J. Stuart White (late of Dunedin), Mr. Geo. Mellor (Alexandra South), Mr. P. E. Dwyer (Dunedin), Mr. W. Vernon Rout (Nelson), Mr. Truby King (New Plymouth), Mr. Newton King (New Plymouth), Mr. J. B. Connell (New Plymouth), Mr. N. B. Durham (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. W. R. May (Nelson). The Earl of Ranfurly is to be presented with the honorary freedom of the Worshipful Company of Patternmakers at the Guildhall on April 20th, “in token of the appreciation of tho services rendered by him as Governer and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion of New Zealand during the years 1897 to 1904, and as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by the citizens of London.”

The Rev. H. S. Woollcombe, M.A., who finishes at Easter his work as head of Oxford House, Bethnal-green, in order to go on a preaching tour throughout the Empire, is receiving many souvenirs of esteem from the many organisations in which he has taken an active interest. He has been a. very popular school manager, and the local teachers and children have already presented a travelling trunk and dock for his voyage to Australia and New Zealand, where he goes as a delegate of the Church of England Men’s Society, while the Oxford House Ladies’ West End Association have presented a camera, a gold watch-chain, and a fishing rod, and the Church of England Guild of Service a dispatch box and crucifix. Other presents are to follow from the Men’s Meeting, and the Men’s Club, who w’elcomed Mr. Woollcombe with a “sheep’s-head supper,” will give him a farewell in the same hearty fashion. Mr. Connett, the chairman, and Mr. Newton King, the treasurer, of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, have arrived in London, on a business trip in connection with the flotation of a £300,000 loan for the Harbour Board. Of the sum to be raised, £200,000 is to pay off the existing loan, which falls due on May Ist, and the balance of the money is to be used for completing the harbour at New Plymouth. Mr. King is accompanied by his wife and Mr. Truby King, and Mr. Connett by Miss Connett. The party travelled to Vancouver by the Makura, and thence through Canada-, visiting Niagara and Montreal en route. They arrived at Plymouth last Sunday end came on to London. Before leaving for New Zealand via Suez in six weeks’ time, Mr. King hopes to see something of the produce trade in London and the provinces, and Mr. Connett will visit friends in Devonshire. The R.M.S. Tainui left London to-day with the following saloon passengers for New Zealand ports:—Miss A. M. Phillips (Wellington), Mr E. S. Pink (Wellington), Mr C. E. Hart (Auckland), Mr D. Hodgkinson (Napier), Mrs D. Jacobs, Miss B. Jacobs (Wellington), Mr J. MacLachlan (Wellington), Mr S. Miller (Napier), Mr W. Nash, Mrs Nash (Wellington), Mr A. W. Pottinger (Lyttelton), Miss L. Richards (Wellington), and 273 third-elass passengera.